Top film festival director visits Tbilisi, shows interest in Georgian cinema

Georgia’s capital city is hosting one of European cinema’s most influential figures – Berlinale Film Festival director Dieter Kosslick.

The film industry expert is on a short visit to Tbilisi to hold meetings with local public officials and cinema industry representatives.

Kosslick travelled to Georgia alongside Berlinale Delegate for Eastern Europe Nikolaj Nikitin. The pair, representing the world-famous film festival, met Georgia’s Minister of Culture and Monument Protection Mikheil Giorgadze on Monday.

The meeting was also attended by Georgian National Film Centre director Nana Janelidze and the country’s representative to Eurimages Cinema Support Fund Tamara Tatishvili.

The two sides discussed the recent success of Georgian film productions and avenues for future cooperation.

Kosslick is expected to hold further meetings with National Film Centre representatives before he concludes his two-day visit.

Appointed Berlinale director in 2001, Kosslick has overseen the occasion’s international recognition as one of the top cinema events alongside the Venice and Cannes film festivals.

Appointed Berlinale director in 2001, Kosslick has overseen the event as it grew its international reputation as one of the top cinema festivals alongside the Venice and Cannes film festivals.

Fifteen Georgian-made films have featured in various Berlinale Film Festivals since its foundation in 1951, with director Giorgi Shengelaia’s Voyage of the Young Composerwinning second prize in the 1986 edition.