Conflict-affected communities host a women-themed film festival

EU and UNDP support youth and women’s engagement in conflict-affected communities

December 2, 2022

As part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, Shida Kartli-based civil society organization ‘Kona’ is organizing a two-day film festival, bringing depictions of Georgian women’s lives to the communities living near the dividing line. The event is supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the EU4Dialogue project.

The film festival opened in Kaspi Technopark today with Keti Machavariani’s award-winning documentary Sunny - Mziuri (2021). The film earned the Honourable Mention of the Best Mid-Length Documentary category at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, the largest documentary festival in North America.

The second day of screenings is set to be held at the culture house of nearby Kvemo Chala village, where the EU4Dialogue programme assists ‘Kona’ to build a youth centre. The festival is bringing together Kvemo Chala and Kaspi community youths and adults, as well as youngsters from the neighbouring conflict-affected communities and IDP settlements.

“Women have always played a crucial role in the process of peace-making but also in film-making, however, the link between the two is often overlooked. Together with our UN partners, it is our great pleasure to highlight some of Georgia’s creative power in these women-created films, shown in Kvemo Chala. Within the 16 Days of Activism campaign, we continue to speak up to help end gender-based violence and empower women all across the country.”

Catalin Gherman, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia

“Today’s event under 16 Days of Activism is a great opportunity to rethink challenges facing women, as well as to celebrate the vision and creativity of Georgian women filmmakers together with the conflict-affected communities in Shida Kartli. Georgia rightfully takes pride in a century-old tradition of female filmmaking, continued by contemporary artists telling their thought-provoking stories. We are pleased to see our local partners driving social discussions here in Kaspi and Kvemo Chala communities, by offering screenings of world-class Georgian cinema. Together with the EU, UNDP is working to encourage the engagement of women and youth, including by facilitating greater access to digital services and education.”

Nick Beresford, UNDP Resident Representative in Georgia

Along with Keti Machavariani’s Mziuri, the festival will feature movies by Lana Ghoghoberidze, Nana Ekvtimishvili and Nino Gogua, celebrating the artistry and vision of Georgian women filmmakers. The movies offer an authentic display of women's lives at times of peace and conflict. The screenings will pave the way for discussions between filmmaker Keti Machavariani and Nino Gogua and the audience, including women and youth.

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The 16 Days of Activism is an international campaign to eliminate gender-based violence in all forms. It begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.

EU4Dialogue: Support to Conflict Transformation in the South Caucasus and the Republic of Moldova is a joint initiative of the EU and UNDP under the broader EU4Dialogue program. The project partners with local CSOs and grassroots groups to improve socio-economic conditions for people, build livelihoods, drive progress toward gender equality, promote youth engagement and support the peaceful transformation of conflict. More information on the website: https://bit.ly/3BIreEv

Media contacts

Sophie Tchitchinadze, UNDP, +995 599 196907, sophie.tchitchinadze@undp.org
Otar Kobakhidze, UNDP, +995 599 775879, otar.kobakhidze@undp.org
Tamar Mikadze, European Union Delegation to Georgia, +995 32 2364364, tamriko.mikadze@eeas.europa.eu