Contemporary school for aspiring filmmakers opens in Tbilisi

Georgia's capital Tbilisi now boasts a brand new school of contemporary cinema where dozens of industry figures teach the art of filmmaking to a young generation of creators.

The Caucasus School of New Cinema formally opened in April but is only now receiving students interested in learning film direction, script writing, casting and more.

We are now in the year 2016 and we need new signs and language [to create new cinema]. [This language] should be created by a generation of people now aged 20 to 25. I hope we can create new Georgian cinema with them," said film director and scriptwriter Dimitri Mamulia, who developed the concept of the cinema school project.

Film director Dimitri Mamulia came up with the idea to create the film school. Screenshot from a video by the Caucasus University.

The new film school offers two directions to aspiring creators, with programs available in film direction and film dramaturgy.

Founders of the institution said it would offer an "essentially new format" of schooling by teaching not only the technical profession of filmmaking but also the required "vision" to succeed in the field.

The meticulously compiled programs include lectures, courses, practical studies and the actual process of film production," explained those who developed the film school's curriculum.

Award-winning filmmaker Nana Ekvtimishvili is part of the teaching team at the new school. Screenshot from a video by ArtArea.

Focusing on contemporary technical and creative methods for filmmaking, the school features a team of internationally recognised directors including Otar Iosseliani, Nana Ekvtimishvili, Salome Jashi and Zaza Urushadze. 

In addition, programs in theatre and acting art are led by a group involving established and young directors like Robert Sturua and Data Tavadze.

Classes in other programs are taught by other film and industry experts including author and TV host Lasha Bugadze, publicist Zaal Andronikashvili, musical artist Nika Machaidze and writer Naira Gelashvili.

Philosopher Giorgi Maisuradze leads theory classes at the new school. Screenshot from a video by ArtArea.

They will teach skills required for cooperating with actors, mastering camera work, effective casting, location selection, and more. 

A new teaching system at the school allows students to work on programs under the guidance of a range of experts with different visions instead of having only one teacher for each 'subject' of learning.

People who choose to join the school can also meet "key industry figures" at master classes and pitching sessions and undergo exchanges at international cinema schools, said the school staff.

The Caucasus School of New Cinema partnered with Georgian and foreign institutions including CinemadaMare Film Festival in Italy, Moscow School of New Cinema in Russia and the Georgian Film Fund.