The documentary “The Other Side of Valias” has screened at the Korçë Film Fest, bringing the history of Albania’s communist-era internment and forced labour camp in Valias to a wider audience.
Produced by the Authority for Information on Former State Security Files (AIDSSH), the film draws on archival documents and survivors’ testimonies. Directors Rovena Rrozhani and Dorian Zanaliu document the suffering of interned families, especially women and children who faced the consequences of collective punishment under the communist regime.
During the screening, researchers, filmmakers, AIDSSH representatives and witnesses stressed the importance of preserving historical records and passing this memory on to younger generations.
Archival records show that 820 people lived in the Valias camp in 1950, including 372 children. Interned families faced harsh living conditions, a lack of clean water and severe restrictions on their freedom. Authorities closed the camp in 1952 and transferred the internees to other camps.
The documentary premiered in August 2025 during the commemorative event “Valias — From Camp to Remembrance”.
Its screening at the festival aims to encourage reflection on the legacy of communist dictatorship, preserve the memory of its victims and highlight the importance of human rights.
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