Heart Don’t Be Afraid
The Jacob Burns Film Center invites you to a special rough-cut screening and discussion with
 current Artists in Residence – Ana Kvichidze and Avtandil Khorava.

Hosted by JBFC’s Curator in Chief, Ryan Harrington.
Monday, November 27th at 5pm
Media Arts Lab
405 Manville Rd
Pleasantville, NY 10570

Presented with English subtitles

Free to LOFT community members. 

Please note: the location of this screening will be in JBFC's Media Arts Lab not the JBFC Theatre located at 364 Manville Road, Pleasantville.

From the filmmakers…"This documentary takes place in the highlands of Georgia, in Eastern Europe, and follows
Dachi, a beautiful 20-year-old boy. He stands out from others in his conservative and very
religious community because he is in search for his gender identity. Unfortunately, he's at odds
with the most powerful man in the region, the Orthodox Archbishop, who condemns everything
he stands for and even turned his family against him. Shunned by everyone, Dachi seeks ways to
escape and turns to an alternative reality. He finds an old witch named Vardo, who accepts him
and becomes his closest friend. With the help of her magic spells and ancient rituals, he begins to
change reality."

About the Filmmaker: Ana Kvichidze
Ana Kvichidze, born in 1993, is a Georgian filmmaker. She studied directing feature films at
Georgia State University's Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film program. Ana holds a Master's
degree in Religion Studies from Ilia State University specializing in folk and vernacular
religions. Her debut narrative short film, Downpour, draws inspiration from Georgian folk and
mythology. Ana's documentary works include Magic Recipes of Deniza and Madona, a film
about two charmer friends from a Georgian village, and Upside-Down Moon, which explores
charmers and legends in Georgia's mountains. Her films are a blend of cultural heritage and
storytelling.

About the Filmmaker: Avtandil Khorava
Avtandil Khorava was born in 1978 and is a graduate of the European School of Management. In
his early career as an entrepreneur, he founded what is now one of the largest film studios in
Georgia. At that time, he also managed the largest cinema in the country. After a long career in
business, he decided to take a turn and pursue his childhood dream of photography, founding
Moonbow Productions and starting to make films about culture, rituals, and social issues
touching on LGBTQ+ topics. In his short career as a filmmaker, he has made several short
fiction and documentary films and also directed his own short films. Heart Don't Be Afraid is his first feature-length documentary as a producer, co-writer, and cinematographer. His latest project, currently in development, focuses on the transgender sex worker community in Georgia.