Soviet era Georgian films return home

Hundreds of original Georgian films produced in the Soviet era and stored in Gosfilmofond, the State Film Fund of Russia, will return home.

Georgia’s Minister of Culture Mikheil Giorgadze and director of the State Film Fund of Russia Nikolay Borodachev signed a memorandum that noted all Georgian films made between 1919 and 1990 will be handed over to the Georgian state.

The move to relocate almost 800 pieces of old Georgian films was made possible following 20 years of negotiations. The transfer will begin next year was estimated to take five years before all films were back in Georgia.

Borodachev said the films had been stored at the State Film Fund of Russia since 1890. Among those on file were important films from Georgian cinematographers, which had Georgian state copyrights on them.

Currently there were 381 Georgian feature films, 200 animated and 100 documentary films stored in the State Film Fund of Russia.

Georgian filmmakers and artist said it was extremely important for these historic Georgian films to return home. They believed having the films in Georgia would make it easier to restore damaged tapes.

On another note, having these films returned home will allow the films to be presented in international events, local filmmakers said.