LES EVANGILES D’ANASYRMA
Gospel of Anasyrma
Elene Naveriani
CH, 2014, col., 29’
Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Elene Naveriani. Fotografia / Photography: Agnes Pakozdi. Montaggio / Editing: Laura Peeters, Elene Naveriani. Musica / Music: Jansug Kakhidze, Mizezs vedzeb. Suono / Sound: Hakim Mastour, Philippe Ciompi, Elene Naveriani. Scenografia, costumi / Set Designer, Costume Designer: Natalia Vacheishvili, Elene Naveriani. Interpreti / Cast: Giorgi Nebieridze, Bianka Shigurova. Produzione, distribuzione internazionale / Produced by, World Sales: HEAD (Haute école d’art et de design) – Geneva
Gabriel a young Georgian man, has a love relationship with a transgender woman, Amaia who lives in the Tbilisi suburbs. Gabriel is madly in love with her, but the social-political context does not allow him to live this love openly. He hides his relation to his family and friends and fears to show it up in public. His ambivalent behaviour doesn’t despair Amaia who keeps trying to understand and protect him. This is Elene Naveriani’s graduation film at HEAD in Geneva. Special Mention of the Jury at the Kurzfilmtage festival in Winterthur, Switzerland.
FATHER, BLESS US
Elene Naveriani
CH, 2013, COL., 9′
Sceneggiatura, scenografia, costumi / Screenplay, Set Designer, Costume Designer: Elene Naveriani. Fotografia / Photography: Agnes Pakozdi. Montaggio / Editing: Elene Naveriani, Mathilde Borcard, Sophie Pagliani. Musica / Music: George Marr, ZurGi. Suono / Sound: Eva Zornio, Elene Naveriani, Philippe Ciompi. Interpreti / Cast: Keke Anaïs Chapatte, Coralie Vega. Produzione, distribuzione internazionale / Produced by, World Sales: HEAD (Haute école d’art et de design) – Geneva
One morning, Ana goes to the church to practice her prayer as usual. Her lover Agnes decides to follow her in order to see Ana’s second life. Agnes wanders around in the church, finding Ana in a corner. She approaches her and starts a non verbal interaction. Finally, she gets a response: Ana’s cold and fearful gaze followed by her physical rejection. Agnes continues to discover the place and, at one moment, she sits in front of Ana who rejects her a second time. So Agnes leaves, but Ana goes along with her, stops her in front of the alter and starts to reenact the invented marriage ritual.
RED ANTS BITE
Elene Naveriani
CH, 2019, col., 23’
Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Elene Naveriani, Donald Acho Nwokorie, George Imo Obasi. Fotografia / Photography: Agnesh Pakozdi. Montaggio / Editing: Gabriel Gonzalez, Noémie Fy. Suono / Sound: Thomas Reichlin, Philippe Ciompi. Scenografia / Set Designer: Kethevan Nadibaidze. Costumi / Costume Designer: Mariami Chincharauli. Interpreti / Cast: Donald Acho Nwokorie, George Imo Obasi, Magda Lebanidze, Hadizat Yola. Produzione, distribuzione internazionale/ Produced by, World Sales: Alva Film in associazione con / in association with: mishkin. Coproduzione / Co-produced by: RTS – Radio Télévision Suisse. Con il sostegno di / Supported by: Pro cinéma Berne, Cinéforom, Loterie Romande, Migros pour-cent culturel
In Georgia, two stranded Nigerians, Obinna and Afame, navigate the sleeping city of Tbilisi. However, as day breaks the true colours of their ambiguous affection begin to show. In this way, they find solace despite their hostile environment. The film had its premiere at IFF Rotterdam in 2020. “The two main actors in the film, Donald and Gee, are friends. They are part of the first wave of African immigrants who arrived in Tbilisi about fifteen years ago. Their initial plan was to reach Europe, but they have since remained stuck in the Georgian capital waiting for opportunities that have never materialized.” (E. Naveriani)
Elene Naveriani
Film director and writer, Elene Naveriani was born in 1985 in Tbilisi. After studying at Tbilisi’s State Academy of Art, in 2008 Elene moved to Geneva and graduated in cinema from the School of Art and Design (HEAD) in 2014. Elene lives and works between Tbilisi and Geneva. Their first feature I Am Truly a Drop of Sun on Earth (2017) premiered in Rotterdam and was awarded numerous prizes. Their second feature film Wet Sand after its world premiere in Locarno, where it earned the Best Actor’s Prize, was also screened at the Trieste FF 2022 in the “Wild Roses: Women Filmmakers in Europe – Focus on Georgia” section. Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry, Best Feature Film in Sarajevo 2023, was in competition at the latest edition of the Trieste FF.
2013 Father Bless Us cm / sf 2014 Les Evangiles d’Anasyrma (Gospel of Anasyrma) cm / sf 2017 Me mzis skivi var dedamicaze (I Am Truly a Drop of Sun on Earth) 2018 Lantsky Papa’s Stolen Ox cm / sf doc. 2019 Red Ants Bite cm / sf 2021 Wet Sand; Premi / Awards: Locarno FF – Migliore attore / Best Actor 2023 Shashvi shashvi maq’vali (Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry); Premi / Awards: Sarajevo FF – Miglior film, Migliore attrice / Best Feature Film, Best Actress; New Horizons IFF – Premio del pubblico / Audience Award
