Renowned history pedagogue, Enriketa Papa, has brought to attention a little-known fact about the history of Albanian cinematography, emphasizing that film production in Albania began before the creation of the "New Albania" Film Studio in 1952.
According to her, contrary to what was propagated during communism and even afterwards, archives prove that a film production facility existed during the years of World War II. This facility was built by the Italians and the Istituto Luce and was known as the "Tomori Cinematographic Facility".
After the capitulation of fascist Italy and the change of occupation in September 1943, this establishment passed into the administration of the Albanian state, through the Ministry of Popular Culture.
According to documents from the time, documentary and feature film production took place in Albania during the 1940s. Among the names involved are the director Mihallaq Mone and the actors Merita Sokoli, Miranela Ikonomi and Kristaq Antoniu, who had studied in Italy. In 1943, the short film “Meeting at the Lake”, produced by Mihallaq Mone, was also shown at the “Tomori” facility.
