Georgian police vow to ensure peace amid threats voiced before premiere of film on gay love
And Then We Danced movie is directed by filmmaker Levan Akin, a Swedish-based director with Georgian roots.
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The Georgian Interior Ministry has promised to ensure safety and freedom of expression amid threats voiced by ultra-nationalist groups just before the premiere of And Then We Danced movie in Tbilisi and Batumi cinemas starting later today.
The ministry urged everyone to stick to the law, “otherwise we will use the power granted by the law and any incident will be prevented in a timely manner.”
Filmmaker Levan Akin's Swedish-Georgian-French co-production And Then We Danced, which has been picked as Sweden's submission for the Best International Feature Film competition at the next Academy Awards, will be premiered at Tbilisi and Batumi cinemas starting at 8:30 pm today.
The film was premiered at this year’s Directors’ Fortnight festival in Cannes in May.
Head of the Children Protection Public Movement Levan Palavandishvili, businessman Levan Vasadze and the ultra-nationalist Georgian March have announced they will go to the cinemas not to allow the showing of the film “which is against Georgian and Christian traditions and values and popularises the sin of sodomy.”
Akin has responded to the threats, saying "It is absurd that people who bought tickets need to be brave and risk getting harassed or even assaulted just for going to see a film.I made this film with love and compassion."
The Georgian National Film Centre has expressed concern regarding the “statements of extremist groups” against the premiere, expressing its “full support” to the film crew and the cinemas.
The Georgian constitution guarantees the freedom of creativity. Any involvement or censorship in the creative process is absolutely unacceptable,” the centre says.
The Georgian Patriarchate has come out against the film but said that the “church distances itself from any violence.”
Law enforcers are standing in front of Amirani cinema in central Tbilisi ahead of the premiere. Photo: Amirani cinema.
Georgian Public Defender Nino Lomjaria says that every individual is free in their decision of what to watch.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze says that “if I have a chance I will watch the film.”
Akin's work is the story of a young performer Merab in the Georgian national dance company who develops an intense attraction to newcomer Irakli.
Portrayed by Levan Gelbakhiani, Merab is "thrown into an emotional storm of both strong desire and jealousy for his new companion" (Carl International Film Festival), with the encounter between the two male performers unfolding in the conservative dance company.
The film will be shown between November 8 and 10 in Tbilisi and Batumi. All tickets have already sold out.
The festival-touring feature And Then We Danced by director Levan Akin received accolade at the Chicago International Film Festival, with the film about an emotional encounter of two male dancers joining winners of the 55th edition over the weekend.
Georgian actor Levan Gelbakhiani has claimed latest round of plaudits for his performance in filmmaker Levan Akin's feature And Then We Danced after collecting the Best Actor Award at Spain's Valladolid International Film Festival last weekend, with the film itself also honoured at the event.
Filmmaker Levan Akin's feature And Then We Danced has been nominated for the European University Film Award, a prize by university students throughout Europe.
Filmmaker Levan Akin's Swedish-Georgian-French co-production And Then We Danced has been picked as Sweden's submission for the Best International Feature Film competition at the next Academy Awards.
A Swedish-Georgian-French co-production And Then We Danced has premiered in Georgian cinemas today amid radical groups' protest. The police which promised to ensure safety and freedom of expression amid threats voiced by ultra-nationalist groups earlier today, have detained eleven protesters for violation of public order and police disobedience.
The Georgian Interior Ministry announced late last night that 27 individuals were detained for “non-compliance with a lawful order or demand” of the police and “disorderly conduct” during the premiere of a Swedish-Georgian-French co-production And Then We Danced in Georgian cinemas.
The main protagonist of Swedish-Georgian-French co-production And Then We Danced Levan Gelbakhiani won in the best actors’ nomination at the Minsk International Film Festival yesterday.
ILGA-Europe, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, says in its most recent report that Georgia takes 30th place (with 30,2 per cent) among 49 countries in terms of protecting the LGBT population.