In memory of director Ismail Zhabjaku (1932-1992)!

Ismail Zhabjaku (1932-1992)
Director, screenwriter and actor!

Born on March 4, 1932 in Shkoder. A big name in Albanian cinematography. Completed his studies at the Higher Institute of Arts in Tirana in the department of singing and dramaturgy in 1966.

Worked for a period outside his profession in Puke and then was appointed to Kinostudio as an assistant director in the films “The Trace” (1970) directed by to K. Dhamo; “Valley of riflemen” (1970) directed by V. Celi, T. Bozo; “Operation fire” (1973) directed by M. Fejzo; “Furrows” (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, Zhabjaku 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 Light” 1975, a successful film which also remained his best film.

Other films with the signature of Ismail Zhabjaku 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 “Blerta`s Engagement”, which was unable to finish it 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-“Riverside Buna”; “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);

Ismail Zhabjaku passed away after a serious illness in 1992.

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Albanian Cinematography in activity since 2013
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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