Dea Kulumbegashvili's award-winning 'Beginning' in Sofia Film Fest programme
Ia Sukhitashvili, Rati Oneli, Kakha Kintsurashvili and Mari Kopchenovi are cast as the protagonists of the feature. Photo via Sofia Film Festival.
Tweet 
Share
Sofia International Film Festival, launched on Friday, is screening filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili's award-winning feature debut Beginning as part of its programme.
In two screenings on Tuesday and May 6, the film that earned prizes from juries at San Sebastián and Trieste Film Festivals - along with other events - will now be seen by viewers tuning in to the Bulgarian celebration of cinema.
The Georgian-French co-production was dubbed a "miracle movie" by organisers of the Sofia event, who on Tuesday introduced the work to their audiences.
Today, in the framework of Sofia International Film Festival @sofiaiff the screening of ???????????????? drama Beginning will take place. Picture of ???????? director Dea Kulumbegashvili, has already received the best picture award at San Sebastian Int. Film Festival @sansebastianfes pic.twitter.com/waYDD6SjKn
— GeorgianEmbassySofia (@EmbGeoSofia) April 27, 2021
Beginning is centred around experiences of Yana, a member of a local Jehovah's witness community in a provincial Georgian town. She is confronted with a predicament of hate from extremist locals and disinterested police.
In the midst of this conflict, the familiar world of Yana, the wife of the community leader, slowly crumbles. Yana’s inner discontent grows as she struggles to make sense of her desires
- Sofia Film Fest
The director has described the film as an exploration of dreams and actions of her protagonist in the circumstances, asking questions like "what were Yana’s dreams, if she had any? What did she give up when she decided to commit to a marriage with the leader of a religious group?".
Produced by lan Amouyal, Rati Oneli (who co-wrote the screenplay with the filmmaker) and David Zerat, the work also features musical score by internationally acclaimed producer Nicolas Jaar.
Beside awards in San Sebastián and Trieste Beginning also earned prizes from Toronto, Adelaide and Singapore film festivals, among the 10 awards it has been recognised with so far.
The Sofia fest is set to run through May 13, with its programme available here.
The film Beginning directed by Georgian Dea Kulumbegashvili has received ‘the golden shell’ at the San Sebastian Film Festival, the event’s first prize. Kulumbegashvili has also received 'the silver shell' for best director. Together with Rati Oneli she also received jury prize for best screenplay. Meanwhile Ia Sukhitashvili received 'the silver shell' for best actress as well.
Dea Kulumbegashvili has collected the FIPRESCI international film critics award at the Toronto International Film Festival for her feature debut Beginning, with the film praised for an "emotionally compelling debut".
Dea Kulumbegashvili's debut feature 'Beginning' has been unveiled as Georgia's bid for the next Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, after a Georgian National Film Centre commission picked the San Sebastian Film Festival-winning film for the honour on Wednesday.
Acclaimed Georgian director Dea Kumulbegashvili, whose feature Beginning won the San Sebastian Film Festival last year, will be the chair of this year’s festival. Kulumbegashvili is the winner of four official awards of the festival for her debut film, including the Golden Shell for Best Film, the Silver Shell for Best Director and the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay.
Dea Kulumbegashvili's award-winning feature Beginning will open the inaugural Svaneti International Film Festival in Georgia's picturesque mountainous northern province tomorrow, with organisers selecting 20 films for the maiden event's programme.
In the latest international recognition for her debut feature Beginning, filmmaker Dea Kulumbegashvili claimed the principal prize of the Trieste Film Festival in Italy on Sunday.