FNE correspondent and film critic Alexander Gabelia spoke to Hana Kutlikova, assistant manager at Artkino Metro, about the challenges Slovak cinemas are facing as they struggle to re-open. She shares her experiences as a Slovak art house cinema operator about the support of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and Europa Cinemas during the crisis, programming of Slovak and European films, the outlook for the future.

FNE correspondent and film critic Alexander Gabelia spoke to producer Wanda Adamík Hrycová, the President of the Slovak Film and Television Academy, and a member of the Association of Independent Producers, about the challenges she has faced as a producer during the pandemic, as well as on the challenges and activities of the film industry, on site as the Slovak film industry begins to recover from the pandemic.

TBILISI: The Georgian majority coproduction Brighton 4th by Levan Koguashvili won best film, best actor (Levan Tediashvili) and best script awards at the 20th edition of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York (9-20 June 2021). The film also received an award from Netflix, which will contribute to its distribution.

TBILISI: The Greek-born Oscar-nominated cinematographer/director Phedon Papamichael is currently in postproduction with the thriller Light Falls, which he shot during the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown in Greece in 2020. The film is a Georgian/Albanian/Greek coproduction with Georgia’s EnkenyFilms involved in the project.

TBILISI: A legendary figure of Georgian cinema and theatre, director, screenwriter, puppeteer, painter, sculptor, production designer and book illustrator Revaz (Rezo) Gabriadze died on 5 June 2021 at 84.

TBILISI: The revered Georgian actress Marina Janashia (71) died on 27 May 2021. She was a leading actress at the Shota Rustaveli State Drama Theatre and starred in over 20 films and TV series.

TBILISI: The Georgian National Film Center has distributed 51,711 EUR / 206,846 GEL for the production of three short animated films to be directed by Mamuka Tkeshelashvili, Elene Sebiskveradze and Tamta Managadze.

KUTAISI: O Mà! by French director Vincent Launay-Franceschini was awarded best film at the first edition of the Kutaisi International Short Film Festival, which took place in a physical format from 8 to 12 May 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants.

FNE correspondent Alexander Gabelia spoke to Nini Shvelidze, International Programme Coordinator of the Kutaisi International Film Festival, about the first edition of the KISFF, which is finally taking place in a physical format 8–12 May 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants. The festival is supported by the Georgian National Film Centre (GNFC) and the Kutaisi Municipality. Nini speaks to FNE about the challenges and the importance of organising the festival on site as the Georgian film industry begins to recover from the pandemic.

TBILISI: Georgia Connect, which is an agency that promotes filming opportunities in Georgia launched by the producer Nika Apriashvili in Berlin in February 2021, plans a massive outreach campaign to promote shooting in Georgia.