Touching on themes such as immigration, social inequality, and the legacy of communism, my long-term documentary project aims to bridge the gap between Albania’s past and present through my family's lived experiences. My grandpa, Fatmir Zavalina, was born to a poor farmer family and joined the Communist Party at a young age. He has witnessed Albania’s massive social & political upheavals, from the communist regime to the collapse of the system, a civil uprising, and the country’s slow rebuilding. He is a symbol of Albania’s history and its turbulent past, while my grandma and other family are supporting characters in this story. Albania, one of the poorest countries in Europe, has faced a mass exodus of people since the fall of communism, with nearly 1/3 of Albania’s population leaving the country. Many of those who remain want to leave. Through archival imagery, writing, and photographs of sites of significance in my family’s lives, my project will illustrate the passage of time and illuminate how political systems affect the lives of everyday people. Five goals I have for this project are to 1) produce 75 new strong images, 2) produce my first monograph, 3) plan an exhibition in Albania, 4) publish a story in a photography magazine, and 5) collaborate with another photographer in Albania. The funds I receive through this grant would primarily cover the production costs associated with continuing this project, as well as cover the costs of an at-home film scanner.
