P R E S S R E L E A S E (07/31/2014)

G e o r g i a N N A T I O N W I D E F I L M F E S T I V A L K I C K S O F F I N B A G U I O

Consul (a.h.) Thelmo Luis Cunanan Jr., (2nd from right) with prominent members of Baguio's art and cultural community, including international film critic Mr. Peter Ernst, a Swiss national with writer Michael Zarate, giving a Two Thumbs Up and Philippines famous visual artist Rene de Guia, a.k.a. "Kidlat Tahimik" on far right during the opening night of the Philippines First Georgian Nationwide Film Festival Roadshow held recently at the Cinematheque, Casa Vallejo, Baguio City, Philippines. The Consulate of Georgia in the Philippines, led by Consul (a.h.) Thelmo Luis Cunanan Jr., successfully launched recently the First Georgian Nationwide Film Festival Roadshow in Baguio City. The project is a partnership between the Consulate; the Georgian National Film Center, which supplied the movies; and the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), an agency under the Office of the President that is mandated with the advancement of independent local and foreign cinema in the country.

The event started in the FDCPs Cinematheque located at the historic Casa Vallejo leisure and cultural complex in Upper Session Road in Baguio City. The movies will then be brought to the FDCPs theatre in Iloilo City in August and possibly to Davao and Zamboanga later in the year, before returning to Manila for showing at Rizal Parks Open Air Theatre and several major universities in the capital. The opening afternoon featured a short talk about Georgia by Consul Cunanan, followed by the movie Will There be a Theatre Up There?, a masterpiece by famous Georgian director Nana Janelidze, who is also the Director of the GNFC. A pseudo-documentary employing various cinematic styles, it told the story of modern Georgia through the eyes and experiences of noted theatre and movie actor Kakhi Kavsadze. Two other films screened that afternoon were the critically-acclaimed Georgian shorts: Granny, an animation alluding to societys ironic and tragic relationship with industry and the modern age, and Detonator, a fast-paced, dark comedy about Georgias border conflicts. Day Two saw the showing of The Other Bank, a narration of Georgia and its separatist areas, told through the story of Tedo, a refugee boy, who is seeking to find his family in the turbulent region of Abkhazia. The finale on Day Three was Keep Smiling, a film about the hardship of life in Georgia as depicted by a beauty pageant for mothers from different backgrounds, all vying for the grand prize, which would have a significant impact on their lives. This movie is Georgias official entry to the 85th Academy Awards. The Film Festival was attended by film students from different schools and members of Baguios cultural and film community, notably visual artist Rene de Guia a.k.a Kidlat Tahimik, theatre actor Raffy Kapuno, Japanese director Koji Imaizumi, and film aficionado Peter Ernst from Switzerland. All were unanimous in their praise for the Georgian movies. I liked the films very much, said Mr. Ernst. The movie The Other Bank was especially powerful. The cinematography was excellent and the little boy, who portrayed Tedo, is an amazing actor. Mr. De Guia also expressed his admiration of the films cinematic style. I liked the subdued mood of the film. This is how story-telling should be. We in the Philippines are too caught up with Western-style cinema which is all about sex and violence and over-stated feelings. As The Other Bank shows, a film can be subdued and powerful at the same time. All the characters were well-represented. Michael Zarate, the manager of FDCPs Cinematheque and a film critic and writer, had this to say about Will There Be a Theatre Up There?: I learned so much about Georgia and its history. It was presented in a very unique style, like a pseudo-documentary. Although the movie was a virtual monologue, it captivated the audience through its fast-moving themes and the sheer power and stage presence of the lead actor Kakhi Kavsadze. The employment of the abandoned warehouse as a one-mad stage and multiple set piece was effective and novel. I hope our local film makers can learn from this beautiful Janelidze film.

Kapuno, who studied threatre in the former Soviet Union and is familiar with Georgian cinema, expressed his pleasure at the Film Festival. I was exposed to Georgian movies in Moscow. Its incredible how such a small country has very vibrant and rich film-making culture and tradition. I really liked Keep Smiling. It is an intense and gripping drama that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and thinking. Bravo to the Georgian Consulate for bringing these movies to the Philippines! Because of the success of the Film Festival and the warm reception of the movies, Consul Cunanan is planning to draw up a Memorandum of Understanding with the FDCP and the GNFC to establish the Georgian Nationwide Film Festival Roadshow as an annual event in the Philippines. Consul Cunanan is very active in the promotion of Georgian Cinema in the country. He has already held two film fests with the National Commission for Culture and Arts and the National Parks Development Committee. He has also donated Georgian films to several university libraries. Furthermore, he often guests on radio and television and in different forums, including colleges and universities, to talk about Georgian cinema. Consul Cunanan will be bringing a Philippine movie and director to Georgia later this year to participate in the Tbilisi International Film Festival. For more information about this project and other related activities, visit www.georgiaconsulphil.com and facebook page: Honorary Consulate of Georgia to the Philippines or contact the Georgian Consulates Public Relations and Tourism Director, Prof. Melissa Grace Mel Dizon-Dulalia via email mel@dizon.ph / meldulalia@yahoo.com or SMS 0917-3791738.

Consul Cunanan with student patrons of the Philippines First Georgian Nationwide Film Festival Roadshow during its opening night held recently at the Cinematheque, Casa Vallejo, Baguio City, Philippines.

FILM SYNOPSES: Will There Be a Theatre Up There?

The main character of the film is one of the most popular Georgian actors - Kakhi Kavsadze, but film is not about just an actor. The film depicts the chronicle of a big family - Kavsadzes - family of great folk singers and their life ordeal, which reflects the lives of millions who lived in former USSR. These people participated in the World War II; captured in concentration camps of Nazi Germany and afterwords in concentration camps of USSR. Despite of tragic fate Kakhi became a great actor and now he is loved and well known not only in Georgia but beyond its borders. His love story is also full of romantic and dramatic details and is known in Georgia as the Legend of Love and Loyalty. (45 minutes, HD Color) Directed by Nana Janelidze.

The Other Bank

A young refugee and his mother flee war and ethnic cleansing in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, leaving his father behind. After arriving in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the young boy encounters difficulties with his mother, and begins a lonely journey back to Abkhazia to find his father. Giorgi Ovashvilis film The Other Bank participated among 9 films in the competition Europe Outside Europe of the International Festival in Belgrade. The film won special approval of the jury for hopeful, talented resource and special feeling for the essence of cinema. Tedo Bekauris brilliant acting was also underlined. (93 minutes, HD Color)

Keep Smiling

The film recounts the dramatic events that take place at a beauty contest involving ten mothers, five of whom belong to the poorest sections of society, and their many children. The mothers are desperately trying to win a beauty contest which main prize is an apartment and $25,000. Dreams are quick to vanish as realization dawns that the competition is a complete farce. The media and organizers of the show are exploiting the misfortunes of the participants: Georgian women, the Abkhazian war and patriotism are all themes constituting a ploy to create entertainment for the audience, ending up causing a massive fight among participants. This was the official entry of Georgia to the Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards 2013. (110 minutes, HD Color). Directed by Rusudan Chkonia.

Short Films Granny

Directed by Sandro Katamashvili (6 minutes) Detonator

Directed by Beso Solomanashvili (15 minutes)

G E O R G I A P H I L I P P I N E S R E L A T I O N S T O S T R E N G T H E N T H I S Y E A R Georgia Philippines relations are being strengthened this year by the socio-economic and cultural projects of Honorary Consul of Georgia in the Philippines (NL) Thelmo Luis O. Cunanan Jr., who will be in Tbilisi from May 25 to June 11, 2014 to attend the official Independence Day Celebration and to hold dialogues with local officials. Consul Cunanan is scheduled to meet with the officials of the Self-Governing City of Rustavi to finalize the details of Rustavis friendship and cooperation agreement with the Philippine cities of Santiago and Cauayan. This will be the FIRST agreement between Georgian and Philippine cities and will cover cooperation in science and technology, culture and arts, tourism, trade and commerce, and environmental protection, public health, among others. Consul Cunanan will also meet with the following offices: 1. Georgian National Tourism Administration for the promotional trip of Philippine journalists to Georgia, in cooperation with The Manila Times College; 2. Georgian National Museum for the FIRST exhibit of a Philippine artist in Georgia; 3. Georgian National Film Center for the promotion of Georgian cinema in the Philippines; 4. Agency for Protected Areas for cooperation in national parks management; 5. Caucasus University for the FIRST faculty exchange program with the Philippines and another academic MOU; In November, Consul Cunanan will return to Tbilisi with the First Philippine Climate Change Delegation to Georgia, which he is organizing in cooperation with the Climate Change Commission of the Office of the President of the Philippines. The group will be composed of top Filipino experts in the field of Global Warming, who will share their experiences and knowledge in a series of talks to be conducted in major universities all over Georgia. On the sidelines of the event, there will also be an interfaith dialogue between Georgian and Philippine religious groups, meetings between cultural organizations, and a performance of Filipino theatre artists belonging to the UNESCO Artists For Peace. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the Consulate of Georgia (NL), under Consul Cunanans leadership, is donating a shipment of light building materials and construction equipment to the town of Palompon, Leyte, which was severely damaged during Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in November 2013. The donation is in honor of Georgias Independence Day and a symbol of Georgian Philippine Friendship. Consul Cunanan will turn over the humanitarian and reconstruction supplies to Palompon Mayor Ramon Onate in late June. He is also producing a second series of television specials promoting Georgian tourism.

A B O U T C O N S U L ( A . H . ) T H E L M O L U I S O . C U N A N A N J R .

Thelmo Cunanan has been Honorary Consul of Georgia in the Philippines (NL) since 2011. He is a businessman, sportsman, television talkshow host, writer, and philanthropist. He founded the Philippines Georgia Business and Friendship Association in 2003, together with then President of the Georgian Volleyball Federation, Levan Akhvlediani. Consul Cunanan has worked tirelessly to promote Georgia Philippines relations and regularly gives radio and television interviews about the subject. He has written numerous articles about Georgia and is often invited by colleges, universities, and organizations all over the Philippines to talk about Georgias culture and heritage.

As Honorary Consul of Georgia, he was responsible for the ff, among others:

1. FIRST academic agreement between Georgian and Philippines Universities and Colleges (Caucasus University and Lyceum of the Philippines University and San Sebastian College-Recoletos);

2. FIRST official Philippine tourism and business delegation to Georgia, in partnership with the Georgian National Tourism Administration;

3. FIRST Georgian Film Festival in the Philippines; 4. FIRST Georgian Photo Exhibit in the Philippines; 5. FIRST deployment of Filipino volunteer teachers to Georgia under the Teach

and Learn with Georgia Program of the Ministry of Education and Science; 6. FIRST Georgian TV special in the Philippines, aired on the Global News

Network; 7. FIRST Georgian Food and Wine Dinner for members of the Philippine press, as

featured in Food magazine in November 2013; 8. FIRST Georgian Tourism Campaign (Go Georgia!) in the Philippines, in

partnership with members of the Philippine Travel Agents Association, Inc.; Thelmo Cunanans consular office is located in Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines, however, he maintains satellite offices in Metro Manila. All the Consulates activities and Consul Cunanans speeches and interviews are documented. For more information, please visit our website: www.georgiaconsulphil.com Email: georgiaconsulphil@gmail.com, consul@georgiaconsulphil.com Whatsapp/Viber: +639228425665

W E B S I T E L I N K S RADIO INTERVIEWS TO PROMOTE GEORGIA (mix of English and Filipino):

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEGNAJF2No0&feature=youtu.be 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjNRd9daGJA&feature=youtu.be&app=deskto

p TV INTERVIEW TO PROMOTE GEORGIA (English):

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep-byp6pDE0 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3I4-T2Gi5CY

TV INTERVIEW WITH DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DAVIT JALAGANIA (English):

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAiCt5-Al0c 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePUbF2wFpw0 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tc1fy_8h9c 4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2KEGQFpCQM 5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVM3PgtI05A

MAGAZINE FEATURES (English):

1. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/12/05/expat-magazine-features-georgias-honorary-consul/

2. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/11/28/food-magazine-features-georgian-consulates-dinner/#more-1053

PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES (English):

1. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/11/14/georgian-consulate-assists-humanitarian-effort/#more-1046

2. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2014/05/12/philippines-georgia-sister-city-relationship-works/#more-1341

3. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2014/04/02/consul-cunanan-visits-vice-president-jejomar-binay/#more-1325

4. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2014/03/23/consulate-officials-participate-pgh-charity-childrens-outreach-program/#more-1294

5. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/10/05/consul-cunanan-gives-georgia-tourism-career-talk-dlsu-d/

6. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/09/28/georgian-tourism-promotions-miriam-college-2/

7. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2013/08/08/georgian-food-and-wine-dinner-for-journalists-travel-agents/

8. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/academic-exchange-programs/signing-of-mous-at-caucasus-university-tbilisi/

9. http://georgiaconsulphil.com/2014/05/22/georgian-consulate-donates-supplies-typhoon-yolanda-reconstruction/#more-1402