Retrospective of Georgian cinema in focus at London festival

A hundred years of Georgian cinema is being presented at the 2015 London Georgian Film Festival in three venues in the English capital for a week starting this Thursday.

Films ranging from the 1930s Soviet propaganda productions to late 20^th Century classics to more modern, contemporary projects are included in a diverse showcase program that will open to London visitors for the fourth time since the Festival’s creation.

The program will feature 19 films as well as master classes and talks by Georgian and international film directors.

This year’s London Georgian Film Festival will involve screenings at London venues Regent Street Cinema, Frontline Club London and Dash Café at Rich Mix.

A scene from Winter Song, the latest production by internationally recognised Georgian film director Otar Iosseliani. Photo from www.indiewire.com.

The featured films include award-winning contemporary productions Tangerines, Corn Island and Winter Song, while also offering the audience the opportunity to go back in time and explore the roots of Georgian cinema dating back 100 years.

The maiden London Georgian Film Festival was held in 2005 and was organised by the British Georgian Society (BGS).

After the initial event the Festival was on hold for five years but was re-established in 2010 thanks to a collaboration of the BGS and theLife Through Cinema project. The second festival launched after composer and musician Jason Osborn, art historian Keti Japaridze and Tbilisi International Film Festival director Nino Andjaparidze came together to promote Georgian film and culture locally and abroad.

The 2015 London Georgian Film Festival will continue until October 7.

The full program can be viewed here.