Festival in London to Screen 15 Georgian Award-winning Films
The London Georgian Film Festival will take place next month screening numerous award-winning Georgian films. The selected movies allow the public to catch a glimpse of both Georgian classics and recently released works. Alongside the screening, the festival will host discussions and debates with Georgian directors and actors spurring a critical approach to film as an art form.
The Regent Street Cinema, considered as the birthplace of British cinema and having shown the first motion picture in 1848, will host the festival from May 3-8. As a repertory cinema with a high historical prestige, it serves as the ideal location for the 15 Georgian movies to be shown over the six days of the festival.
Jason Osborn, Nina Andjaparidze, and Keti Japaridze founded 'Life Through Cinema,' the association behind the organization of the film festival. The three movie enthusiasts organized the first festival in 2005 and renewed the edition every couple of years, now marking the 5th time the London Georgian Film Festival is hosted by them.
The list of movies touches various different styles and eras. Starting with the contemporary movie My Happy Family by Simon Groß and Nana Ekvtimishvili released only last year, other works include Nana Jorjadze’s My English Grandfather from 1987 and Eldar Shengelaia’s Blue Mountains, or an Unbelievable Story from 1983.
People visiting the festival and regularly flying Air France may also remember already seeing Dede by Mariam Khatchvani as it was purchased by the airline to screen it on long-haul flights. Released last year, Khatchvani won the Jury prize at the Batumi International Arthouse Film Festival 2017, the UNESCO award at the Asia Pacific Screen awards 2017 and the Audience Award at the Montpelier Mediterranean Film Festival 2017.
The festival will be accompanied by various events and functions showcasing the Georgian culture, including wine and cheese tastings.
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