BIAFF Batumi Film Festival facing harsh issues

Due to severe financial problems caused by an unexpected cut in financing from the Georgia Government, the management of the film festival is starting a fundraising campaign, hashtag - #letsmakeBIAFFtogether, to support the #BIAFF festival.

#BIAFF film festival was founded in 2006. During these 16 years, it established itself as a quanticential artistic event in Batumi, one of film lovers' most important international events. Many prominent cinematographers have visited BIAFF from all around the world. In addition to promoting Art-house cinema, it also plays a significant role in the development of the film sector in Georgia via its industry platform, training programs etc.

This year, Batumi Film Festival faces the most challenging situation in its history. All government sponsors - the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, the National Film Center of Georgia, the Ministry of Culture of Adjara and Batumi City Hall - refused to finance the BIAFF film festival without providing any compelling arguments. They have completely ignored that the BIAFF management team has provided the necessary documentation, as this has been done years prior. It somehow is in line with the current repressive cultural policy in Georgia.

BIAFF festival management succeeded in securing some financing from several embassies and negotiating with film producers and sales companies to get films for free but this is not enough. Just a bit more is needed to hold the 2023 festival - to cover cinema rent, logistics etc.

The BIAFF management is starting a fundraising campaign to raise the remaining funds. We implore the international film community, festival circles, and film lovers everywhere to provide support to the independent film festival, which manages to create a creative platform for all cinema enthusiasts in Batumi and promotes independent filmmakers,

HOW you can help #BIAFF

YOU can DONATE money for support the #BIAFF Film Festiva by any of the following methods:

1. Donation on GOFUNDME platform

2. PAYPAL transfer – [email redacted]

3. Crypto / crypto account - you can use one of the options to transfer crypto:

#BIAFF Contact:

Tel: (995) 599 48 21 81

Email: [email redacted]

Website: www.biaff.org, www.facebook.com/biaffbatumi