A new space has been launched at FIFF, bringing together some of the best contemporary movies from Georgia’s fast growing and dynamic cinema.
The festival will feature five significant and exciting works, and A Retrospective of Georgian Cinema will be the place you can see and review the astonishing feats at the 36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival in Tehran.
The following lineup showcases delightful cultural aspects of Georgia, sheds light on untold stories, shares unique stories, and brings together unique characters on screen:
Khibula
Director: Giorgi Ovashvili
Writer: Roelof-Jan Minneboo
DOP: Enrico Lucidi
Editor: Sun-Min Kim
Music: Joseph Bardanashvili
Sound: Sebastian Schmidt?
Cast: Lika Babluani, Hossein Mahjoob, Kishvard Manvelishvili, Nodar Dzidziguri, Zurab Antelava
Producer: George Ovashvili, Eike Goreczka, Christoph Kukula, Guillaume de Seille
Production Co: Alamdary
Language: Georgian, Russian
Country, Year, Runtime: Georgia, Germany, France | 2017 | 100
Synopsis:
After being deposed in a coup, the president of a newly independent country flees to the mountains with a group of supporters confident that he will return to regain power.
About Director:
George Ovashvili (born 1963, Mtskheta, Georgia, USSR) graduated from the Georgian State Institute of Cinema and Theater (1996) and from the New York Film Academy filmmaking course at Universal Studios in Hollywood (2006). He is a director of both dramas and documentaries that he often produces. He has made a number of memorable shorts: Eye Level (Zgvis donidan… / Mzeris doneze…) received an award at the Berlinale and the Fest in Odense, both 2005. In 2009, KVIFF’s East of the West Competition presented his feature debut The Other Bank (Gagma Napiri, 2008); the film won almost 50 awards and was nominated for European Discovery of the Year by the European Film Academy. His second picture Corn Island (Simindis Kundzuli, 2014) took the Crystal Globe for Best Film at KVIFF and was shortlisted for an Academy Award.
Festivals / Awards:
International Film Festival of India / Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
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Luka
Director: Giorgi Barabadze
Writer: Ketevan Galdavadze, Giorgi Barabadze
DOP: Aleksandre Darakhvelidze
Editor: Rusudan Pirveli
Music: Qartuli Khmebi
Sound: Paata Godziashvili
Cast: Lia Kapanadze, Nino Kasradze, Keti Tskhakaia
Producers: Ketevan Galdavadze, Nino Jincharadze
Language: Georgian
Country, Year, Runtime: Georgia | 2016 | 90 min
Synopsis:
Lile is deprived of the custody of her son Luka, and the court gives it to Lile’s mother-in-law, Luka’s grandmother. 1993 is a year that marks the end of the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict. Luka is killed on a battlefield. His mother goes to a village, the birthplace of his son, to bury him.
About Director:
Giorgi Barabadze was born in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 1982, he graduated from the Theatre and Film Georgia State University – Eldar Shengelaia’s Studio. In 1990, he founded first independent film studio, Shvidkatsa.
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House of Others (Original Title: Skhvisi Sakhli)
Director: Rusudan Glurjidze
Writer: David Chubinishvili, Rusudan Glurjidze
DOP: Gorka Gómez Andreu
Editor: Grigol Palavandishvili, Dmitri Chistyakov, Levan Koukhashvili
Music: Dusan Maksimovsky, Alexey Vorobyov
Sound: Hrvoje Šimi?
Cast: Zurab Magalashvili, Olga Dykhovichnaya, Ia Sukhitashvili,
Salome Demuria, Ekaterine Japaridze, Branko Djurich, Alexander Khundadze
Producer: Olena Yershova, Nadezda Gorshkova, Nadezda Gorshkova
Production Co: Cinetech Film Production
Language: Georgian
Country, Year, Runtime: Georgia, Russia, Spain, Croatia | 2016 | 110 min
Synopsis:
Two families have physically survived the real war, but are incapable of building a new life in peace. Their conflict continues inside.
About Director:
Rusudan Glurjidze (born 1972, Tbilisi) studied language and literature in Tbilisi. She then studied screenwriting and direction under Giorgi Shengelaia in the Georgian State Film and Theater Institute (1990–96). After the breakup of the Soviet Union, she made a living making commercials and video clips. She worked as 1st AD on G. Shengelaia’s comedy The Train Went On and On (Midioda Natarebeli). Since 2007, she has worked as producer for the Cinetech production company. She presented her debut feature project House of Others (2016).
Festivals / Awards:
2017, American Society of Cinematographers, USA Spotlight Award / Asia Pacific Screen Award, Achievement in Cinematography / Eurasian International Film Festival, Best Film / Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, East of West Award / Sakhalin International Film Festival / Satellite Awards Best First Feature
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Scary Mother
Writer & Director: Ana Urushadze
DOP: Mindia Esadze
Editor: Alexander Kuranov
Music: Nika Pasuri
Sound: Paata Godziashvili, Irakli Ivanishvili
Cast: Nata Murvanidze, Ramaz Ioseliani, Dimitri Tatishvili, Avtandil Makharadze
Producer: Lasha Khalvashi, Tinatin Kajrishvili, Ivo Felt
Production Co: Artizm, Gemini
Language: Georgian
Country, Year, Runtime: Georgia, Estonia | 2017 | 107 min
Synopsis:
Ana Urushadze’s remarkable debut feature as writer and director finds a 50-year-old Tblisi housewife, Manana (Nata Murvanidze), in the middle of a torturous struggle, having to choose between her family life in the patriarchal Georgian society and her lifelong passion for writing, which she has repressed for years. Despite the wishes of her husband and three children, and only encouraged by a local stationer who comes to act as her editor (and considers her profane work-in-progress to be a masterpiece), she plunges head on into the artistic abyss, sacrificing herself to her book both mentally and physically, and withdrawing from her maternal duties.
About Director:
Ana Urushadze (born in Tbilisi in 1990) graduated from the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Georgia State Film University in 2013. She directed several short films such as Ideas (2010) and One Man Loved Me (2012). Sashishi Deda (Scary Mother) is her feature debut. Her film was selected as the Georgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.
Festivals / Awards:
2017, Locarno, Best First Feature / 23rd Sarajevo Film Festival, won the top prize, the Heart of Sarajevo
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Dede
Director: Mariam Khatchvani
Writer: Vladimer Katcharava, Mariam Khatchvani, Irakli Solomonashvili
DOP: Konstantin Esadze
Editor: Levan Kukhashvili
Music: Mate Chamgeliani, Tako Jordania
Sound: Ivane Gvaradze
Cast: George Babluani, Girshel Chelidze, Mose Khachvani, Nukri Khachvani, Natia Vibliani
Producer: Mike Downey, Vladimer Katcharava, Igor Nola, Sam Taylor
Production Co: 20 Steps Productions, Film and Music Entertainment
Language: Georgian
Country, Year, Runtime: Georgia |Qatar | 2017 | 17 min
Synopsis:
One Woman. Three Men. Dina can challenge the harsh traditions of the deep Caucasus Mountains. But will her spirit survive?
About Director:
Khatchvani graduated in 2008 from the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University, Tbilisi. She directed many short documentaries, including Verdzoba (2006), Beyond the Window (2007), Lichanishi and Kvirikoba (2009). Dinola is her last fiction short.
Festivals / Awards:
Asia Pacific Screen Awards / UNESCO Award (Mariam Kachviani) / Batumi International Art House Film Festival, Georgia / Juri Prize, Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, US / Production Award, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic / East of West Award (Special Mention),Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival, France / Audience Award of Best Film
For all festival goers who are already planning their visit, check screening time and other information at www.fajriff.com, or email us at infor@fajriff.com. Presided over by Iranian film writer and director Reza Mirkarimi, the 36th edition of Fajr International Film Festival will be held in Tehran on April 19-27.
