The winners of the fourth edition of the Gjon Mili Video Art Festival have been announced, marking another important moment for contemporary creativity in video art, experimental cinema, and new forms of visual expression.

This year’s awards recognized works from several countries, addressing themes such as memory, identity, the body, landscape, art, history, and the human experience.

Winner – Best Video Art

CONTRO (Versus)
Directed by Maria Grazia Carriero
Italy

The award for Best Video Art went to “CONTRO (Versus)”, directed by Maria Grazia Carriero. Set within the striking landscape of the Lucanian badlands, this poetic visual work transforms ritual, memory, and the female body into a collective act of care and healing. Through a powerful interplay of performance, sound, and landscape, the film reflects on loss, resilience, and humanity’s enduring connection with the earth.

Winner – Best Narrative

Kingdom of Animals
Directed by Thadeusz Tischbein
Germany

The award for Best Narrative went to “Kingdom of Animals”, directed by Thadeusz Tischbein. The film takes viewers on a thought-provoking journey through Germany’s monumental landscapes, where history, mythology, and imagination intertwine. Blending documentary observation with fictional speculation, the director explores the symbolic presence of animals within the nation’s historical monuments, drawing unexpected connections to the myths and fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Through a distinctive visual language, the film reflects on memory, identity, and the enduring narratives that shape both landscapes and collective consciousness.

Winner – Best Experimental Short Film

Atelier Garel
Directed by Thomas Lallier
France

The award for Best Experimental Short Film went to “Atelier Garel”, directed by Thomas Lallier. Set within the quiet landscape of Normandy, the film offers an intimate encounter with the studio of French sculptor and painter Philippe Garel. In the artist’s absence, his paintings and sculptures become the protagonists of the work, creating a poetic dialogue between creation, memory, and material. Through a sensitive cinematic approach, Thomas Lallier transforms the studio into a living space where artworks seem to breathe.

Winner – Best Short Film

SOS
Directed by Anita Morina
Albania

The award for Best Short Film went to “SOS”, directed by Anita Morina. The film powerfully and sensitively addresses the urgency of human experience, combining emotional storytelling with strong visual language. Through a compelling narrative and careful cinematic construction, “SOS” reflects on resilience, vulnerability, and hope.

Winner – Best Documentary

DEZO HOFFMANN – Photographer of The Beatles
Directed by Laura Sivakova-Passova & Patrik Lancaric
Slovakia

The award for Best Documentary went to “DEZO HOFFMANN – Photographer of The Beatles”, directed by Laura Sivakova-Passova and Patrik Lancaric. The documentary is dedicated to the life and legacy of renowned photographer Dezo Hoffmann, whose iconic images helped shape the visual identity of the legendary band The Beatles. Combining rare archival material with careful storytelling, the film offers an intimate portrait of one of the most influential photographers in music history.

The fourth edition of the Gjon Mili Video Art Festival once again confirmed the importance of the festival as an international platform for authors, artists, and directors seeking new forms of expression through image, sound, and visual experimentation.

Set in the dramatic landscape of the Lucanian badlands, the work transforms ritual, memory, and the female body into a poetic act of care and healing. Through performance, sound, and landscape, CONTRO (Versus) reflects on loss, resilience, and humanity’s deep connection with the earth.

Over three evenings, audiences will enjoy a diverse selection of short films, documentaries, video art, and animated films by artists from around the world, including Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Brazil, the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Monaco, Slovakia, and Albania.

The festival opens on June 27 with an international program featuring works such as the documentary “Haus Tumbuna”, the video art piece “Kingdom of Animals”, and concludes with the Canadian documentary “Violence Solves Everything.”

On June 28, the festival continues with another selection of international productions. The evening’s featured presentation is the documentary “Dezo Hoffmann – Photographer of the Beatles,” which tells the story of the renowned photographer best known for capturing some of the most iconic images of The Beatles.

The final day, June 29, highlights Albanian cinema. The program includes “The Champ” by Ermir Keta, “Antimuzeu”by Renis Hyka, “SOS” by Anita Morina, and the short documentary “Kecka” by Fatjet Bajrami. The festival will conclude with a screening of the newly restored Albanian classic “Kapedani” (1972), directed by Muharrem Fejzo and Fehmi Hoshafi.

In addition to the screenings, the festival encourages visitors to explore New York City’s museums, galleries, historic landmarks, and vibrant neighborhoods, making the event not only a celebration of cinema but also a cultural experience in one of the world’s most dynamic cities.

Below is a photo gallery from the festival days in Korçë and Dhërmi, Albania.

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Over the course of three days, traditional houses, public squares, and historic locations throughout the village were transformed into exhibition and screening spaces, where visitors experienced the work of artists from Albania and many other countries around the world.

The festival presented dozens of video art works, short films, and documentaries by artists from Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. Highlights of the program included installations by Ledia Kostandini and Ervin Bërxolli, as well as an artist talk by Zef Paci, who shared insights into his artistic practice and creative process.

One of the featured events was the screening of the documentary “Dežo Hoffmann – Photographer of the Beatles,”dedicated to the life and work of the renowned photographer best known for documenting the legendary band The Beatles.

The festival evenings also featured live music performances and informal gatherings that brought together artists, festival participants, and visitors, creating opportunities for exchange and discussion in the unique setting of Dhërmi.

With the successful conclusion of its Dhërmi program, the Gjon Mili Video Art Festival now continues to Manhattan, New York, where the next chapter of this year’s edition will take place. The festival will continue presenting works by participating artists while expanding its international audience and fostering new artistic dialogue across cultures.

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The documentary traces Hoffmann’s remarkable journey, from his early career as a photojournalist and filmmaker covering some of the major conflicts of the 20th century, including the Spanish Civil War, to becoming one of the best-known photographers of pop and rock music in the United Kingdom.

Widely regarded as a pioneer of modern music photography, Dezo Hoffmann transformed the way artists were portrayed by photographing them in natural settings and capturing spontaneous moments instead of formal studio poses. He produced some of the most iconic early photographs of The Beatles, while his camera also documented legendary figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, and The Rolling Stones.

Through this installation, Kostandini continues her artistic exploration of textiles as carriers of memory, time, and human experience. Drawing on traditions of embroidery and handcraft, the work recalls practices that have accompanied the intimate and collective lives of communities across generations.

The installation consists of multiple translucent textile layers that change with light and perspective, continuously revealing hybrid figures that emerge and transform throughout the day.

Inspired by the frescoes and mystical beings of the Church of Saint Mary in Dhërmi, these half-human, half-bird creatures appear as migratory beings suspended between earth and sky, creating a connection between the natural world and artistic imagination.

Set within the landscape of Albania’s southern coast, the installation reflects on themes of movement, departure, and return, exploring the relationship between humanity, nature, and memory.

The work is part of the artistic program of the fourth edition of the Gjon Mili Video Art Festival, which is taking place in Dhërmi with the participation of artists from Albania and around the world.

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The day’s program begins at 10:00 a.m. with “Shadows Falling on Other People’s Houses”, an installation by Ledia Kostandini, which will remain open to the public until 8:00 p.m.

From 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., screenings will take place in three traditional village houses—Miti’s House, Milio’s House, and Vaso’s House. The program features a selection of short films, documentaries, and video art works by artists from Albania and several other countries.

At Miti’s House, visitors will see six works by artists from Brazil, Italy, the United States, Slovenia, and Germany. Milio’s House will present five works from the United States, Monaco, Montenegro, and Belgium, while Vaso’s Housewill screen five additional works by filmmakers and video artists from the United States, Italy, Canada, Germany, and Austria.

At 7:00 p.m., Ervin Bërxolli will present his installation “Anabiosis” at Kostandini Heleni Square.

The program continues at 7:30 p.m. with an Artist Talk by Zef Paci, offering audiences the opportunity to learn more about his artistic practice and creative process.

At 9:00 p.m., the festival will present a special screening of the documentary “Dežo Hoffmann – Photographer of the Beatles”, directed by Laura Sivakova-Passova and Patrik Lancaric. The film explores the life and work of Dežo Hoffmann, the renowned photographer best known for documenting The Beatles.

The second day of the festival will conclude at 10:00 p.m. with a Post Festival Party at Saint Demetrius Church Square, bringing together festival participants, artists, and visitors for the closing event of the evening.

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Following the day’s screenings, the band performed a selection of songs and instrumental pieces, presenting a musical program that combined contemporary sounds with elements of Albanian musical tradition.

The concert was attended by festival participants, local residents, and visitors, who gathered in the center of Dhërmi for the closing event of the evening.

The performance by Bledi Polena & Band marked the conclusion of the festival’s first day in Dhërmi. The festival continues with its second-day program, featuring additional screenings, art installations, and artist talks.

The screenings took place in three traditional village houses—Miti’s House, Vaso’s House, and Milio’s House—which were transformed into projection spaces for the festival.

At Miti’s House, six works by artists from South Korea, the Netherlands, Canada, China, Australia, and Romania were presented. The program included the short film Three Makes Unicon by Hye Gun Lee, the documentary S for Self Reliance by Jan Adriaans, the documentary Violence Solves Everything by John Ledingham, the short film ANIMA by Tyler QDurden, the documentary Haus Tumbuna by Matty Hannon, and the video art work Expo Arbre Busteni – Pine Forest by Ana Catalina Gubandru.

At Vaso’s House, visitors watched five works from Italy, the United States, Germany, and France: From the Womb by Eleonora Manca, Out of Hand by Anne Ciecko, Resin by Daniel Weismüller, the short film Hypatia of Alexandria – The Solitary Bee by Erwan Le Gal, and the video art piece Versus by Maria Grazia Carriero.

At Milio’s House, five additional works from Italy, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Greece were screened. The selection included Reconnaissances by Victor Ausländer, Calling From Work by Karel van Laere, Blood Hounds by Janet Lees, Recipe for Utopia by Angeliki Avgitidou, and the short film Shards of Absence by Margherita Bagnara.

The opening day featured a diverse selection of short films, documentaries, and video art works, presenting artists from Europe, Asia, North America, and Australia.

The festival continues in Dhërmi with its second-day program, which includes additional screenings, an installation by Ledia Kostandini, an artist talk by Zef Paci, and the screening of the documentary Dežo Hoffmann – Photographer of the Beatles.

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