Dhimitër Anagnosti (born 23 January 1936) is an Albanian film director of the 20th century. He was a member of the

Parliament of Albania The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to ...

in the 1990s and a Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. For his contribution in film, he received the

People's Artist of Albania The People's Artist () was an honorary title for outstanding art performers of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, whose merits were exceptional in the sphere of development of the performing arts (theatre, music, cinema and art). It was c ...

medal. In 2011, former president

Bamir Topi Bamir Myrteza Topi (; born 24 April 1957)CV at Albanian presidency website
. i ...

accredited him the "Honor of the Nation" order, sq, Urdhri "Nderi i Kombit".

Early life

Anagnosti was born on January 23, 1936 in

Vuno Vuno is a village in Himara municipality, Vlorë County, Albania. It is located along the road between the municipal centre of Himarë and the village of Dhërmi in the Albanian Riviera. Name It is said that because of the village's situation ...

, a village in the Himara municipality, District of Vlorë

Albania Albania ( ; sq, Shqipëri or ), or , also or . officially the Republic of Albania ( sq, Republika e Shqipërisë), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas within the Mediterranean Sea and shares ...

. After graduating the ''

Ali Demi Ali Demi (18 January 1918 – 29 December 1943) was an Albanian hero of World War II and a communist. He was killed in battle fighting German forces in Vlora, Albania in 1943. Biography He was born in Filiates, Greece. Later Ali Demi studi ...

'' high school in

Vlorë Vlorë ( , ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the third most populous city of the Republic of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surrounded by the foo ...

, he pursued his studies and graduated as a film director in Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography of

Moscow Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 millio ...

. In 1961, along with Viktor Gjika, Anagnosti directed the film, ''Njeriu kurrë nuk vdes'' ( en, The Man Never Dies), using as a script a short story from American writer,

Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century f ...

. The work earned him First Prize in the World's Festival of Cinematographic Schools, in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

Career

He started to work as a cineast within

Kinostudio Shqipëria e Re The National Center of Cinematography ( sq, Qendra Kombëtare e Kinematografisë) is the largest film distributor and film production company in the cinema of Albania connected with over 700 films (feature films and documentaries) between 1947 and ...

in 1961, with the film, ''Debatik'' in 1961 and subsequently with the film ''Toka jonë'' ( en, Our Land) in 1964. He is also the writer of the first Albanian color documentary, ''Gurët dekorativë'' ( en, Decorative stones). In 1966 Anagnosti co-directed, with Viktor Gjika, ''Komisari i dritës'' ( en, The Commissary of the Light), and a year later he directed ''Duel i heshtur'' ( en, Silent Duel). Overall he has directed 14 films and 10 documentaries, and has won many national and international prizes. He is also the screenwriter of most of the films he directs. For his extraordinary performance of some of the best Albanian films, he has been given the title Merited Artist of Albania, and in 1987,

. During the communist rule of Albania, however, many of his works were censored. He won the Cup to the Carrier in the Ninth Festival of the Albanian Film.

Political career

Between 1991-1996, Anagnosti was involved in politics. He was elected Member of the Albanian Parliament as a deputy of the

Democratic Party of Albania The Democratic Party of Albania ( sq, Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë, PD or PDSH) is a conservative political party in Albania. It has been the largest opposition party in the country since 2013. The Democratic Party of Albania was founded ...

. On April 12, 1992, he took over the post of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. He resigned on December 4, 1994. The reasons for his resignation were that

Sali Berisha Sali Ram Berisha (; born 15 October 1944) is an Albanian conservative politician and former cardiologist who served as the second President of Albania from 1992 to 1997 and Prime Minister from 2005 to 2013. He is also the current chairman of ...

, then

President of Albania The president of Albania ( sq, Presidenti i Shqipërisë), officially styled the President of the Republic of Albania ( sq, Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë), is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military and the representa ...

, had not recognized the negative result of a popular referendum for a new constitution as his own political failure, and had not resigned himself.

Return to art

After leaving politics, Anagnosti created the Foundation for Art and Culture, endorsing the most active artists and contributing to the enhancement of Albanian culture and its international exposure. Among other things, this foundation has enabled the publication of 160 books. In 2001 Anagnosti returned to his directing skills after many years of absence. For the

National Theater of Albania National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

, he directed the stage drama, "Nata e trokitjeve në xham" ( en, Night of the Knocks on the Window). In 2005 he also directed a film, ''Gjoleka, djali i Abazit'' ( en, Father and Godfather): The film won two international prizes in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

Personal life

He is married to the Albanian

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

Roza Anagnosti (Xhuxha), a Merited Artist of Albania.

Film direction

The following is a list of films directed by Anagnosti. *''Gjoleka i biri i Abazit'' (2006) ( en, Father and Godfather) *''Kthimi i ushtrisë së vdekur'' (1989) ( en, The Return of the Dead Army) *'' Përralle Nga e Kaluara'' (1987) ( en, A Tale from the Past) *''Gurët e shtëpisë sime'' (1985) ( en, Stones of my House) *''Kujtime nga Gjirokastra'' (1983) ( en, Memories from Gjirokaster) *''Vëllezër dhe shokë'' (1982) ( en, Brothers and Comrades) *''Në shtepinë tonë'' (1979) ( en, In our Home) *''Monumenti (film), Monumenti'' (1977) ( en, The Monument) *''Lulëkuqet mbi mure'' (1976) ( en, Poppies on Walls) *''Kur hiqen maskat'' (1975) ( en, When Masks are Taken Off) *''Cuca e maleve'' (1974) ( en, The Girl of the Mountains) *''Përjetësi'' (1974) ( en, Eternity) *''Motive nga dita e diel'' (1973) ( en, Motives from a Sunday) *''Malet me blerim mbuluar'' (1971) ( en, Mountains of Green Filled) *''Parafabrikatet'' (1970) ( en, Parafabrics) *''Plagë të vjetra'' (1968) ( en, Old Wounds) *''Duel i heshtur'' (1967) ( en, Silent Duel) *''Komisari i dritës'' (1966) ( en, Commissary of the Light) *''Njeriu kurrë nuk vdes'' (1961) ( en, The Man Never Dies)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anagnosti, Dhimiter Albanian film directors Albanian cinematographers 1936 births Living people Albanian screenwriters People from Himara Members of the Parliament of Albania Democratic Party of Albania politicians Culture ministers of Albania Sports ministers of Albania Youth ministers of Albania People's Artists of Albania Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography alumni