Paradjanov comes to Bristol and the Forest of Dean

May 2010

by Bruce Allan

The Bristol Tbilisi Association completed a successful partnership with the Paradjanov Festival 2010, the Arnolfini and the Bristol Gallery bringing the works of the great film director Sergei Paradjanov to the people of Bristol. Following a successful festival of his work at the BFI and National Theatre, London, Arnolfini showed his four most significant films during the first two weeks of April. Complementing these the Bristol Gallery showed photographs of Paradjanov taken by his friend, the photographer Yuri Mechitov in the exhibition Paradjanov through the lens of Yuri Mechitov.

Paradjanov was a Georgian of Armenian descent persecuted by the Soviet State for refusing to produce state supported propaganda films. Instead he drew on his love of the region, its myths and legends, to create another way of viewing the world through films and tableaux.

The BTA was privileged to host Levon Grigoryan, filmmaker and author and Paradjanov's assistant on the film The Colour of Pomegranates and Cora Tsereteli, film historian, author and Paradjanov's friend. They gave presentations at two of his films, giving us an insight into how truly radical Paradjanov's work was when it first came out in the 1960s and what it was like to work with a man of such genius.  

Yuri Mechitov returned to the UK in May when the Paradjanov Festival including his photographs were shown at the gallery upstairs at the George at Newnham on Severn in the Forest of Dean. http://upstairsatthegeorge.co.uk/2010/04/03/21-5-10/

Read more: Paradjanov comes to Bristol and the Forest of Dean

Film festival forum at Cube Microplex, Bristol 18.10.2008

October 2008

Letter and photos from Bruce Allan

I am attaching two reports on the festival. Anthea's overview of the  events that took place and a report on the forum day at Cube by James  Norton. I also attach an essay on Georgian cinema by James Norton and  the transcript of Georgian ambassador Gela Charkviani's opening address at the forum. Several Georgian film makers and artists took  part in forum discussions.

Photographs: 1. Georgian Ambassador Gela Charkviani addressing the film festival forum at Cube Microplex, Bristol 18.10.2008 (Photo: Wato Tsereteli);

2. Festival organisers and Georgian guest participants with Christopher Davies, the Lord Mayor of Bristol and his wife at the Mansion House.  (Photo: Alix Hughes) L to R Back row: Colin Evans, Bruce Allan, Zaza Rusadze (director  Bandits), Lasha Bakradze (actor and film historian), Lord Mayor and  wife, Mamuka Japharidze (artist), Wato Tsereteli (artist), Koka Ramishvili (artist). In front: Anthea Nicholson with Nino Anjaparidze (director Tbilisi International Film Festival).

https://www.closeupfilmcentre.com/vertigo_magazine/volume-4-issue-2-winter-spring-20091/transitions-cinema-and-video-art-from-georgia/

James Norton's essay CINEMA AND VIDEO ART FROM GEORGIA 

Read more: Film festival forum at Cube Microplex, Bristol 18.10.2008