Georgian publishers took part at the Frankfurt Book Fair independently from state support and expressed concerns over the ruling party’s influence on culture and society. They declared being ‘blacklisted’ by government institutions for voicing their concerns about restrictive policies, particularly the ‘foreign agents law’. Publishers like Gvantsa Jobava, head of international affairs at ‘Intelekti’, emphasized her refusal to accept government grants, believing it undermines cultural independence.
Despite this turmoil, Georgian cinema has received yet another international recognition, with Vajiko Chachkhiani’s film ‘The Dog is Barking’ being selected for the Tokyo Gap-Financing Market. This marks the first Georgian-Japanese co-production, co-produced by Georgia’s Fuga Film and Japan’s Tomo Suzuki Japan.
