Prominent Albanian filmmaker, Dhimitër Anagnosti passed away this Monday at the age of 89. 

The news was made public by his daughter, Juna Anagnosti, through a post on social media.

“Farewell Dhimitër Anagnosti, the director of our lives! After a long illness, he obeyed the law of life! Farewell, grandpa!” she wrote.

In his 40-year career, Anagnosti produced 14 films and 10 documentaries, winning many national and international awards. He was also the author of 15 screenplays and often wrote the screenplays for his films himself. Anagnosti was a man of free thought, persistent in defending his views, with a civic courage that has often made him the target of mediocrity.

For his artistic achievements and extraordinary contribution to Albanian culture, Anagnosti was honored with the title of “People’s Artist” in 1987 and with the career trophy at the 10th Albanian Film Festival. The year 1991 found him committed to the democratic movement for pluralism in Albania, a motive for which he was also elected a deputy of the Democratic Party in the Albanian Parliament (1991-1996). On April 12, 1992, he was appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, a position he held until December 4, 1994, when he resigned.