Documentary Film "Eternal River"

The film crew navigated the 500 kilometer stretch of the main river in the Caucasus – Mtkvari River from the Turkish border to the Azerbaijani border on an inflatable raft. The goal of that strange journey was to study the state of the River’s environment. 

Plastic bottles, plastic bags, domestic and construction waste greatly damage Mtkvari’s ecosystem. So far quality of water was not checked in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. That’s why Mtkvari River has always been a subject of mutual accusations and disputes. The European Union granted the three countries laboratories worth 3 million euros and Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan launched a joint project directed at monitoring of the water quality. The unique labs built with EU funding enable researchers to conduct about 100 types of tests on the river water. 

Once in three months colleagues from Baku, Yerevan and Tbilisi gather on the Red Bridge and take samples of the river water. 

Mtkvari River is extremely important for Georgia. 80% of Georgia’s electricity is generated from hydro power stations; however, water resources are not fully utilized, because Georgia still can’t export its surplus electricity.

With the assistance from the EU the Government of Georgia started to build a new 400 kilovolt electricity line from east Georgia to west Georgia. European experts believe that after the new electricity line is finished investors will be more interested in building new hydro power stations in Georgia, because anyone will be able to use that power line if they build a new hydro power station, provide the local population with electricity and sell the rest of it to Turkey. The construction of the power line will cost 300 million euros. The credit will be allocated by three European banks and the European Union will act as guarantor.

Film Director - Toma Chagelishvili

Author - Dachi Grdzelishvili

Cameramen - Gela Kavelashvili, David Lomidze