Tirana International Film Festival, 2026

XYZ (2026) was presented at the 24th edition of the Tirana International Film Festival (TIFF), held from 21 to 27 September 2026 in Tirana, Albania. Selected for the Video Art & Experimental Competition, the film had its Albanian premiere on 25 September at Millennium Cinema.

Founded in 2003, TIFF is one of Albania's leading international film events, bringing together filmmakers and audiences through a programme of fiction, documentary, animation, experimental cinema and video art. Its 2026 edition featured over 200 films from around the world, alongside retrospectives, special screenings, masterclasses and professional activities dedicated to contemporary cinematic practices.

Presented alongside eight international short films exploring different approaches to experimental moving images, XYZ formed part of a competition dedicated to artistic experimentation and alternative cinematic forms. Its inclusion extended the film's international circulation within a context that encourages dialogue between cinema, contemporary art and audiovisual research.

Alagôa attended the festival in person, taking part in screenings, festival gatherings and exchanges with fellow filmmakers. Throughout his stay, he had the pleasure of meeting artists including Yi Lu and his collaborators Fengyi (Amy) Hu and Chenghao Michalis Li, Arturo Spano, Valentina Ostacoli, Ioanna Digenaky, Francesco Ubertalli and composer Carlo Novaria, among others. These encounters provided opportunities to exchange perspectives, discover new cinematic approaches and establish connections within the international filmmaking community.