The history of the Georgian cinema begins practically in parallel with the European one. The first cinema show took place in Tbilisi in 16 November 1896. Soon after that Cinema Houses were opened in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and in the other cities.
1908 the first film directors Dighmelov and Amashukeli made their first experimental shots, and in 1912 Amashukeli shot the first in the history of the world cinema full-length documentary “Akaki Tsereteli in Racha-Lechkhumi”. This is officially acknowledged the date of the beginning of the Georgian cinema.In 1916 Tsutsunava shoots the first full-range feature film “Christine” according to the classic of the Georgian literature. It is interesting that the Georgian cinema from the very first steps was widely supported by the leading representatives of the Georgian intellectuals. This fact has predetermined high artistic quality, spiritual and conceptual direction of the Georgian cinema.
Beginning from 1921 when Georgia lost its independence and over the whole complicated 70-year - old period, the Georgian cinema, within the limits of possible has began striving to achieve artistic truth. The film directors often had to apply to symbols and metaphors, to parables and allegories, but still the best among them had not shot any pro-Communist film. Owing to the high professionalism Georgian cinema was appreciated in the world’s cinematography. Films of Georgian directors won prizes, but the copies of the awarded films were produced in the minimal amount. In such a difficult situation Georgian cinema drew the viewer’s attention to high, universal moral values, supporting the idea of national dignity.
It is difficult to prove that all the film directors of the Georgian cinema managed to avoid the influence of the Soviet ideology, to refuse conformism, but most of them, mainly the film directors of the “new Georgian cinema”, e.g. of the 60-70s, could preserved the really valuable essentials that make up - “the feature of the Georgian cinema”, the phenomenon of the Georgian cinema.
In the 20-30s mainly classical works are screened, chronicles, adventure films appear (“Red Imps” by Perestiani). In 1924 “Three Lives” by Perestiani was a great success - the film was the first attempt to psychological insight into the characters of the heroes. When the films “Samanishvili's Stepmothere” (Marjanishvili) and “Khanuma” (Tsutsunava) appeared on the screen, they marked the beginning of a new genre of a comedy film. Films of this period were very popular due to the first Georgian film star Nato Vachnadze {Three Lives, The Story of Tariel Mklavadze, Who can Be Blamed, Gadfly,) whose beauty and talent shone on the sky of the Georgian Cinema till the 50ies.
The second half of the 20ies witnessed a new wave of Georgian filmmakers who brought new genres and style in the Georgian Cinema. One of the best representatives of the generation was Nikolai Shengelaia. Among successful cinema workers are Michail Kalatozishvili and Michael Chiarureli.In 1955 a Tengiz Abuladze and Rezo Chkheidze debut Donkey of Magdana appeared (based on E. Gabashvili's short story with the same title). This was the film that started a new stage in the history of the Georgian Cinema. Fims of this period follow the principles of aesthetics of the neo-realism.
1972 was a remarkable year in the history of the Georgian Cinematography. A faculty of Cinema was opened in the Tbilisi Sh. Rustaveli Theatre Institute, and later the institute was named The Tbilisi Theatre and Cinema Institute. Those educated in this new school of cinema, directors of the 80ies and 90ies, breathed a new life in this art, they tackled new prob-lems, and differently viewed the world.
And still. Though the cinema art of the 90ies does not seem active, it was able to reflect general disposition of the society, the atmosphere people lived in, and this is the most remarkable. The films produced in the decade are different in style and manner but main trends still can be identified.
Despair,fear,total chaos in the country-this is atmosphere of the films of the 90ies of the Georgian Cinematography: Night Dance by Aleko Tsabadze, Insomniacs by Temur Babluani, The Favourite by Mikheil Kalatozishvili, They by Levan Zakareishvili, On the Verge by Dito Tsintsadze, No, My Friend by Gio Mgeladze, A Slaughterbouse of Dreams by Giorgi Kbaindrava, Here Comes the Dawn by Zasa Urishadze, The Lake by Kakha Kikabidze etc...
In the eighties of this century the film industry in Georgia had reached its peak, every year were produced about 60 feature, documentary and animated films.
At the beginning of 1990, the film industry system in Georgia was composed of:Film studio “Qartuli filmi”, which included the documentary film studio “Mematiene”, animated film studio, on the basis of which were formed two animation studios “Kvali” and “Orbi”. Georgian film studio has got the necessary technical and material resources, but it became out of date, and now is practically unserviceable. The film studio “Qartuli filmi” annually has been producing 8 full-length feature films, 8-10 feature films were put on the production line, while documentary film studio “Mematiane” during the year was producing 60-70 documentary, scientific-popular or custom films (100-120 parts each year).
The company “Georgian Film” has more than 30 years experience in artistic, documentary, scientific-popular, musical and animated film industry. It also has got the proper technical base feature and video-film production. During this period it has produced 1200 films of different genres, of which 100 films have been awarded with prizes of different film festivals.
From 1993 the film industry structure gradually begun to change. First film companies were created on the basis of Georgian film, however they soon ceased their existence. On the second stage were formed the companies and studios, releasing the independent film production.
Companies making independent movie and video production nowadays in Georgia are functioning by means of alternative financial sources – documentary and scientific-popular films financed by donors and international organizations, (for example; this year “Fund of Soros” financed documentary films by Gender program, in Georgia as well as in Armenia, Azerbaijan and other republics of former Soviet Union. The films were about women fate in these countries. Later the mentioned films were shown by western TV companies), corporation films, films ordered by state structures, film projects financed by private companies or funds,
TV companies also get interested with local film production (e.g. TV company “Ninth channel” in 2003 financed 4 short feature films.
In 2003 the TV Company “Imedi” is producing simultaneously six TV serials. Also the TV company “Rustavi 2” financed the documentary film serial “The modern history of Georgia”.
The international organization “Internews” 4 years ago financed the production of 7 documentary films. The duration of the film was 30-60 minutes. The fact that the government tries to support the Georgian film industry has to be underlined, and even if the amount of money spent for it is scarce (in 2004 only 490,000 dollars), it represents the only way of public funding.Some of the Georgian directors continue to work with success abroad, especially in France and Germany (loseliani, M. Kobakhidze, N. Georgiadze, I. Kvirikadze, D. Tsintsadze) Some directors, are trying to raise private funds for their films in Georgia or abroad,' but .there is no doubt that at this stage the preservation of the Georgian Film Industry depends totally by state funding.
Georgian Parliament has approved a law which encourages the state financial support of national productions In 2001-2002 was created the Georgian “film center”, that was the new structural unit. From today the state financing is fully transferred to “film center” 450 000 USD), which announces open competition for managing to get it- full-length films, documentary films, animated films, also the scenario preparation and project development. “Qartuli filmi” can take part in this competition with equal rights as well as any independent producer or independent company. The law of Georgia in the audiovisual sphere, in the recent future will be in full conformity with the law of Europe - " Euro Vision Without Frontiers".
The Georgian cinema has a wide creative potential. In recent years some new independent production houses Lave been started. Notwithstanding the economic crisis, the young generations are still very interested in cinema. At the Institute for Theatre and Cinema, at Tbilisi State University and at other universities many students are enrolled in cinema studies.The union of Georgian cinema workers, to which 400 members with different roles in the cinema industry belong, supports the world of cine-ma and organizes several meetings and Georgian or Foreign Film festivals. Lately there is a renewed interest in cinema.In Georgia exists one international film festival. Tbilisi International Film Festival was created in 2000. During two years it was Film Festival became independent. The TIFF is a non-commercial multidimensional cultural event introducing new experimental and innovative films to the wide audience.
Further Links:
Georgian Cinema The first cinema show took place ... 17. Jan. 2006 Rappo
Soon after that Cinema Houses were opened in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and in the other cities. The history of Georgian cinema begins from 1908 – 1910, when Georgian cinema pioneers Vasil Amashukeli and Aleqsandr Digmelov started shooting first ...
In Deutschland präsentierte georgische Filme und M... 4. Dez. 2005 Rappo
Im Mai 2002 organisierte die Gesellschaft "LILE" das Kurzfilmprogramm "Cinema Georgien" wobei die besten georgischen Kurzfilme vorgestellt wurden. "Alawerdoba" (1962) von Giorgi Schengelaja, "Serenade" (1968) von Kartlos Chotiwari, ...
VOM KRIEG DES WEINBAUERN: Der „Tauwetter“–Spielfi... 16. Dez. 2005 Rappo
Politics, Society, Art in Soviet Cinema, London/New York 1992; Radvanyi, J. (Hg.): Le cinéma georgien, Paris 1988; Mostra interna-zionale del Nuovo cinema (Hg.): Il cinema delle ... Soviet Cinema and the Thaw, Lon-don/New York 2000. ...
FEATURE FILMS FROM GEORGIA (CAUCASUS) "Wedding" -... 2. Okt. 2005 Rappo
FEATURE FILMS FROM GEORGIA (CAUCASUS). "Wedding" - 35 mm. 16 min. Written and directed by -M. Kobakhidze. Camera -N. Sukhishvili. A gently ironic film about a young pharmacist and his beautiful dream of marrying the girl he loves. ...
CINEMA-GEORGIENEine Filmreihe mit Filmen von Schen... 14. Febr. 2006 Rappo
Eine Filmreihe mit Filmen von Schengelaja im März
Der in Hamburg ansässige Verein LILE e.V. veranstaltet in Zusammenarbeit mit demDeutschen Filmmuseum Frankfurt und der Kinemathek Metropolis, unterstützt durch das Georgisches Kulturforum e.V. Frankfurt, eine Filmreihe die Filmemacher der Familie Schengelaja.
Der Künstler Wladimir Schengelaja Wladimir Scheng... 11. Dez. 2005 Rappo
Wladimir Schengelaja "OT" 2000, 55 x 50 cm, Acryl auf Leinwand. "Ich wurde in der malerischen Stadt ... Wladimir Schengelaja wurde1949 in Suchumi/Abchasiengeboren. ... "OT", 2000, Öl auf Leinwand, 50 x 50 cm. Homepage: Wladimir Schengelaja.
In Deutschland präsentierte georgische Filme und M... 4. Dez. 2005 Rappo
Dabei wurden der Stummfilm "Eliso" (1928) von Nikolos Schengelaja, ... Doch es gab auch einige wirkliche Filmkunstwerke wie "Eliso" (N.Schengelaja, 1928), ... "Alawerdoba" (1962) von Giorgi Schengelaja, "Serenade" (1968) von Kartlos ...
Dinara Maglakelidse: Nationale Identitäten in den westdeutschen ... 19. Juli 2005 Rappo
Volltext der Dissertation: html pdf xml Interviews aus dieser Arbeit: Interview mit Merab Kokotschaschwili Interview mit Eldar Schengelaja Interview mit Lana Gogoberidse Interview mit Giorgi Schengelaja Interview mit Nana Djordjadse.
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