Georgian films showcased at Berlin Film Festival

Two Georgian films will be showcased to an international audience at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.

The films are Patarzlebi (Brides) and Shemtkhveviti paemnebi (Blind Dates) will premiere at the festival, commonly known as Berlinale.

Georgian actors Andro Sakhvarelidze, Ia Sukhitashvili and Archil Kikodze were cast in the film Shemtkhveviti paemnebi (Blind Dates), which was directed by Georgian man Levan Koguashvili.

Shooting took place in late 2011 and the film went through the production phase in 2013.

Shemtkhveviti paemnebi (Blind Dates) is Koguashvili’s second feature and has kept in line with the best traditions of Georgian cinema. The hero of the film is middle-aged teacher Sandro, who still lives with his parents, who constantly meddle in his private life. He shows little interest in the blind dates his friend Iva pressures him to go on. On an outing to the Black Sea, he falls in love with a hairdresser named Manana. When her husband Tengo is released early from prison, Sandro’s predicament takes on absurd dimensions.

Screenshot from the movie "Blind Dates"

Wrong conclusions and misunderstandings are the driving force behind this melancholy-drama, in which everyone meddles with everything but no one really listens, which leads to further confusion.

The film will be presented in the Berlinales Forum section on February 7.

Meanwhile other film to be showcased at the festival, is Tinatin Kajrishvili’s film Patarzlebi (Brides).

Patardzlebi (Brides) tells the story of prisoners’ wives. The film describes the difficulties they face during the time their husband are in prisons, including their psychological and financial problems.

In 2011 July, the film was pitched during industry meetings, organised by Robert Bosch Stiftung and the Georgian National Film Center.

Georgian actors Mari Kitia, Darejan Khachidze, Giorgi Maskharashvili, Tamar Mamulashvili and Gvantsa Papuashvili feature in the film.

                                                                                                                                  Screenshot from the movie "Brides"

The Georgia-France co-production will be shown in the Panorama selection of the festival on February 9.

Meanwhile at the European Film Market festival, which is a film trade fair held simultaneously to the Berlin Film Festival, Georgia will host a stand that provides detailed information about the direction of Georgian cinema.

The stand will show meeting times of partners and international colleagues of the National Film Centre. Furthermore, a new Georgian film catalogue, the National Film’s informational brochures, disks showing new Georgian movies teasers and short films will also be present on the stand.

The European Film Market is a major industry meeting for the international film circuit held once a year. The trade fair serves distributors, film buyers, producers, financiers and co-production agents.

The Georgian film Brother will be presented at the European Film Market. The movie was directed by Teona Mgvdeladze-Grenade and the premiere of the film was held at the Rotterdam Film Festival.

Georgian producer Keti Kalandarishvili has been invited to participate in a workshop of the Berlinale Talent section.

Last year, Georgian films In Bloom by Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross and A Fold in My Blanket by Zaza Rusadze appeared at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Since Berlinale began, almost fifteen Georgian films have been shown at the film festival. Georgia’s first entry was in 1980 with George Shengelaia’s film The Journey of a Young Composer. It was a participant of the main competition program and won a silver Bear award.

Georgian movies The Beloved by Mikheil Kalatozoshvili, the Sun of the Sleepless by Temur Babluani and Blue Mountains by Eldar Shengelaia have also entered the Berlin International Film Festival.

For full details and to see the complete program of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival, visit www.berlinale.de