Premieres mark new chapter for Georgian cinema at Berlinale festival

Georgian filmmakers will mark a new chapter in the history of the country’s cinema when they appear at this year’s Berlinale festival next month.

For the first time, Georgia will be represented by more than one film project at the prestigious global occasion, which begins on February 9.

Celebrating its 67th edition, organisers will reveal the full program of Berlinale next month. However, three Georgian films have already been confirmed to screen within various categories of the cinema event.

The festival will involve various events, including a program for young cinema talents and industry professionals. Photo: Peter Himsel.

Georgian directors will make history in Berlin with the first-ever festival appearance of an animation film created in the country.

The film Li.le by director Natia Nikolashvili was selected by organisers to screen in the Generation section.

Produced by Tbilisi-based 20Steps Productions, Nikolashvili’s work will have its European premiere at the festival, where the director is also scheduled to answer questions from the audience about the project.

See a teaser for the animation film ‘Li.le’ below:

Another European premiere will be marked in the Forum section, which will invite cinema enthusiasts to see My Happy Family, the latest feature by directors Nana Ekvtimishvili and Simon Gross.

Describing the experience of several generations living under the same roof, the film premiered in the United States at the ongoing Sundance Film Festival last Sunday.

The Forum section at Berlinale will also screen the award-winning documentary City of the Sun by filmmaker Rati Oneli.

Honoured with the special mention award of the 2015 Visions du Reel Film Festival in Nyon, Switzerland, Oneli’s film follows the life and hardships of residents of the Chiatura mining town in western Georgia.

A still from documentary 'City of the Sun' by Rati Oneli. Photo: calvertjournal.com.

Beside individual film projects by Georgian directors, the Berlinale festival will also feature a Georgian film industry stall.

The Georgian stall has been present at Berlinale for the last decade and will present information on the country’s potential as a filming destination as well as on Georgian cinema agencies and professionals.

Rounding off their participation in the prestigious festival, Georgian film directors and producers will also be part of the event’s co-production section, expected to be attended by around 600 industry figures from across the world.