30/11/2015 - This year’s edition has a special focus on women’s rights and gender democracy, with the WomenEyes section; a total of ten European films will be screened in the International Competition

The 16^th edition of the Tbilisi International Film Festival kicks off today (30 November) with a rich and diverse programme that will unspool until 6 December. Moira [+see also:
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The International Competition of the festival includes a total of ten European titles, such as Koza [+see also:
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interview: Ivan Ostrochovský
film profile] by Ivan Ostrochovskỳ (the Slovakian submission for the 2016 Oscars), the Greek-Turkish co-production Motherland [+see also:
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film profile] by Senem Tüzen, Pikadero [+see also:
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interview: Ben Sharrock
film profile] by Ben Sharrock, Sworn Virgin [+see also:
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Q&A: Laura Bispuri
film profile] by Laura Bispuri, The Bunker [+see also:
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film profile] by German director Nikias Chryssos, UK production The Violators [+see also:
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film profile] by Helen Walsh, The Wednesday Child [+see also:
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interview: Lili Horvát |
film profile] by Lili Horvát and Estonian title Zero Point [+see also:
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film profile] by Mihkel Ulk. This main section, made up of first and second features by European filmmakers, is rounded off by the two finalists for the LUX Film Prize: The Lesson [+see also:
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interview: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Val…
interview: Margita Gosheva
film profile] by Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva, and Mediterranea [+see also:
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interview: Jonas Carpignano
film profile] by Jonas Carpignano. The international jury in charge of handing out the Golden Prometheus for Best Film and the Silver Prometheus for Best Director is chaired by Martha Fiennes.

The Georgian Panorama is the competition for local titles, including films like The Summer of Frozen Fountains [+see also:
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interview: Salome Demuria
interview: Vano Burduli
film profile] by Vano Burduli, Solomon by Zaza Khalvashi and When the Earth Seems to Be Light… by Salome Matchaidze, Tamuna Karumidze and David Meskhi. The festival has held a national contest for the last three years, but this is the first edition to include three different categories and awards: Best Full Feature Film, Best Short Film and Best Documentary.

The Tbilisi Film Festival is fully committed to social and gender issues, and so this year it boasts a special line-up dedicated to women’s rights and the promotion of gender democracy. Its WomenEyes section covers feature-length films and documentaries directed by or focused on women, such as Much Loved [+see also:
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film profile] by Nabil Ayouch, As I Open My Eyes [+see also:
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interview: Leyla Bouzid
film profile] by Leyla Bouzid and Paulina [+see also:
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film profile], a co-production between Argentina, Brazil and France directed by Santiago Mitre. Several works by female directors will also be screened in the other sections of the festival, which this year has chosen the colour violet for its poster – a symbol of the international campaign to condemn violence against women. Besides the screenings, the Georgian gathering is also holding different panels and conferences with women’s rights activists.

Different sections such as the European Forum, Made in Germany and French Collection will present an extraordinary collection of European productions from the last two years. Finally, God of Happiness [+see also:
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film profile], a German-French-Georgian co-production directed by local filmmaker Dito Tsintsadze, will be screened at the closing ceremony (5 December).