KUTAISI: O Mà! by French director Vincent Launay-Franceschini was awarded best film at the first edition of the Kutaisi International Short Film Festival, which took place in a physical format from 8 to 12 May 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants.

FNE correspondent Alexander Gabelia spoke to Nini Shvelidze, International Programme Coordinator of the Kutaisi International Film Festival, about the first edition of the KISFF, which is finally taking place in a physical format 8–12 May 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants. The festival is supported by the Georgian National Film Centre (GNFC) and the Kutaisi Municipality. Nini speaks to FNE about the challenges and the importance of organising the festival on site as the Georgian film industry begins to recover from the pandemic.

TBILISI: Georgia Connect, which is an agency that promotes filming opportunities in Georgia launched by the producer Nika Apriashvili in Berlin in February 2021, plans a massive outreach campaign to promote shooting in Georgia.

TBILISI: The first edition of the Kutaisi International Short Film Festival, which was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is finally taking place in a physical format 8–12 May 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants. The festival is supported by the Georgian National Film Center and the Kutaisi Municipality.

TBILISI: Legendary Georgian actor Kakhi Kavsadze (85) died of Coronavirus complications on 27 April 2021. Kavsadze was a leading actor at the Shota Rustaveli State Drama Theatre and starred in over 90 films.

TBILISI: Cinemas in Georgia, which have been closed since mid-March 2020, will re-open at 50% of their capacity on 8 April 2021.

TBILISI: Alexander Koberidze’s feature film What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?, which had its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival, has been acquired by the world sales company Cercamon.

TBILISI: Tea Tsulukiani was appointed by the Parliament as the Minister of the newly created Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia on 19 March 2020. Tsulukiani will take office on 22 March .

TBILISI: Salome Jashi’s documentary film Taming the Garden has been acquired by the film-distribution company Dogwoof for the UK. Toronto-based Syndicado Film Sales brokered the deal.

TBILISI: The Georgian National Film Center is in the midst of a major programme to restore some of the earliest films by Georgian filmmakers.