Georgia has become a signatory to the Council of Europe Convention on the Co-Production of Audiovisual Works in Series Format. The document was signed by Georgia’s Minister of Culture, Tinatin Rukhadze, in the French city of Lille.

The signing ceremony, opened by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, was held as part of Series Mania, the international television series festival. Series Mania has been held in Lille since 2018 and brings together nearly 5,000 industry professionals from 75 countries.

The signing of the convention represents a significant milestone in Georgia’s efforts to fulfil its obligations under the Association Agreement, particularly in the fields of cultural cooperation and in aligning its audiovisual policies with European standards.

According to the Ministry of Culture, through this convention, the Council of Europe establishes, for the first time, multilateral standards for works created in a series format. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the convention on November 26, 2025. It aims to safeguard cultural diversity, strengthen the independent production sector, and promote international cooperation.

By acceding to the convention, Georgia will substantially deepen its integration into the European creative industries and facilitate the forging of partnerships with European platforms, production companies, and broadcasters.

The signing will also significantly expand the capacity of Georgian production companies to attract foreign investment, participate in high-budget international projects, and promote Georgian cultural content on the international market.

“We have long been members of various European film associations, and for years the Georgian film industry has been an active participant in co-productions. This convention now enables us to showcase ourselves prominently on the world’s most prestigious platforms.

From today, the very best opportunities are opening up for the development of Georgian film and television. This decision carries particular significance in the process of deepening our cooperation with Europe. It is also a momentous step from an economic standpoint, given that television series now account for a substantial share of the modern film and content industry.

I had a most fruitful meeting with Mr Alain Berset, who expressed his gratitude to our country for joining this convention,” said Tinatin Rukhadze.

The signing ceremony was attended by Georgia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the French Republic and Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Irakli Kurashvili.