Holy Electricity comes out on top at the Georgian Eliso Awards

by Vladan Petkovic

17/06/2025 - The jury, including Agnieszka Holland, Carlos Reygadas and Angeliki Papoulia, called for support for independent culture in the country and the release of actor Andro Chichinadze

Holy Electricity comes out on top at the Georgian Eliso Awards

Awards ceremony host Giviko Baratashvili, and Best Film and Best Cinematography winner Tato Kotetishvili (© Lasha Gigauri)

The second edition of the independent Georgian Eliso Awards took place in Gurjaani last weekend, with Tato Kotetishvili's Locarno prizewinner Holy Electricity [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tato Kotetishvili
film profile] picking up Best Film and Best Cinematography.

Maka Gogaladze won Best Director and Best Editor for her Visions du Réel entry Ever Since I Knew Myself [+see also:
film review
film profile], while the Best Acting gong was split between Mzia Arabuli for Levan Akin’s Crossing [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Levan Akin
film profile] and Data Chachua for George Sikhaluridze’s Panopticon [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: George Sikharulidze
film profile]. The Karlovy Vary entry also picked up Best Production Design for Ketevan Nadibaidze.

Each prize had a financial component of GEL 5,000 (circa €1,575). A Special Mention in the Best Film category went to Elene Mikaberidze’s CPH:DOX title Blueberry Dreams.

The jury, comprising Carlos Reygadas, Elene Naveriani, Agnieszka Holland, Dito Tsintsadze, Thomas Hakim, Angeliki Papoulia and Salome Kikaleishvili, issued a statement that showed strong support for the independent awards established last year by the Nato Vachnadze Foundation (see the news) in response to the authoritarian actions of the country’s government, which resulted in the boycotting of the Georgian National Film Center by a large part of the film industry (see the news), and called for the release of actor Andro Chichinadze, arrested in November for his participation in anti-regime protests.

“We are truly impressed by the variety and quality of films presented at Eliso 2025. The selected works bring a sense of freshness and vitality that reflects the new wave of Georgian independent cinema. Each film moved us with its personal tone and unique voice. This is a celebration of Georgian independent filmmaking at its most sincere and powerful.

“But cinema and art cannot exist without freedom – freedom of speech and freedom of expression. These are no luxuries; they are essential to life itself. We express solidarity with the Georgian people in their ongoing efforts to protect these fundamental freedoms. We call for the release of Andro Chichinadze, an important voice in Georgian culture, and all other captives of the regime.”

The director of the Nato Vachnadze Foundation, actress Natalia Jugheli, said: “I am very grateful to the 2025 Eliso jury and all of our supporters. It was one of the rare occasions when filmmakers felt unified, validated and celebrated, which is much-needed during these turbulent days.”

The full list of Eliso Award winners is below:

Best Film
Holy Electricity [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Tato Kotetishvili
film profile] - Tato Kotetishvili (Georgia/Netherlands)
Special Mention
Blueberry Dreams - Elene Mikaberidze (Georgia/France/Belgium/Qatar)