For a festival that had to delay its start by over a month last year because of the outbreak of hostilities between Georgia and Russia, 4th Batumi International Art House Film Festival must have been the most relaxed and enjoyable gathering in the city’s annual calendar. But this festival, with its fascinating programme and a friendly atmosphere plays an important part of a serious attempt to rebuild Georgian film culture after its collapse post-1989.

By Andrzej Slowicki

This year's Batumi International Art House Film Festival (BIAFF, 21-28 September, Georgia) witnessed a great triumph of Asian and Polish cinema.

BIAFF is perhaps the only international film festival which celebrates the achievements of Polish cinema to such a great extent. In the past years BIAFF audiences enjoyed projects related to Polish cinema and its history: a film seminar A Close-Up on Andrzej Wajda in 2007 was accompanied by the first ever publication on Andrzej Wajda in Georgian language by Andrzej Slowicki. Krzysztof Kieślowski Rediscovered, curated by Andrzej Slowicki (with Michal Bogucki), who is the President of a legendary film club in Poland - Kwant, was also part of the 3rd BIAFF. This year's Polish programme was sponsored by the Polish Film Institute and Batumi City Hall.