9-Month Contract

Runtime: 80'

Expected release: November, 2024

Production stage: Production

Budget: €205.500 (49% in place)

1st feature: Yes

Looking for: Sales agents, broadcasters, strategic guidance

Synopsis:

When raising a kid as a homeless single mother becomes too hard for Jana, she decides to work as a surrogate mother for foreign couples in order to give her daughter, Elene, the life she’s never had. Surrogacy seems like a way to a brighter future: only 9 months of carrying someone’s baby in exchange for 14.000 USD, an unimaginable amount for her – she’s on board! But is it that simple and priceless?

Director’s profile:

Ketevan Vashagashvili is a documentary filmmaker based in Tbilisi, Georgia. She is a Chevening alumni with an MA in Digital Documentary from the University of Sussex (UK). Her main interest lies in social and human rights issues. Ketevan has 12 years of experience working at Georgian TV channels and online platforms, directing and producing TV documentaries, series, and programs. Currently, she is developing her first independent feature-length documentary, 9-Month Contract about a surrogate mother Jana. Nine years ago Ketevan made a short documentary about the same character which created a significant impact in Georgia.

Producer’s profile:

1991 Productions is a Tbilisi, Georgia-based film production and service company. Its founders Nino Chichua and Anna Kazaradze develop, finance and produce thought-provoking fiction and documentary films through European co-productions. Company’s most recent work is director Levan Akin’s new feature film produced by French Quarter Film (Sweden) and co-produced by 1991 Productions among others. Company’s 2020 feature documentary Glory to the Queen (Georgia, Austria, Serbia) was funded by Eurimages and screened over 25 festivals globally, winning the Best Documentary award in Georgia in 2021. Currently, 1991 Productions is producing feature documentary 9-Month Contract (EAVE CHANGE) and developing feature film Tear Gas (funded by GNFC, CNC), feature documentary Berliner (Nipkow 2022), and miniseries Nino and Iliko (Midpoint 2022).