The Georgian National Film Center (GNFC) announced that Rusudan Glurjide’s ‘The Antique’ was chosen as the country’s 97th Academy Awards contender.
The GNFC reports that during the vote, Glurjidze’s film received support from 5 members, with Dea Kulumbegashvili’s ‘April’, renowned at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, being a single vote short. Other Georgian films, released in 2024, were not part of the poll at all.
‘The Antique’ is a drama set in 2006 St. Petersburg, and follows a young Georgian woman Medea who, after selling her house in Georgia, meets an old man and tells a personal story of immigration, displacement, and its complexities. Critics praised the film for its sensitive and sophisticated portrayal of immigration, illegal deportation, and other political issues.
The GNFC committee that made the decision included the following members: Zaza Shatirishvili (philosopher), Vladimir Katcharava (producer), Edmond Minashvili (producer), Levan Gigineishvili (philosopher), Nikoloz Shengelaia (set painter), Khatuna Khundadze (producer), Giorgi Chuburidze (director), Bachana Odisharia (the head of film production at GNFC), and Giorgi Tskhvediani (junior specialist of film export at GNFC).
By Mariam Razmadze
Image source: oscars.org