This year 2 Georgian films will take part in Berlinale. Levan Koguashvili’s „Blind Dates“ will be screened in the „Forum“ section. This sad comedy about the life of an unlucky man will be screened in Berlin on February 7.
Tinatin Kajrishvili’s „Brides“ takes part in the „Panorama“section. The first screening of this debut film will be held on February7. The film reflects the lives of the prisoners’ wives.
These films were selected by Berlinale representative Nikolai Nikitin during his visit in Tbilisi. GNFC has been cooperating with Mr. Nikitin for several years.
The Story of Georgian Films at Berlinale
In 2013, for the first time after a long pause, 2 Georgian films participated in Berlinale: “In Bloom” by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross was screened in the “Forum”, whereas Zaza Rusadze’s “A Fold in My Blanket“ was screened in the „Panorama“. Last year “In Bloom” was awarded a special prize of arthouse theaters. Georgian films were successful at Berlinale.
Throughout the history of Berlinale, 15 Georgian films have taken part in this festival. First in1986 Giorgi Shengelaia’s “Young Composer’s Trip” participated in the Competition Program and was awarded a “Silver Bear”. Later, in 1992, Mikheil Kalatozishvili’s “The Chosen One” took part in Berlinale, whereas in 1993 Temur Babluani’s „Sun of the Sleepless“ was awarded “Silver Bear” for best direction. The first international screening of Eldar Shengelaya’s “Blue Mountains” was held in the “Panorama” section of Berlinale in 1986. Now this section includes a premiere of “The Brides”.
Georgian National Film Center has cooperated with Berlinale for8 years. Representatives of the Festival were officially invited to Tbilisi in 2011–2012 in order to get acquainted with the latest Georgian films and the current state of film production in the country.
The non-cometition program of the Berlin Festival – “Generation” – screened Giorgi Ovashvili’s “The Other Bank” in 2009 and Rusudan Pirveli’s “Susa” in 2010. Both these films are financed by Georgian National Film Center.
Georgian National Film Center at theEuropean Film Market
This year GNFC will participate in the European Film Market within the 64th Berlin Film festival for the 9th time (Marriott # 117, Inge-Beisheim-Platz 1 Berlin 10785 Germany)
A Georgian Stand will be opened at the Film market, providing detailed information to the Festival’s guests about the current state of the Georgian film sector, recent Georgian films and the country’s development strategy regarding the film industry. Meetings with GNFC partners and international colleagues will be held at the Georgian stand.
The stand will present a catalogue of recent Georgian films, GNFC informational brochures, a disk with trailers of recent Georgian films, a disk of Georgian short films and information about the benefits of shooting films in Georgia.
The European Film market will present Teona Mghvdeladze-Grenade’s film "Brother", which was first screened at the film festival in Rotterdam.
Georgian producer Keti Kalandarishvili is invited to participate in a workshop of Berlinale TalentCampus.
On February 9, at 22.00 GNFC and Teliani Valley company will offer a reception for foreign partners and international film professionals.
