~ editors letter ~ The year of 2015 started with our becoming members of the Creative Europe, while by the end of the year, with the purpose of supporting the cinema industry, Geor- gian government introduced a cash rebate system, we have been working on since 2009. I believe both of these initiatives will make a huge contribution to the develop- ment of our industry. 1 In 2016, movies of different genres will be released. It is notable that three feature films among those are directed by women. Projects we are currently working on are very important. We have announced new types of competitions on script development, including comedy and children’s movies, adaptation of Georgian prose of the 21st century, scripts dedicated to the 100th anniver- sary of Georgia’s independence, and animation. Winners are given long- term work- shops by European script doctors, so 2016 will be dedicated to the script development. The young generation has become active in the field: we had premieres of six short films and a short film by Data Pirtskhalava “Father” was the winner of the main prize in this category at Locarno International Film Festival. Other films – “Ogasavara”, “Fa- ther”, “Exit”, “Preparation”, “The First Day” – are also participating at different festivals. Masters of Georgian cinema are also making films side-by-side with the young genera- tion. I have to mention a film by Rezo Esadze “Day as a Month” with its extraordinary nar- rative structure and visualaspect, which will take its noteworthy place in our film collection. One of the most important goals this year will be to return Georgian cinema heritage from archives in Moscow and design a suitable storage facility for it. All of these in unison create the past, present and future of Georgian cinema. Photo: Khatuna Khutsishvili Photo: Nana Janelidze, Natia Kanteladze film print ~ contents ~ 2 BERLINALE 2015 4 “HAPPY MEAL” BY KOTE TAKAISHVILI 48 THE 87TH OSCARS 8 “WELCOME TO KARASTAN” BY BEN HOPKINS 49 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL 10 “LUKA” BY GIORGI BARABADZE 51 NYON DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL 13 “THE VILLAGE” BY LEVAN TUTBERIDZE 53 BATUMI INTERNATIONAL ART HOUSE FILM FESTIVAL 16 NEW GEORGIAN SHORT FILMS 55 THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FESTIVAL AMIRANI 20 “INVISIBLE SPACES” – INTERVIEW WITH RATI ONELI 58 SARAJEVO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 22 WOMEN WHO SWIM 61 ABOUT THE NIKOZI FESTIVAL ONCE MORE 24 TINA’S CINEMA 64 68TH FESTIVAL DEL FILM LOCARNO 26 “MOIRA” BY LEVAN TUTBERIDZE 67 THE PROMETHEUS - TBILISI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 27 “EXODUS” BY VAKHO JAJANIDZE 69 GIFFONI – CARPE DIEM 29 THE DANCE OF DEATH IN THE NEW GEORGIAN CINEMA 70 NINO ORJONIKIDZE ABOUT CINEDOC 30 SPECIAL CINEMA 73 DISCOVERING A LIFE IN LONDON DEPICTED IN A FILM FROM GEORGIA 32 INTERVIEW WITH GELA KANDELAKI 74 “WHEN THE EARTH SEEMS TO BE LIGHT” SUCCESS ON IDFA FILM FESTIVAL 34 INTERVIEW WITH GAGA CHKHEIDZE 78 GEORGIA IN FOCUS AT THE TALLINN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 36 YOUNG CINEPHILES 80 PRODUCTION OUTLOOK 37 GEORGIA HAD AN AUTEUR DOCUMENTARY CINEMA, MERAB KOKOCHASHVILI 84 “I AM BESO” BY LASHA TSKVITINIDZE 38 INTERVIEW WITH MIKHEIL GOMIASHVILI 87 “DON’T BREATHE” BY NINO KIRTADZE 42 INTERVIEW WITH MARIAM KHACHVANI 90 “LINE OF CREDIT” BY SALOME ALEXI 44 INTERVIEW WITH ZAMZA 94 “ANOTHER CITY?” BY ZURAB INASHVILI 46 “FATHER” – SUCCESS IN LOCARNO AND A NEW IMAGE FOR GEORGIAN CINEMA 98 film print Publishing: Georgian National Film Center Executive Manager: Natia Kanteladze Chief Editors: Nana Janelidze, Natia Kanteladze Art Director: Manana Arabuli English language editor: David Tugwell Translator: Nana Mzhavanadze 3 Photographers: Khatuna Khutsishvili, Niko Tarielashvili. INTERVIEW WITH STEFAN TOLZ 100 Prepress manager: Alex Kakhniashvili Authors: Nana Tutberidze, Beka Maisuradze, OLD FOOTAGE FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE 103 Anano Bakuradze, Lela Ochiauri, Inga INTERVIEW WITH LANA GOGOBERIDZE 106 Khalvashi, Maia Levanidze, Noshre Chkhaidze, Ketevan Janelidze, Tea Gabidzashvili, Giorgi INTERVIEW WITH NINO KASRADZE 108 Razmadze, Neno Kavtaradze, Tato Melikishvili, Zaza Rusadze, Nino Shervashidze, Elene Pasuri, INTERVIEW WITH GIORGI VARSIMASHVILI 110 Ana Urushadze, Manana Lekborashvili, Archil SPECIAL FOCUS 113 Shubashvili, Ketevan Trapaidze, Nino Kalandia, Maka Kevlishvili, Davit Chikadze, Nino INTERVIEW WITH MIKHEIL ANTADZE 114 Natroshvili, Giorgi Gvaladze, Maia Tsetsadze, Salome Kikaleishvili, Meriko Kajaia, Ekaterine, INTERVIEW WITH KATRIEL SCHORY 117 Kutubidze, Anuka Lomidze, Tako Kalandadze, A GEORGIAN ANIMATION PROJECT Keti Machavariani, Gvantsa Zakareishvili, Natia Meparishvili AT THE ANNECY INTERNATIONAL ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL 119 Editorial office: 4, Zviad Gamsakhurdia INTERVIEW WITH NIKI KARIMI 121 Sanapiro Str, Tbilisi 0105 Georgia, Tel.: +995 32 2 999200, INTERVIEW WITH TAMARA TATISHVILI 124 [email protected] / web page: www. filmprint.ge INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN NOSSITER 127 Printing: 24 Saati publishing house, Tel.: +995 32 2 409445 INTERVIEW WITH ADAM MICHNIK 129 Printed with the support of INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD PENA 132 MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND MONUMENT PROTECTION OF GEORGIA INDUSTRY TODAY 135 INTERVIEW WITH NANA JANELIDZE 136 FILM EDUCATION (LEVAN KOGHUASHVILI, MAIA GUGUNAVA, TATO KOTETISHVILI) 139 1001 INGREDIENTS FOR MAKING FILMS FROM NANA JORJADZE 146 film print ~ festivals ~ In Berlin, during the time of the Franco-philes… 4 / At the 65th International Film Festival / First I will tell the reader which Franco I am talking film by Alexei German Jr “Under Electric Clouds”, which about in order not to make you worried that it is something won the Silver Bear for camera (Yevgeny Privin and Ser- to do with politics again. It is true that there is no lack of gei Mikhalchuk). Darren Aronofsky, the jury chairman politics at the Berlinale, but I am referring to American and a brilliant filmmaker in his own right, made a sig- actor James Franco, who was a visitor to Berlin over the nificant comment: “This is an original and unique film. whole festival (film stars usually come for a day or two) Its artistic images are unforgettable. It has been awarded as he participated in three films. He was presented at the for its contribution to cinematography.” Alexei German Jr press conferences over and over again, which led to cheer- himself believes that the film is about politics and at the ful exclamations from the audience. I don’t know about same time it tells the story of the origins of the intelligen- Georgia, but he seems to be very popular in Germany. tsia. Some of my colleagues described the film “Under This year again, the Berlinale was visited by actors such Electric Clouds” as “a nostalgic visual poem of hope.” as Charlotte Rampling, Juliette Binoche, Charlotte Gains- It just so happens that every year at the Berlinale there bourg, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, is revealed an issue or a topic which becomes a common Helen Mirren, Stellan Skarsgård, Helena Bonham Carter, idea for all the films presented at the festival. This year a Natalie Portman, Ian McKellen, Gabriel Byrne and Merab large share of the films in the main competition program Ninidze (we should start to appreciate Georgian actors - were dedicated to “strong women”, who, starting from only foreigners should not be doing this), who are all, family and ending with the end of the world, take charge in my opinion, more popular and differently interesting and solve problems. Greenland becomes a place for brav- actors than James Franco. I should note here that today ery for Juliette Binoche (“Nobody Wants the Night”); Georgian cinema, as well as everyone who knows Merab the wilderness of a desert is the location for Nicole Kid- Ninidze, misses him in Georgia as a top- level profes- man in the film “Queen of the Desert”; the field of battle sional actor. is home for Charlotte Rampling in the film “45 Years”, Merab Ninidze played one of the leading roles in the Alba Rohrwacher demonstrates the spiritual strength of an film print 5 Albania woman in the film “Sworn Virgin”, etc. managed to get the film out of the country. The journalis- Other film stars mentioned above played the main roles tic tool of “change of profession” has been used in “Taxi”. in films by such world-renowned filmmakers as Wer- The film director Jafar Panahi is now a taxi driver and the ner Herzog, Terrence Malick, Wim Wenders, Peter Green- story develops inside his car. One year Jafar Panahi was away, Kenneth Branagh, and Isabel Coixet, among others. even a member of the jury in absentia; a symbolic empty The works of these filmmakers were judged by the jury chair stood on the stage and we saw the film “Closed Cur- comprising chairman Darren Aronofsky, actors Audrey tain”, which was made when the director was not allowed Tautou and Daniel Brühl, filmmaker Claudia Llosa, pro- to leave his house. Therefore, the Berlinale organizers are ducer Martha De Laurentiis, filmmakers and screenwrit- honouring Jafar Panahi for his artistic work and social and ers: Bong Joon-ho and Matthew Weiner. political situation, and I think it would be more appropri- Despite the jury’s professionalism and competence, ate if the film “Taxi” was receiving an award on the ba- I would not agree with one of its decisions (and I know sis of its cinematographic qualities, and instead received many of my colleagues share this view). By this, I mean some other type of nomination rather than the main one. awarding the film “Taxi” by Iranian filmmaker Jafar -Pa It should also be noted that a few years ago Jafar Panahi’s nahi the film festival’s main Golden Bear award. I think excellent film “Offside” was awarded the Silver Bear on festivals should not award a film on the basis of the direc- its own merits. tor’s deeds and political position. I would like to remind If the jury took into account the deeds of one filmmaker, you that Jafar Panahi is persona non grata in Iran.