Georgia bans film critical of billionaire ex-PM Ivanishvili

Accusations of censorship have emerged against the Georgian Film Board following the withdrawal of Taming the Garden (2021), a documentary by Salome Jashi that critiques Bidzina Ivanishvili, the wealthiest individual in Georgia and a former prime minister. After its debut in Tbilisi, screenings were unexpectedly halted, with Mindia Esadze, the Georgian Film Academy director who has not viewed the film, claiming it was "too political" and "divides people based on political beliefs." The documentary depicts the removal of a forest of mature cedar, eucalyptus, and cypress trees, which Ivanishvili has replanted as a 60-hectare arboretum on his estate. Ivanishvili, who served as prime minister from 2012 to 2013, is valued at around $5.7 billion, a third of Georgia's GDP, and is a significant supporter of the arts. While the film has been featured at Sundance and nominated for the European Film Awards, it is only available to Georgian audiences in select cafes and small arts venues. Jashi described the board's action as "self-censorship" under Ivanishvili's influence.