Preface to the catalog of the 5th Tbilisi International Internet Short Film Festival “Diogenes 2024”:
This year the 5th Tbilisi International Internet Short Film Festival “Diogenes 2024” is being held for the fifth time, which is very happy news not only for us, but also for many fans and participants located in all corners of the country. the world.
The basis and goal of creation and five-year activity of our festival was, was and will be popularization of Georgian and foreign short films.
We have passed a very interesting and intense period from 2020 to today. First of all, we should note the great contribution that the Film Academy has made to the formation of our festival. We, independent filmmakers, would not have had the opportunity to do this if it were not for the important date of 2012, when the country’s government changed, the Georgian Dream came and fundamental, vital changes for the citizens were planned, implemented and are still being realized. It was thanks to this turn towards the people that the Film Academy started working in full force and under the leadership of Mr. Buba (Ramaz) Hotivari (then President of the Film Academy) a lot of interesting ideas got the necessary direction and were successfully implemented. A strong and dedicated labor and initiative group was created, which managed and still manages to do a great and important work for the maintenance of the festival for a very small salary. The professional activity of the festival and its prestige are determined by the evaluation system and evaluators, who carefully assess films and give them deserved awards and prizes.
It is impossible not to mention their contribution and not to mention with great gratitude – the honorary chairmen of the festival, the coryphees of Georgian cinema – Mr. Eldar Shengelai, Mr. Merab Kokochashvili, Mr. Irakli Papava, Gogi Toradze and all those who took an active part in the work of the festival jury and still do to this day.
In 2020, during the difficult period of the pandemic – with the support of the City Service of Culture, Education, Sports and Youth Affairs of the Tbilisi Municipality Mayor’s Office, the direct participation, attention and kindness of Mr. Kakha Kaladze, Mr. Beka Davituliani, Mr. Andro Basilaya allowed us to implement our project, which has no analogues. In the Sea Region – “International Internet (Online) Film Festival” we worked hard and covered the whole world.
For five years our wonderful fans and partners have stood with us – Georgia Chamber of Culuth, Writers House, several independent studios (Studio Soko and Studio Cots) – we thank them for their loyalty, cooperation and support.
For five years our wonderful fans and partners have stood with us – Georgia Chamber of Culuth, Writers House, several independent studios (Studio Soko and Studio Cots) – we thank them for their loyalty, cooperation and support.
The National Film Center of Georgia periodically participates in the activities of our festival and should help us. I hope this mutual cooperation will not stop this year and in the future, but on the contrary, it will grow, because it has big plans. and innovations in the run-up to the festival.
The 5th Tbilisi International Internet Short Film Festival “Diogenes” has received more than five thousand applications for participation in the competition program since its inception. There is not a single country and a representative of that country – a filmmaker who would not participate in the festival and. not submit his/her work for participation in the competition program.
This year we have introduced two innovations in the format of the festival:
1. We hold the festival in two seasons – spring and summer. This time “Spring Season” was held in the cinematographic city of Odessa, and “Autumn Season” will be traditionally held in Tbilisi.
2. In cooperation with the Penitentiary Service of Georgia and with their direct support, create a “Public Jury”. In coordination with the Special Penitentiary Service of Georgia and the Department of Re-socialization of Convicts, according to the already planned schedule and conditions, the 5th Tbilisi International Internet Short Film Festival “Diogenes” with its competition films entered the 16th institution, where a “public jury” was formed from convicts, which will select the best films and will further establish appropriate awards and diplomas.
We would like to thank our new partner, the Penitentiary Service of Georgia, for their cooperation and assistance in promoting Georgian and foreign short films.
Good luck and progress to each festival participant, working group, jury, partners (Tbilisi Municipal Chamber, Georgian Chamber of Kulut, House of Writers, independent studios – “Soko Studio” and “Studio Kots”, Penitentiary Service of Georgia)and to all of you.
With the greatest respect to the festival director Koba Tskhakaya, writer, playwright.
2024
P.S.
As a reminder:
The list of films included in the main competition will be announced on August 25.
On September 23 – 25 – 26 the best films will be screened.
On September 28, there will be a closing ceremony, final results will be announced and an awards ceremony will be held.
