Albania: Tonight the Grand Final of Festivali i Këngës 57

The day to watch the first national final for the new Eurovision season has arrived, as the Grand final of the 57th Festivali i Këngës, is set to take place tonight in Tirana, Albania.
Festivali i Këngës
Festivali i Këngës is one of the oldest music festivals going back to 1962. Since 2004 it has become Albania’s format for selecting its Eurovision entry. Even though all contestants must perform in Albanian in several cases the song was revamped in Enlgish aiming to apply more to the Eurovision audience.
THE 57th Edition of Festivali i Këngës
Festivali i Kenges this year unfolds in a three day program which includes two semi final shows with 11 acts each and a grand final. During the first night of the festival (December 20), the acts performed their entries live with the Albanian National Symphonic Orchestra . During the 2nd night’s show the 22 contestants performed their entries with the music playback and a staging pretty much as we will see it on Eurovision Stage. The comepting act gave empahsis to their staging and choreography, inviting in some cases other artists-suprise to strengthen their staging.
In this year’s edition of Festivali i Këngës a total of 22 entries are competing to win the golden ticket that leads to Tel Aviv next May. From those after the two semi final nights only 14 will compete in tomorrow’s grand final. A jury panel of experts and a jury formed by 15 best students from Tirana’s schools determined who this 14 qualifiers will be.
The 14 grand final hopefuls
1.Alar Band – Dashuria nuk mjafto
2.Lidia Lufi – Rrëfehem
3.Bojken Lako – Jeto jetën
4.Gjergj Leka – Një ditë tjetër
5.Dilan Reka – Karma:
6.Soni Malaj – Më e fortë
7.Jonida Maliqi – Ktheju tokës
8.Elton Deda – Qetësisht
9.Klint Çollaku – Me jetë
10.Artemisa Mithi & Febi Shkurti – Dua ta besoj
11.Marko Strazimiri & Imbro – Leyla:
12.Eliza Hoxha – Peng
13.Eranda Libohova – 100 pyetje
14.Orgesa Zaimi – Hije
You can watch the show via the official website of RTSH1 at 20:45 (CET)