Screenings of the Georgian film “Antikvariati” (The Antique) have been suspended at Venice Days, an independent section of the Venice Film Festival. This decision follows a court ruling regarding a copyright dispute over the film’s script.
The organizers of Venice Days canceled the press and industry screening originally set for August 28, and all public screenings have been removed from the schedule. The suspension is a result of an emergency decree issued by the Court of Venice, obtained by three production companies: Viva Film from Russia, Avantura Film from Croatia, and Pygmalion from Cyprus.
In a statement, Venice Days, also known as Giornate degli Autori, emphasized their commitment to defending copyright and supporting filmmaker Rusudan Glurjidze, who is present at the festival. They acknowledged the seriousness of the court’s decision and expressed their intention to uphold the law while advocating for the film’s visibility in Venice.
The exact implications of this “visibility” remain unclear.
Set around 18 years ago in Russia, “The Antique” addresses the deportation of thousands of Georgians during that period. Sources close to the film suggest that the Russian government may have sought to suppress it due to its sensitive subject matter.
Glurjidze noted that “The Antique” might be the last film shot in Russia by foreign filmmakers and faced significant challenges during production. The Russian Ministry of Culture initially requested the removal of several scenes, which the Georgian team refused. This led to attempts to obstruct filming and the confiscation of film materials at the border. Fortunately, two copies were saved, but efforts to block the film continued.
Glurjidze’s directorial debut, “House of Others,” premiered in 2016 at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, winning the Grand Prix and becoming Georgia’s entry for the 89th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. She described her previous work as exploring the complex political landscape of Georgia, highlighting themes often overlooked in Western Europe.
In “The Antique,” Glurjidze portrays the unlawful deportation of her compatriots through the lives of four main characters: Medea, Vadim Vadimich, Lado, and Peter. The film combines fiction with stark reality, addressing the painful realities of immigration and showcasing Russia’s imperial cruelty.
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