FNE correspondent and film critic Alexander Gabelia spoke in Vienna with Mariam Shatberashvili, who works for DFFB, about the challenges she has faced as a producer during the pandemic, as well about the Georgian/German coproduction What Do We See When We Look At The Sky? by Alexandre Koberidze, which was screened within the Viennale 2021.

TBILISI: The 4th edition of the Tbilisi International Animation Festival is finally taking place in a hybrid format from 30 October to 2 November 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants.

FNE’s Georgian correspondent Alexander Gabelia spoke to Patrycja Blindow, who together with two other women runs the oldest studio cinema in Poland Kino Żeglarz. She talks about how they survived the pandemic with the help of crowdfunding and how the cinema has made a strong comeback during the recovery thanks to strong support from the local community.

TBILISI: Georgian director/writer Irine Jordania is currently in production with her debut feature Air Blue Silk. The cinematographer is Giorgi Shvelidze, whose work on Namme directed by Zaza Khalvashi and produced by BAFIS in coproduction with Lithuania’s Tremora earned him the Spotlight Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 2019.

TBILISI: Kino Lorber has acquired US rights to Brighton 4th directed by Levan Koguashvili and lensed by Oscar nominated cinematographer Phedon Papamichael. The film has recently been announced as Georgia’s official submission for the 94th Academy Awards.

FNE's Georgian correspondent Alexander Gabelia spoke to Mariam Khatchvani, Director of the Svaneti International Film Festival, about the first edition of the Svaneti IFF in Georgia, which finally took place after COVID delays in a physical format 3–7 October 2021, in compliance with the state regulations regarding the safety of participants. The Svaneti IFF is organised in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the Georgian National Film Center, General Sponsor Hotel GISTOLA, the Bank of Georgia, Teliani Valley, Badagi, All Print, Albomi travel club, and the Mestia Municipality.

TELAVI: The first edition of the script development residency organised by Terra Incognita Films and supported by the Georgian National Film Center is currently underway at the Zaira Arsenishvili House-Museum in Telavi, Georgia (10-17 October 2021). The project aims at helping to develop six feature films together with Georgian and foreign experts.