Berlin International Film Festival - Crossing World Premiere
CROSSING directed by Levan Akin opened Berlinale Panorama and grabbed Teddy award!
February 19, 2024
CROSSING directed by Levan Akin, starring amazing Mzia Arabuli, Lukas Kankava and Deniz Dumanli opened the Panorama Section of Berlinale Panorama 2024. The film was awarded Teddy Jury Award for Ensemble Cast.
The film is produced by French Quarter and co-produced by us at 1991 Productions together with Easy Riders Film, Adomeit Film, Bir Film, RMV Film, and SVT. It is supported by Eurimages, Swedish Film Institute, Danish Film Institute, Nordisk Film & Tv Fund, CNC, Enterprise Georgi and Film in Georgia.
“Leading the cast is Arabuli, who gives one of the best performances of the year so far. She portrays Lia’s irritable persona so well, showing a woman who has effectively given up on happiness, but as Lia’s journey continues, Arabuli expertly ranges from flickers of elation to intense sadness” says William Stottor. Read more here.
Karlovy Vary IFF - Smiling Georgia World Premiere
Smiling Georgia had it’s world premiere at KVIFF today!
July 4, 2023
It was an absolute honor to present our labor of love to the wide audience at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2023, and their enthusiastic engagement filled us with immense joy. The genuine connection formed between our film and the audience was a testament to the hard work and dedication of our talented team. We are deeply grateful to the KVIFF for this incredible opportunity and to the passionate viewers who made this experience unforgettable.
As we continue our journey with Smiling Georgia, we look forward to sharing our film around the world. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting adventure, and thank you for your unwavering support!
Founders of 1991 Productions presented case study at Eave change
1991 Spotlighted at Cannes Docs!
May 10, 2023
We are excited to return to Marché du Film this year with feature documentary 9-Month Contract as one of the Spotlighted Projects.
Directed by Ketevan Vashagashvili, the film explores the story of a homeless single mother in Georgia who turns to surrogacy to raise her teenage daughter. The project is supported by the Georgian National Film Center, IDFA Classics, InMaat Foundation and Fritt Ord Foundation.
9-Month Contract will be pitched at Sheffield Doc/Fest
9-Month Contract is a finalist for The Whickers Film & TV Funding Award
April 14, 2023
The film will be pitched at Sheffield Doc/Fest 2023 for a chance of winning £100,000. More info here.
9-Month contract is produced by 1991 Productions (Georgia) and co-produced by Agitprop (Bulgaria). Funded by the Georgian National Film Funs, Fritt Ord Foundation and InMaat foundation, It is the first feature documentary by Ketevan Vashagashvili.
EAST-WEST TALENT LAB selects 9-Month Contract and Berliner
goEast Film Festival: our 2 documentaries at EAST-WEST TALENT LAB
April 20, 2022
This year, goEast is once again supporting roughly thirty filmmakers and emerging talents from Central and Eastern Europe, our two documentary projects made the cut:
9-Mnoth Contract
directed by Ketevan Vashagashvili
Berliner
directed by Anna Khazaradze
More information here.
9-Month Contract was pitched at cph:dox
REPORT: CPH:DOX Forum 2022
April 5, 2022
Feature documentary 9-Month Contract was pitched at CPH:DOX by director Ketevan Vashagashvili and producer Anna Khazaradze.
The director follows Jana, who grew up an orphan and is now raising her own teenage daughter single and homeless. She becomes a surrogate mother to offer her kid the life she’s never had. However, the processes following the complicated surrogacy deal and threats from the prospective father do not let her life return to normal.
Anna Khazaradze (Glory to the Queen) and Nino Chichua are the producers and the project is in the production stage.
Expected release: 2024.
More information here.
Anna Khazaradze will participate in EWA Network's 2022 Mentoring Programme
EWA NETWORK REVEALS THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE 4TH MENTORING PROGRAMME FOR EMERGING FEMALE PRODUCERS
February 24, 2022
Anna Khazaradze, founder & producer at 1991 Productions has been selected among 16 European producers to participate in EWA Network’s 2022 Mentoring Programme.
The programme will run for 12 months. The cycle starts in March with a two day introductory meeting of mentees and mentors in THESSALONIKI hosted by the Agora Film market & Crossroads Co-Production Market. A second meeting will close the cycle of mentoring in January 2023 in Trieste, hosted by When East Meets West co-production market.
More information here.
Film project 9-month contract will be presented at cph:dox
9-Month Contract
February 4, 2022
For orphan Jana, motherhood has always been priceless. When years later, she’s raising a kid single and homeless, Jana becomes a surrogate to offer her daughter the life she’s never had. Nine months and 14.000USD. Is it that simple and priceless?
Directed by Ketevan Vashagashvili, 9-Month Contract is among seven projects developed by CHANGE – development and co-production training program arranged by CPH:DOX , IMS (International Media Support) and EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs).
The project will be pitched at CPH:FORUM in March 2022.
Founders of 1991 Productions presented case study at Eave change
Glory to the Queen case study
January 20, 2022
Second part of workshop CHANGE – development and co-production training program arranged by CPH:DOX, IMS (International Media Support) and EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs) took place in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Our participants had a case study of GLORY TO THE QUEEN, led by the producers of the film: guest expert Nino Chichua and CHANGE participant Anna Khazaradze.
GLORY TO THE QUEEN wins best documentary award at Tbilisi IFF
Documentary Glory to the Queen wins Golden Prometheus
December 11, 2021
The international jury revealed the winners at the closing ceremony of the 22nd Tbilisi International Film Festival!
Golden Prometheus for the Best Documentary:
Glory to the Queen / Director: Tatia Skhirtladze, Anna Khazaradze
GLORY TO THE QUEEN is now available on iTunes, Google Play & Microsoft Store
Documentary Glory to the Queen – Where to watch?
December 1, 2021
Watch the real and full story of 4 women chess superstars from Georgia who revolutionised female chess across the globe during the Cold War. Now also available on iTunes, Google Play and Microsoft Store.
Nino Chichua will take part in a roundtable organised by Mexican association Women in Film and TV
Roundtable – Gender Equality in the Film Industry
November 4, 2021
Founder of 1991 Productions, Nino Chichua, will participate in the roundtable about Gender Equality in the Film industry organised by the Mexican association Mujeres en el Cine y la TV Mexico.
Other participants include Anisa Sabiri, writer, photographer, filmmaker; Nicole Magabo, screenwriter, director, producer; and Mariana González, director and panel moderator.
More information here.
Our team wrapped the production on Asia Express Romania
Our team wrapped the production of reality TV show Asia Express for Romanian channel Antena
August 3, 2021
For the first time the famous game reality TV show Asia Express (Peking Express) visited Georgia. We are proud to have provided our production services to the creative forces behind the show: Eccholine (Belgium) and Antena TV (Romania).
Here is a sneak peek.
Smiling Georgia wins Cut Thru the Noise Award at East Doc platform
Smiling Georgia wins Cut Thru the Noise Award
July 7, 2021
Smiling Georgia (dir. Luka Beradze, prod. Nino Chichua, Anna Khazaradze, GE, DE). Awarded project has been selected by Andrea Hock, Head of Sales of Autlook Filmsales and Mirjam Wiekenkamp, Founder and Manager of international projects at NOISE PR.
The statement reads: “In the winning project, PR campaigns haven’t exactly been a positive experience for its protagonists. People were mislead and tricked up until a point where they had to give up a part of themselves. With the very first Cut Thru the Noise Award, we want to support this film and its team to turn the tide, and make publicity something they can actually benefit from. Our award, consisting of consultancy sessions and a tailor-made PR & distribution plan, goes to Smiling Georgia by Luka Beradze.”
Film New Europe about Smiling Georgia, our feature documentary in Post-production
Film New Europe -PRODUCTION: Luka Beradze In Postproduction with Georgian/German Documentary Smiling Georgia
July 7, 2021
,,We believe the film explores a universal problem of populism, which most people can identify with. The urgency of the film’s main theme is intensified by the shifting political circumstances around the world. Luka is an extremely promising voice in Georgia; he has a bold vision and strong storytelling techniques, through which he conveys the deepest sorrow of a place where people have been waiting for justice over nine years,” Nino Chichua told FNE.”
Vriety - Women Filmmakers Share Industry Experience at Berlin International Film Festival
Nino Chichua and Anna Khazaradze participate in a panel moderated byVariety’s international editor Manori Ravindran
April 8, 2020
Summerstorm Entertainment CEO Gabriela Bacher, First Hand Films CEO Esther van Messel, director Carolina Hellsgard, Bavaria Fiction producer Doris Zander, and 1991 Productions co-founders Nino Chichua and Anna Khazaradze were all a part of the panel hosted by Canada Goose, Studio Babelsberg and Variety.
Berlinale - Members of the industry can watch Glory to the Queen
6:15 pm, 2nd March at Virtual Cinema 15
The European Film Market at Berlin International Film Festival opens on Monday and members of the industry can watch Glory to the Queen
February 22, 2021
6:15 pm, 2nd March at Virtual Cinema 15
9:00 am, 4th march at Virtual Cinema 10
Forbes Woman Georgia about Nino Chichua and Anna Khazaradze - Founders of 1991 Productions
Forbes Woman Georgia about Nino Chichua and Anna Khazaradze – Founders of 1991 Productions
November 27, 2020
It is our pleasure to be featured in Forbes 2020 November issue. You can get access to the full article in Georgian.
The Calvert Journal - The Real-life Queen's Gambit: How Georgia's Nona Gaprindashvili Conquered the chess world
The Calvert Journal about the genius of Nona Gaprindashvili and our documentary Glory to the Queen
November 27, 2020
“The directors of Glory to the Queen, Tatia Skhirtladze and Anna Khazaradze, say that Gaprindashvili stood out among her peers. Skhirtladze describes her as confident, strong, and lively: “Nona is kind of unstoppable. There’s no chance you’re not under her influence.”
“While others were nervous and preparing [for their games], she would watch football the nights before the tournaments,” Khazaradze adds. And, of the four women who made up Georgia’s female chess druzhina, Gaprindashvili is the only one who is still participating in tournaments.”
Georgian premiere of Glory To the Queen was successfully held in spite of Covid-19 Restrictions
The first Georgian screening of Glory to the Queen took place during CineDOC Tbilisi Documentary Film Festival
September 4, 2020
Even though the film industry is greatly suffering, this year’s hybrid version of CineDOC Tbilisi allowed us to have the first Georgian Screening of Glory To the Queen in an open movie theater. The screening of the documentary film was followed by a Q&A with the film’s protagonist’s – legendary Georgian chess players, director and producers.
More information here.