Film director Mariam Khatchvani among Locarno Filmmakers Academy talent

Award-winning filmmaker Mariam Khatchvani has been selected among acclaimed young directors for this year’s Locarno Filmmakers Academy, a platform for developing projects and distribution skills.

Part of the Locarno Film Festival, the academy selects emerging film professionals and "addresses the future needs of [...] young filmmakers [facing] new challenges” in their work.

[The academy] provides an opportunity for a group of the most promising directors on today’s filmmaking scene to meet with some of the greatest directors and biggest players in the global film industry”, says a summary of the platform from organisers.

Locarno Academy 2018 Participants Announcement The 9th edition of the Locarno Academy will host 40 emerging talents of the Filmmakers, Industry and Critics Academy. #Locarno71 // See the full list of 2018 participants here: https://t.co/4Ljc7hefos

— Locarno Festival (@FilmFestLocarno) July 23, 2018

The Georgian filmmaker is among six creatives joining the academy through the Cinéfondation residency program of the Cannes Film Festival, to make up the ultimate group of 40 professionals for the Locarno event.

Khatchvani was picked for the academy for her latest feature Nene, centred around the subject of the arbitrary use of power by law enforcement agencies and their use of force against citizens.

Based on a true story, the project is produced by Vladimer Katcharava, who also worked with Khatchvani on their award-winning feature Dede.

While in the academy, Khatchvani will develop the script for the film and learn French in Paris, with her project also benefiting from the Asia Pacific Screen Awards development grant it received last year.

In parallel, the Locarno Festival itself will screen Khatchvani’s award-winning 2016 short Dinola in its Academy Screenings program on August 3.

This year’s festival is scheduled to run between August 1-11.