Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili is bringing his latest work to the Venice Film Festival, where “Guria” will make its world premiere in the Spotlight section on September 9. The black-and-white tragicomedy transports viewers to 1990s western Georgia, chronicling the life of Zuriko, a middle-aged widower navigating the challenges of rural existence while seeking both romantic companionship and profitable hazelnut sales.
The ambitious production represents a truly international undertaking, involving financial backing and creative teams from seven countries across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Partnerships with production companies in Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Bulgaria, alongside support from cultural organizations in Turkey, Norway, and Saudi Arabia, underscore the film’s broad appeal and the collaborative nature of contemporary European filmmaking.
This marks the fourth feature film from Koguashvili, who has previously earned recognition at prestigious festivals including Rotterdam, Abu Dhabi, Tribeca, and Cottbus. The director collaborated on the screenplay with Boris Frumin, his former professor at New York University’s graduate film program, who has served as a longtime creative partner. The script emerged after Koguashvili spent several months in the Guria region gathering material and observing local life during the post-Soviet era.
Koguashvili’s filmmaking style characteristically blends moments of hardship with comedic elements, reflecting his perspective that even tragedy contains multiple dimensions and dimensions of human experience warrant exploration through both serious and humorous lenses.
Originally reported by Variety →
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