Loco Films has acquired international sales rights to Georgian director Levan Koguashvili's drama "Guria" ahead of its world premiere in the Spotlight section of the Venice Film Festival, with a first trailer also unveiled. The deal comes shortly after Georgia's National Film Center selected "Guria" as the country's official entry for the Best International Feature category at the 99th Academy Awards, chosen ahead of four other contenders.

Set in western Georgia, the tragicomedy follows Zuriko, a 45-year-old hazelnut farmer who rejects a low offer from Italian buyers and seeks better ones, while his friend Gela tries to find him a new wife despite the disapproval of his ex-mother-in-law. Koguashvili, previously behind "Blind Dates" and "Brighton 4th", described the film as a portrait of "ordinary people" without political agenda. It is a multi-national co-production involving Georgia, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Turkey, Norway and Saudi Arabia, backed by producers including Kino Iberica, Cineworx Filmproduktion and Tarantula Luxembourg, with support from the Red Sea Fund.