FESTIVAL: Georgian Film-Tele-Video Market 17-21 December 2006

The First International Film Festival Ever In The Caucasus. Representatives from more than 30 countries will be participating in this historic festival. Participants are given a unique opportunity to introduce their works and establish commercial relationships with representatives from the film industry – from all over the world!

More: Georgian Film Makers Group

Federico Fellini gave the following assessment of Georgian film: 'Georgian film is a strange phenomenon, special, philosophically light, sophisticated and at the same time childishly pure and innocent. There is everything that can make me cry and I ought to say that it (my crying) is not an easy thing'.

The Georgian cinematography which made its first steps together with European film, celebrates its 100 anniversary in 2008. On November 16, 1896, the Tbilisi nobility theatre (currently Griboedov theatre) was showing Lumieres’ cinematography. In 1904, first cinema – Illusion opened on Golovin Avenue. Cinema business in Tbilisi developed very successfully and the first advertising agency “Matiniyants Advertising Bureau” was opened. Georgian film production history starts from 1908, which was pioneered by Vasil Amashukeli and Alexander Dighmelov. Their documentaries (“Gunab seize 50 anniversary parade in Baku”, “Transporting coal on camels”, “Pictures of Baku bazaar”, “Pictures of Kutaisi”, “On the ruins of Bagrati cathedral”, etc) mainly depicted the current events of the society.
In 1912 in Kutaisi, the cinema Radium hosted the showing of the first full length Georgian film by Vasil Amashukeli – „Akaki’s travel to Racha-Lechkhumi“. This film was unprecedented in the world cinematography by its length and high quality of performance.
In 1916 Alexander Tsutsunava made the first full length Georgian film – Christine - based on the novel by Egnate Ninoshvili. First Georgian producer Germane Gogitidze played greatest role in the making of this movie.
In 1918, the Belgian chief of cinema company Film – Mr. Pirone founded a small film studio where today film studio Mematiane is based. This place became a home for successful filmmakers – Director Mikheil Barski, Camera – Alexander Dighmelov, Artist – Simov and others. 1918-1921 during Georgia’s short-lived independence, many interesting documentaries and feature films were made. From 1921, Georgia is taken over by the Soviet rule, which openly pressured free thought. However, despite strict censorship, Georgian filmmakers managed to nurture their professional traditions and developed them. They kept to the way, which they chose, from the first steps of filmmaking, which later played a crucial role in making Georgian film as a high quality and unique school of cinematography.

Georgian filmmaking attracts some new faces. In 1923 director Amo bek-Nazarov in his film “The patricide” brought later Georgian movie star Nato Vachnadze to the screen, in partnership with Vano Sarajishvili. The new generation of directors also appeared.Film production in Georgia is growing, as is the number of cinemas in the country. In 1928, the film sector chronicle headed by Siko Dolidze was created in the “saxkinmretsvi”. At that time “Saxkinmretsvy” had already made 173 features and chronicle films.
The issue of cinematography education became important and in 1930, a two year school-studio was opened at “Saxkinmretsvi”. In 1923 first film with sound Shakiri is made.

Animated movies directed by Arkadi Khintibidze “Tsuna and Tsrutsuna”, “Wedding of the Jays” and “Hostility“ have been acclaimed as classics of Georgian animated filmmaking.
In 1938 “saxkinmretsvi” was renamed to “Tbilisi Film Studio”.
In the fourties despite the problems caused by the WWII, great films came to screen – as Kote Pipinashvili’s “Kajana”, Mikheil Chiaureli’s “Giorgi Saakadze” and others. Documentary filmmakers Giorgi Asatiani, Shalva Chagunava, Shalva Khomeriki, Levan Arzumanov, Otar Dekanosidze and others left invaluable documentary footage of WWII.
kinofoto arqivi started functioning in January 1946.
In 1947, together with the newly founded stereo cinema studio, first soviet full length stereoscopic film was made in Tbilisi film studio. In the early 50ies color films are made.
In 1953 “Tbilisi film studio” was renamed to “Georgian Film”. In 1950ies new generation comes to Georgian film. “Magdana’s Lurdja” – a film by Tengiz Abuladze and Rezo Chkheidze made in 1955 wins first prize on 9th International Film Festival in Cannes. The same year it won first prize in the Edinburgh film festival in Scotland.
December 30, 1956 Georgian television started functioning, which soon gathered a cinema crew which made first television film in Georgia. In 1958 documentary and scientific popular film studio “Mematiane” was founded.
In the early sixties films that have taken special place in Georgian film history were made. Levan Khotivari’s “Uneducated Son-in Law”, Tengiz Abuladze’s “Grandmother, Iliko, Ilarion and I”, Rezo Chkheidze’s “The Soldier’s Father”, Giorgi Shengelaia’s “Alaverdoba”, etc.

We express gratitude to:
Minister of Minister of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sports of Georgia - Giorgi Gabashvili,
The Deputy Minister of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport - Nikoloz Vacheishvili,
Director of joint-stock company “Qartuli Filmi” - Rezo Chheidze
Director of a film studio 'Mematiane'- Ramaz (Buba) Khotivari
Director of the State Archive Cinema-photo-phonos documents - Marlen Kitia

We thank for financial support to:
President of Georgian Reconstruction and Development Company - Lado ImnaishviliDirector of Georgian National Film Center - Gaga Chkheidze
The author of ideas and the project
David Abdaladze

Above drawing up of the book worked:
Alexsander Guruli, Ketevan Jakeli, Giorgi Kvirkvelia, David Abdaladze,
Editor: Qeti Djapaidze
Translation: Qetevan Qadagidze
Design and layout: Giorgi Kakabadze
Advisers:Nino Andjaparidze, Lasha Bakradze, Nineli Chankvetadze, Qeti Kakabadze, Kote Chlaidze

Above the book worked:
Zeinab Khintskiria, Lia Sokhadze, etevan Qadagidze, Rusudan Gelashvili, Tako Abdaladze, Levan Kuparadze, Mikheil Kvirkvelia, Eka Janashia, Qeti Nikolava, The Center Film Producers “Kino Plus”

Source: http://www.gfm.ge/?lan=en&page=8&poster=2