The SDC's "Avanti" project has breathed new life into film-making in the South Caucasus. The 47 fictional, documentary and short films which the project has provided support for since 2003 are stimulating cultural activities in the region.

Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus' long tradition of film-making virtually died a death. State subsidies dried up and institutional capacities were lost. At the same time the technical requirements related to film production increased.

To revive the tradition of film-making in the South Caucasus and strengthen the multicultural identity of the region, SDC launched the "Avanti" project in conjunction with the Focal Foundation of Lausanne: Young film-makers from around the region were given professional training in everything from script-writing to editing and cutting. The course also covered legal issues relevant for the commercial film industry (copyright etc.). The "Avanti" project was instrumental in the production of more than 47 fictional, documentary and short films in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Diversity of films
Tako Tatishvili, Director of the IFA-SC (Independent Filmmakers Association - South Caucasus) is extremely pleased with the results: "The fact that we can now hold training programmes for film-makers in the South Caucasus and take pride in collaborating on joint film projects between nations is thanks to the Focal initiative." For Denis Rabaglia, Swiss film-maker and advisor to the Avanti project, the films produced are as diverse as the South Caucasus. The DVD SHORT FILMS COLLECTION FROM SOUTH CAUCASUS produced by Focal provides an insight into this diversity. It features two comedies and a relationship drama from Georgia, an experimental film from Azerbaijan, and a parable of war from Armenia.

In 2008 three more films will be completed under the banner of Avanti, at least one of which will also be shown in Swiss cinemas: CHNCHIK, produced by Armenian Aram Shahbazyan, is a dark fable about a hunchbacked peasant girl. BONDED PARALLELS, by Hovhannes Galstyan, is another Armenian production. This multifaceted work presents a physical journey between Armenia and Norway as well as a journey between the past and present. The Azerbaijani film THE 40TH DOOR by Elchin Musa Oglu documents the violent daily life of a street child in Baku.

Sustainability thanks to the foundation of an independent film organisation
In June 2007, at an international film conference in Tiflis attended by more than 150 film-makers, the Focal Foundation transferred its responsibilities to the IFA-SC (Independent Filmmakers Association - South Caucasus) organisation founded in May 2005. For Lorenzo Amberg, Swiss Ambassador in Tiflis, the foundation of the IFA-SC is a success story: "Switzerland's collaboration with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan in the field of film production is the flagship of our cultural relations, and plays a key role in setting up institutions and implementing regional projects."

SDC will continue to provide financial support for the IFA-SC's activities until 2009. In so doing it is making an important contribution to the promotion of high-quality film production in the South Caucasus and boosting cultural cooperation in countries in this region.