The Tbilisi International Film Festival was founded in 2000. For the first two years, it was held within the framework of the art festival “Gift”, which had many sponsors and supporters, and, accordingly, the film festival program was very diverse and interesting. In 2002, “Gift” was threatened with closure, so several like-minded people (Gaga Chkheidze, Nino Anjaparidze, Lasha Bakradze, Davit Bukhrikidze, Besik Danelia, Guga Kotetishvili, Gaga Lomidze, Giorgi Kajrishvili) founded the Film Arts Center “Prometheus”, the main goal of which, in addition to implementing other projects, was to preserve the Tbilisi International Film Festival. In 2002, the Film Arts Center “Prometheus” held the film festival independently, with meager finances.

Over time, Prometheus was able to attract the interest of state structures in its activities. In 2004, the Tbilisi International Film Festival was financed by the Georgian National Cinematography Center, along with private sponsors. In the following years, the Tbilisi City Hall and the Ministry of Culture also joined the film center.

Film festival The main goal is to introduce the audience to new works of high artistic value from world and Georgian cinema, new trends in world cinema, and to promote the development of the Georgian film industry.

Professional meetings, workshops, master classes, retrospectives and other industry events held annually within the framework of the festival stimulate the development of the talent and creative vision of young filmmakers. We strive to make the film festival a gathering place for directors, producers, sales agents and distributors in the South Caucasus. Over the course of its existence, the festival has gained great importance on an international scale. The number of people wishing to submit and participate in the festival is increasing year by year.