Ismail Zhabjaku (1932-1992) Director, screenwriter and actor! He was born on March 4, 1932 in Shkoder. A big name in Albanian cinematography. He completed his studies at the Higher Institute of Arts in Tirana in the department of singing and dramaturgy in 1966. He worked for a period outside his profession in Puke and then was appointed to Kinostudio as an assistant director in the films "Gjurma" (1970) directed by to K. Dhamo; "Valley of riflemen" (1970) directed by V. Celi, T. Bozo; "Operation fire" (1973) directed by M. Fejzo; "Grooves" (1973) directed by K. Dhamo. Ismail Zhabjaku has also performed as an actor in several small roles in feature films such as: "The Valley of Riflemen" (1970); "Captain" (1972); "Conscience" etc. 
In 1973, he shoots the first documentary film "Mosaic of popular songs and dances" and in the same year "Our children sing". His first artistic film as a director is the one with the title "River of Light" 1975, a successful film which also remained his best film. Other films with the signature of Ismail Zhabjak as director are "Stars on the Drin" (1979); "Balloons" (1979); "Carnivals" (1980); "Our Common Home" (1981); "Blerta's Engagement" (1984). 
With the film "Carnivals" (1980), the screening of Spiro Comore's work "Carnivals of Korce" managed to convey not only the dramaturgical and musical values, but also create a harmony between the actor's interpretation of that vocal, the directorial mise-en-scène and the filmic image in general. This success led him to the second production of the musical film "Fejesa e Blerte", which he was unable to finish because he became seriously ill. (The film was completed by actor/director Besim Kurti). For health reasons, after filming 5 feature films, he is forced to break away from cinematography. A series of short documentaries should not be forgotten: 1973–“Our children sing; 1975-"Light in the tunnel"; 1975-"Our song at the festival; 1976-"Earth"; 1977-"Biography of a Mother"; 1977-"Anes Bunes"; "Mosaic of popular songs and dances"; 1977-"Unity that defeats earthquakes"; 1978-"Ancient city, new city"; In two other Albanian films, he was also a screenwriter: "Carnivals" (1980); "Blerta's Engagement" (1984); He changed his life after a serious illness in 1992. _________________________ Reference: "Encyclopedia of Albanian Cinematography" AT Hoxha – Toena 2002 / p. 438-439 / "Encyclopedia – Albanian Theater and Cinematography" J. Papagjoni Toena 2009 / p. 557.
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