Georgian cinema has existed for over 100 years. It has been recognized, loved, and admired by viewers worldwide. Even the Italian director, Federico Fellini once described Georgian films in the following way: “A very strange phenomenon, special, philosophically light, and at the same time, childishly pure.”

Most Georgian films are highly intelligent, which makes the viewer think about and analyze every single dialogue, and discuss it with friends afterwards.  Unfortunately, even having such an extensive reach and long life, Georgian cinema is virtually unknown to North American viewers; leaving it almost unnoticed by so many. But, this is about to change since TIFF Cinematheque is about to introduce unique travelling series of Georgian films with the rare opportunity to show them on 35mm, the way all these films were originally envisioned to be shown by the filmmakers.

TIFF Cinematheque programme will present 14 features and four shorts from this unprecedented travelling series, which is called ‘Discovering Georgian Cinema’, and runs from May 8 to May 19 at the TIFF Bell Light Box. Just looking at the program itself will make movie lovers extremely eager to see them. Films such as Tengiz Abuladze`s Molba (The Plea) (1967), which will be presented during the travelling series, demonstrates how the death of heroes, the knights of truth and good, leads the Poet to the idea of inconceivable evil. Tired of struggle and hardship, the Poet lays down his gun, just to take it back again after seeing what misery and misfortune is caused from rejection in the struggle against evil. This is one of those film`s that simply cannot be missed for many reasons, and one of them is it will be shown in rare 35mm.

Another film that also must be seen is My Grandmother filmed, in 1929 by Kote Mikaberidze. This film has an interesting and fascinating story and has experienced its rebirth, and its first real recognition after 70 years. This film was banned and denied to be shown publicly as an “anti-Soviet picture” with the “Trotskyist attitude to decay of the Soviet system.” TIFF Cinematheque manages to bring this film in its original format, 35mm, which will keep the audience amazed by its beauty and originality.

For full schedules and additional information, click here