Georgian cinema under spotlight at IFFI 2010

Panaji: Georgian cinema, which moved master Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini to tears, will be under spotlight at the 41st edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) that kickstarts in Goa Nov 22.

Five films from Georgia directed by talented directors hailing from the former province of erstwhile USSR will be showcased at the event, a spokesperson for the festival said. "The IFFI this year will showcase Temur Babluani`s `Udzinarta mze`, Sergei Parajanov`s `Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa`, Tenghiz Abuladze`s `Monanieba`, Georgy Shengelaya`s `Pirosmani` and Levan Tutberidze`s `Gaseirneba Karabaghshi`," the spokesperson told reporters. Georgian cinema is noted for its cinematography, which is said to have moved Fellini, director of classics like "81/2" and "La Dolce Vita", to tears. "A Georgian film is a strange phenomenon - special, philosophically light, sophisticated and at the same time childishly pure and innocent. There is everything that can make me cry and I ought to say that it (my crying) is not an easy thing," Fellini is known to have said. Out of the five movies shortlisted for the country focus section at IFFI, "Pirosmani" deals with the life of Georgian painter Niko Pirosmanashvili and "Gaseirneba Karabaghshi" tackles the subject of civil war and the futility of conflict. "Monanieba" won the special jury prize at the Cannes film festival in the 1980s. More than 8,500 delegates from across the world are expected to be part of the film fest which will end Dec 2. Veteran Bollywood director Yash Chopra will inaugurate the festival. IANS