BIAFF 2026 International Art-House Film Festival in Batumi Reveals Its Winners

This year, 10 feature-length and 20 short films were presented in the competition programme. At the event held at the Batumi Drama Theatre, the jury revealed the winners of the film festival. The awards were presented to:

• BIAFF 2026 Best Film - Lance Hammer, “Queen by the Sea”
• Best Director - Levan Koguashvili, “Guria”
• Best Actor - Kakha Choladze, “Guria”
• Best Actress - Anna Keppler Marshall, “Queen by the Sea”
• Special Mention - Giorgi Gigauri, “The Moon Is My Father”

The Main Prize of the Short Film Jury - “Whisper of a Burning Scent” (Somalia/Austria/Germany). Special mentions were awarded to Mariam Khachvani - “Inherited Silence” (Georgia), Dalia Keleshi - “Gravity” (Turkey) and Kamila Sagintka - “What Have You Done, Zarina?!” (Kazakhstan).

The Georgian Film Critics’ Jury awarded the Olgha (Lala) Tabukashvili Prize for an outstanding acting ensemble to Levan Koguashvili’s film “Guria”. A special mention was given to Giorgi Ovashvili’s film “The Moon Is My Father”.

The Youth Jury’s Choice became Rafael Manuel’s film “Filipiniana” (Singapore/United Kingdom/Philippines/France), which was awarded the Giorgi Gogiberidze Prize. The Youth Jury’s Special Mention was received by Giorgi Ovashvili’s film “The Moon Is My Father”. Giorgi Ovashvili was also awarded the Rezo Chkheidze Prize at the festival for Best Director for the film “The Moon Is My Father”.

During 8 festival days, Batumi hosted screenings of around 100 films. The festival programme included international feature-length and short film competitions, the “Masters’ Collection”, the “Music in Cinema” section and screenings of non-competition films. As part of the festival, cinema lovers had the opportunity to see restored films from Georgia’s cinematic heritage, as well as Georgian animations. Screenings were held at four locations in Batumi: Batumi Drama Theatre, Cavea Grand Mall Cinema, Europe Square and Iveria Beach.

The supporters of the Batumi International Art-House Film Festival are the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, the Ministry of Culture of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the Georgian National Film Center, Batumi City Hall, Georgian Film, the National Archives of Georgia, and the Embassy of Italy in Georgia.