TBILISI: Georgian director/writer Irine Jordania is currently in production with her debut feature Air Blue Silk. The cinematographer is Giorgi Shvelidze, whose work on Namme directed by Zaza Khalvashi and produced by BAFIS in coproduction with Lithuania’s Tremora earned him the Spotlight Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 2019.

TBILISI: Kino Lorber has acquired US rights to Brighton 4th directed by Levan Koguashvili and lensed by Oscar nominated cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. The film has recently been announced as Georgia’s official submission for the 94th Academy Awards.

FNE's Georgian correspondent Alexander Gabelia spoke to Mariam Khatchvani, Director of the Svaneti International Film Festival, about the first edition of the Svaneti IFF in Georgia, which finally took place after COVID delays in a physical format 3–7 October 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants. The Svaneti IFF is organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Georgian National Film Center, General Sponsor Hotel GISTOLA, the Bank of Georgia, Teliani Valley, Badagi, All Print, Albomi travel club, and the Mestia Municipality.

TELAVI: The first edition of the script development residency organised by Terra Incognita Films and supported by the Georgian National Film Center is currently underway at the Zaira Arsenishvili House-Museum in Telavi, Georgia (10-17 October 2021). The project aims at helping to develop six feature films together with Georgian and foreign experts.

MESTIA: I Am Afraid to Forget Your Face by Egyptian director Sumeh Alaa was awarded the Goddess Dali main prize at the first edition of the Svaneti International Film Festival, organised by director Mariam Khatchvani and Teimuraz Chkhvimiani.

MESTIA: A total of 20 titles have been selected for the short film competition of the inaugural edition of the Georgian Svaneti International Film Festival, which will take place in person from 3 to 7 October 2021. Eleven full-length projects were selected for the industry programme platform.

BATUMI: What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? by Georgian director Alexander Koberidze was awarded Grand Prix at the 19th edition of the Batumi International Art house Film Festival, running 18-24 September 2021. The winner of the Documentary Competition was the Polish film 1970 directed by Tomasz Wolski.

TBILISI: The Georgian National Film Center has distributed 970,608 EUR / 3,591,253 GEL for the production of seven debut features and 186,870 EUR / 691,420 GEL for the production of nine documentaries.

MESTIA: Lottery by Bangladeshi director Km Kanak was awarded Best Film at the inaugural edition of the Mestia International Short and Mountain Film Festival, which took place in person from 15 to 19 September 2021. The winner of the Mountain-themed Films Competition was the Pakistani film K2 and the Invisible Footmen directed by Iara Lee.