Although Khizanishvili is widely recognized for her vivid and colorful canvases, her black-and-white drawings in pencil are being presented here for the first time as a separate body of work.What do these graphic works reveal? At first glance, they might resemble illustrations for a fairy tale. Yet the narrative, the myth, or the character they might belong to remains elusive. Khizanishvili’s women appear as heroines of unknown myths, inhabiting enigmatic scenes whose storylines resist easy deciphering. Their mystery recalls the black-and-white collagraph prints of the Cuban graphic artist Belkis Ayón, who drew on the secret, orally transmitted stories of the Abakuá religious society.Khizanishvili paints her canvases in the studio, but her works on paper are created at home. As the artist herself notes, each drawing functions like a diary entry. With graphite pencil she renders exaggerated figures of her protagonists—giant women whose very skin takes on a strange, textured surface. Through layers of directional hatching she transforms their bodies until they seem clothed in scales or wings. These figures may be dining, embracing skull-headed creatures, or lying in a sulfur bath where a masseur stands pressing down on them with his feet.  A lot is happening in these drawings: the artist uses her imagination to create a personal iconography and tells stories through her own characters.Rusudan Khizanishvili lives and works in Tbilisi. Over the past decade, her work has been exhibited extensively in Georgia and internationally. She currently collaborates with several international galleries, including Kornfeld (Berlin), LJ Galerie (Paris), Mimmo Scognamiglio (Milan), and Window Project (Tbilisi).In 2025 she held a solo exhibition at Seojung Art Gallery (Busan/Seoul, South Korea) and participated in a three-artist group exhibition at Kornfeld (Berlin). Later this year, a duo exhibition is planned at CAM Galería (Mexico City, Mexico).Her works are part of several public and private collections, including the Georgian National Museum of Art, Oni Regional Museum, the Kvareli foundation, and the Breus Foundation.All works on view are courtesy of the artist and gallery Window Project, Tbilisi.Curated by Irena Popiashvili.Venue: Marjanishvili 7, TBC Concept  FlagshipExhibition opening: September 1st, 18:00- 20:00Exhibiton duration – 1.09.-15.10.2025Opening hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 – 20:00.

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Eldar Shengelaia received his higher education at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography. From 1957 until 1959, he worked at the Mosfilm studio. He joined the Georgian Film Studio in 1960.Shengelaia shot his debut film, The White Caravan, in 1963 together with Tamaz Meliava.Notable films by Eldar Shengelaia include: Well (2020), A Chair (2016), Dog Rose (1996), Express Information (1993), Blue Mountains, or Unbelievable Story (1983), Samanishvili’s Stepmother (1977), The Eccentrics (1973), Unusual Exhibition (1968), Miqela (1965), A Snow Fairy Tale (1959), and Legend of the Ice Heart (1957).He was awarded the Shota Rustaveli Prize, St. George’s Order of Victory, the Golden Order of Saint George, and the title of Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi.

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Each tasting featured five varieties of Georgian wine from three different producers, accompanied by a presentation introducing Georgia as both the birthplace of wine and a modern, innovative winemaking nation.The goal of these consumer-oriented events is to diversify export markets and boost sales of Georgian wine in the U.S. - a country that has become a strategic export destination in recent years.Since 2013, the National Wine Agency has invested in targeted marketing efforts in the United States, helping to significantly raise both awareness and sales of Georgian wine. These efforts have included: Tasting seminars for wine professionals and trade representatives across various U.S. cities Regular participation in international wine exhibitions Wine tours in Georgia for American media, sommeliers, and wine industry stakeholders These initiatives aim to deepen American consumers' understanding of Georgian wine and strengthen its position in the competitive U.S. market.The agency states that continued marketing campaigns are planned, with a focus on engaging industry professionals and broadening consumer outreach.

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Georgian wines received awards in the following categories:10 – Platinum44 – Gold35 – Silver2 – Best Trophy5 – PopularLevan Mekhuzla, Chairman of the National Wine Agency, attended the event.Now in its 19th year, the SIWC has been held annually since 2006. Its goal is to promote the highest quality wines globally and strengthen trade and cultural ties within the Chinese market.SIWC is one of the most significant platforms for wine producers to present their products to industry professionals, media representatives, and consumers. Award-winning wines gain widespread media attention and international recognition.Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone organises the competition. Around 80 wine experts serve on the jury, and all wines are evaluated through blind tasting to ensure fairness and transparency. Awards are presented in five categories: Platinum, Gold, Silver, Trophy, and Popular.

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In 2024, the number of events held in the country amounted to 4.8 thousand, of which the number of offsite events amounted to 177. The number of events held abroad amounted to 136.The number of performances in 2024 decreased by 3.5 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 4 518. Approximately two-thirds (69.4 percent) of the performances were held in Tbilisi.In 2024, the total number of attendants decreased by 17.6 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 636.1 thousand. Two-thirds of attendants (66.2 percent) come to Tbilisi, with Imereti in second place (10.3 percent).In 2024, 261 museums and museum reserves were operated in Georgia, of which 104 were memorial, 74 - history (regional studies), 23 - arts, 13 - museum-reserve, 2 – literature studies, and 45 – other types of museums.In 2024, most museums were operated in Tbilisi (22.6%), followed by Imereti (15.3%) and Kakheti (14.2%).In 2024, the number of visitors in museums decreased by 7.8 percent compared to the previous year and amounted to 1.9 million. Average number of visitors per museum equaled to 7.3 thousand persons.In 2024, the number of excursions in museums decreased by 3.0 percent and amounted to 45.0 thousand, the number of exhibitions increased by 2.5 percent and amounted to 939.

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Supported by the Agency, Georgian wine was presented to markets in the United States, Portugal, Finland, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Poland, Germany, China, as well as France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Hungary, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and Latvia.“The strategic markets for Georgian wine remain the US, the UK, Germany, Poland, the Baltic States, China, South Korea and Japan, where various events are being implemented by contractor companies of the Agency to promote Georgian wine and increase its export potential”, the Agency said.Wine exhibitions, competitions, tours and festivals were also held throughout Georgia to enhance the potential of wine tourism and promote the culture of wine consumption among the domestic population, with the country hosting 54 wine-related events last year, including 17 exhibitions and festivals, 15 tasting-presentations, 16 tours with foreign wine experts, various competitions and a symposium.The Agency added the state programme for promotion of Georgian wine, diversification of markets and increasing of export capacity had been allocated GEL16 million last year, with wine exports rising by six percent and reaching 95 million litres in 2024 compared to the previous year.

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According to statistical data, the expenses of 8 months are up to 52 million GEL. The equivalent of up to 3 million GEL was withdrawn from the ATMs. More than 13 million GEL has been cashed out in Belarus. 23 million GEL was spent on POS terminals.In total, the card transactions of visitors from Georgia (with Georgian cards), according to the 9-month statistics of NBG, are equivalent to 7.1 billion GEL in the currencies of different countries.Most of the transactions are cashless. Out of the total expenses, 6.5 million GEL operations were performed through POS terminals and the Internet. Only 8% of card transactions are cash withdrawals. The highest amount, up to 200 million, comes to Turkey. Citizens of Georgia mainly choose cities in Italy, Spain, France and Germany to travel and spend an average of 140-150 million GEL. It comes to 110 million GEL on cashless transactions in the USA in 8 months.Payments outside the country, with POS terminals (expressed in millions of GEL)

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The festival has become an integral part of the global film festival circuit. This year, Mestia will welcome guests from around the world, including programmers and selection members from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, Thessaloniki, Karlovy Vary, and Tallinn. For the first time, the festival will also host programmers from the Sundance Film Festival.The event will feature a short film competition, a pitching forum for full-length films, and an international project presentation competition. The festival’s main award, the Goddess Dali Prize, will be given in the categories of Best Movie and Best Director.Film screenings will take place daily at the Mestia Culture and Art Center and in the open air at Seti Square. Attendees will enjoy a retrospective of director Ruben Ostlund's films, special screenings of classic Georgian silent cinema, and children's film screenings outdoors."The creative team of the Svaneti International Film Festival works actively to develop and grow the festival each year, enhancing its reputation both in Georgia and globally. The main goal is to support young filmmakers at all stages of project implementation, which is why we focus on strengthening the industrial aspect of the festival. I am glad that Basisbank became the official sponsor this year, and I hope our partnership will expand even more in the coming years," said festival organizer and director Mariam Khachvani."Basisbank, as a financial institution with high social responsibility, actively supports Georgian culture. We are glad to join the Svaneti International Film Festival for the first time this year. The festival has already garnered great national interest and become one of the most important artistic events in the country. We believe that support from the business sector is crucial for various fields of art, enabling Georgian culture to flourish. Through this cooperation, we aim to establish a successful partnership," added Tamar Khaduri, Head of the Strategic Communications Department at Basisbank.

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Participation in these exhibitions is important for the diversification and promotion of Georgian wine export markets, as wine professionals and trade representatives from different countries of the world gather here”, the Agency said.The Vinitaly trade fair hosted about a thousand companies from 60 countries, while the Orange Wine Festival exhibition of amber wines saw 87 wineries from 11 countries converge to the event.The body added it had promoted Georgian wines in the United States, Europe and Southeast Asian countries since 2013 to diversify target markets.

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The impressive opening of the Festival included the participating actors and Khetiala, a 6-meter puppet, walking the streets of Batumi, and musical performance by Kakhaber at the Square of Wonders, giving amazing emotions to the local residents and visitors of the city.Seven professional state theaters participate in the Theater Festival. They present 8 competition and two non-competition performances to the international jury composed of representatives of Turkey, Kazakhstan and Poland. Spectators are free to attend performances.The award ceremony of the festival will be held on September 13, and the winners in different categories will be announced.Within the framework of Batumi International Festival, Georgian and international directors and art critics will hold master classes for Georgian actors.The International Puppet Theater Festival was founded by the Professional State Theater of Puppets and Young Spectators of Batumi together with the Union of Professional Puppet Theaters of Georgia, intended to become an annual event."Basisbank makes a significant contribution to the promotion of Georgian theater and the support of modern artistic processes. We believe that the support of the business sector will give Georgian culture even more opportunities for development. We are pleased that our support laid the foundation for the first International Puppet Theater Festival in Batumi, which acts to promote puppet theaters and develop the puppet theater art. We are convinced that with the support of Basisbank, a number of interesting projects will be implemented across the country in the future." - Tamar Khaduri, Head of Strategic Communications Department of Basisbank. 

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