Nana Janelidze (born on April 5, 1984) is a Georgian film director, producer and screenwriter. She is best known for her debut feature film, My Happy Family (2017).
Janelidze was born and raised in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. She studied directing at the Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film University, and has since worked with numerous film production companies.
Janelidze's career began with the short films she made while a student. Her first two shorts, “The Highway” and “When the Dust Settles,” earned her a nomination for Best Short Film at the International Film Festival in Rotterdam. She then went on to become an assistant director on the feature film “Tangerines” (2014), which was nominated for an Academy Award.
In 2017, Janelidze directed her first feature film, “My Happy Family.” The film tells the story of a middle-aged woman’s decision to leave her husband and children to pursue her own life. The film was nominated for a Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and won the Grand Prix at the International Critics’ Week at the Cannes Film Festival. The film also won the European Film Award for Best Screenplay.
In 2018, Janelidze wrote and directed “Inhale-Exhale,” a psychological drama set in Tbilisi. The film follows a couple as they struggle to deal with the aftermath of a traumatic event. The film was screened at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it won the Best Director Award.
Janelidze’s latest feature film, “Beginning,” was released in 2020. The film is set in a rural Georgian village and follows a young woman as she struggles to find her place in a conservative society. The film was selected as the Georgian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.
Janelidze is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the Georgian film industry. Her films have won numerous awards and have been praised for their humanistic approach to storytelling. Janelidze is a talented and ambitious filmmaker who has earned a reputation for creating films that are both gripping and emotionally resonant.
