The IV Svaneti International Film Festival will be held in Mestia from July 15 to 21, with Basisbank as the official sponsor. Founded in 2021 by directors Mariam Khachvani and Teimuraz Chkhvimiani, the festival has grown into a significant cultural event in Georgia, attracting international attention.
The festival has become an integral part of the global film festival circuit. This year, Mestia will welcome guests from around the world, including programmers and selection members from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Thessaloniki, Karlovy Vary, and Tallinn. For the first time, the festival will also host programmers from the Sundance Film Festival.
The event will feature a short film competition, a pitching forum for full-length films, and an international project presentation competition. The festival’s main award, the Goddess Dali Prize, will be given in the categories of Best Movie and Best Director.
Film screenings will take place daily at the Mestia Culture and Art Center and in the open air at Seti Square. Attendees will enjoy a retrospective of director Ruben Ostlund's films, special screenings of classic Georgian silent cinema, and children's film screenings outdoors.
"The creative team of the Svaneti International Film Festival works actively to develop and grow the festival each year, enhancing its reputation both in Georgia and globally. The main goal is to support young filmmakers at all stages of project implementation, which is why we focus on strengthening the industrial aspect of the festival. I am glad that Basisbank became the official sponsor this year, and I hope our partnership will expand even more in the coming years," said festival organizer and director Mariam Khachvani.
"Basisbank, as a financial institution with high social responsibility, actively supports Georgian culture. We are glad to join the Svaneti International Film Festival for the first time this year. The festival has already garnered great national interest and become one of the most important artistic events in the country. We believe that support from the business sector is crucial for various fields of art, enabling Georgian culture to flourish. Through this cooperation, we aim to establish a successful partnership," added Tamar Khaduri, Head of the Strategic Communications Department at Basisbank.
