Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili's latest drama, Guria, is making significant waves even before its world premiere. International sales agent Loco Films has secured global distribution rights for the film, which is slated for its debut in the prestigious Spotlight section of the Venice Film Festival. Adding to the excitement, Georgia has officially put Guria forward as its submission for the 99th Academy Awards, a decision that comes alongside the unveiling of the film's compelling first trailer.

Set in Koguashvili's native western Georgia, Guria introduces audiences to Zuriko, a 45-year-old hazelnut farmer. The narrative delves into his journey navigating the complex tapestry of economic hardship, unexpected romantic entanglements, and the often surreal realities of life in the post-Soviet village of Guria.

The story unfolds as Zuriko faces a meager offer from Italian buyers for his hazelnut harvest, a price he staunchly refuses. This rejection propels him on a quest for better buyers, while simultaneously, his best friend Gela embarks on a mission to find him a new wife. This matchmaking effort, however, is complicated by Zuriko’s formidable ex-mother-in-law, who proves to be a tough critic of every potential match.

Director Levan Koguashvili shared his vision for the film, stating, "*Guria* is about ordinary people who live under harsh conditions yet manage to preserve their humanity. It is a natural cradle of tragicomedy, the genre I love most." He further described western Georgia as more than just a geographical location, but "a state of mind," emphasizing his desire to create a film about everyday lives, devoid of overt ideological or political agendas. "Just pure living. Just pure cinema. Just pure Guria," he added.

Koguashvili is no stranger to critical acclaim, with previous works including Blind Dates and Brighton 4th, the latter of which garnered the World Cinema Dramatic Competition award at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival. Laurent Daniélou, CEO of Loco Films – which also previously handled sales for Brighton 4th – praised Guria as "a marvelous Georgian comedy that opens a window onto a fractured post-Soviet world with warmth, sensuality and wry humor."

Guria is a testament to international collaboration, emerging as a multi-national co-production involving Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Turkey, Norway, and Saudi Arabia. The film is lead produced by Olena Yershova, Koguashvili, and Boris Frumin for Kino Iberica, alongside Pascal Traechslin for Cineworx Filmproduktion, Donato Rotunno for Tarantula Luxembourg, and Stefan Kitanov for Art Fest. Additional partners include TatoFilm, Maya Film, Staer, with support from the Red Sea Fund.

Georgia's selection of Guria for the 2027 Oscars was confirmed by the Georgian National Film Center. The film was chosen from a competitive field of five potential candidates, which also included Ana Urushadze’s Supporting Role, Nino Basilia’s Phase, Giorgi Ovashvili’s The Moon Is My Father, and Nikoloz Khomasuridze’s Share the Love.