The 4th Svaneti International Film Festival (15-21 July), held amidst the mountainous scenery of northwest Georgia’s historical region of Svaneti, wrapped with an open-air ceremony on the main square of the town of Mestia on 21 July. Founded in 2021 and headed by local filmmaker Mariam Khachvani (Dede [+lee también:
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After a week of preparations and sessions within the Pitching Forum Competition, the jury of experts including British producer Sam Taylor (Before the Rain, Dede), who has extensive experience in co-productions between the UK and Eastern European countries, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’s Head of Programming Edvinas Pukšta, and Head of Sofia Meetings Mira Staleva, chose Rachel Hananashvili’s family drama project Redeem Me taking place in a Georgian-Israeli household and focused on the 12-year-old Rita who navigates a tumultuous domestic environment, to receive the Chalet Mestia Award for Best Project, consisting of a week of creative residency. Tea Vatsadze's dystopian project Gravity received the Best Project by a Female Director Award, which comes with GEL 5000 (approximately €1,700), provided by the Georgian Public Broadcast. Anchored in the dark comedy genre, Gravity depicts a post-Soviet society where donkey farmers have taken power. Additionally, a Special Mention went to Abastumani by Mariam Karkashadze.

Parallel to the Pitching Forum Competition, several masterclasses took place, led by established experts: Asian Pacific Screen Awards’ Manager Sheree Remage, Red Sea Film Festival’s Head of International Programming Kaleem Aftab, Berlinale’s Programme Coordinator Daniela Weber, and Sundance Film Festival’s programmer Stephania Owens. A keynote masterclass was also given by acclaimed Swedish filmmaker and special guest Ruben Östlund, whose work was presented with an extensive retrospective, including his early and lesser-known short and mid-length films. During the closing ceremony, he also received the festival’s Honorary Goddess Dali Award.

Furthermore, the international jury in the Short Film Competition consisting of Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s programmer Dimitris Kerkinos, Georgian actress Ia Sukhitashvili and Edvinas Pukšta gave two more Goddess Dali awards, namely Best Film to the Georgian short It’s Not Far From Here by Timur Chopliani, and Best Director to Kim Toress from Costa Rica for The Moon Will Contain Us.

Finally, a special programme of four digitally restored Georgian classics from the silent period was shown during open-air late-night screenings.

Here is the full list of winners:

Pitching Forum Competition Awards

Chalet Mestia Award for Best Project
Redeem Me – Rechel Hananashvili (Georgia)

Best Project by a Female Director
Gravity – Tea Vatsadze (Georgia)

Special Mention
Abastumani – Mariam Karkashadze (Georgia)

Short Film Competition Awards

Best Film
It’s Not Far From Here – Timur Chopliani (Georgia)

Best Director
Kim Toress – The Moon Will Contain Us (Costa Rica/USA)

Honorary Goddess Dali Award
Ruben Östlund