Students from the GTU Faculty of Business Technologies evaluated their experience at ARTFF 2026 through the lens of modern technology

“One of the most significant challenges in higher education is creating an environment where academic knowledge naturally intersects with real-world professional experience and modern international practices. In this context, our students’ and faculty’s participation in the International Art and Travel Film Festival (ARTFF 2026) is particularly significant. The festival is a compelling example of how art, culture, tourism, business, and modern technology can be interconnected. The growing impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on these industries is especially important. For us, as the Faculty of Business Technologies, this subject is doubly interesting: on the one hand, students are introduced to technological innovations, while on the other, they witness how the application of these technologies transforms vastly different fields and creates new business and professional opportunities,” stated Professor Rusudan Kutateladze, Dean of the GTU Faculty of Business Technologies, during a meeting with students where she discussed the significance of ARTFF 2026 and student participation in the festival.

Members from the Faculty of Business Technologies at the Georgian Technical University – Dean Rusudan Kutateladze, Professors Lela Kochlamazashvili and Marina Metreveli, and Associate Professor Nani Mamphoria – along with students, attended the International Art and Travel Film Festival (ARTFF 2026) and actively participated in various educational, cultural, and professional events held as part of the festival.

The international festival brought together representatives from cinema, art, travel, and modern creative industries, giving participants the chance to explore contemporary international practices, innovative approaches, and the latest trends in industry development. Events scheduled as part of the festival program took place at various cultural and educational venues across Tbilisi, including the Museum of Fine Arts of Georgia and the Apollon Kutateladze Tbilisi State Academy of Arts.

Participation in the festival was particularly significant for the students and academic staff of the Faculty of Business Technologies, as it expanded their professional knowledge and provided international experience. They had the opportunity to attend workshops, masterclasses, and educational sessions led by representatives of the film and creative industries – including directors and producers – from various countries.

According to the Dean of the Faculty of Business Technologies at GTU, the festival’s key focus was discussing development trends linking the fields of art and travel with modern technologies. The festival also highlighted the growing role of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in creative industries, including the promotion of art, tourism, and cultural heritage. As Professor Rusudan Kutateladze notes, these issues are particularly relevant for students of the Faculty of Business Technologies, given that the modern business environment increasingly relies on technological innovation, data analysis, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. The international festival experience enabled students to see, beyond the classroom, how new technologies are transforming creative industries and how they can drive development in the tourism and cultural sectors.

“The festival’s educational component was particularly effective at synthesizing theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Direct interaction with international professionals enabled students to gain insight into real-world practice, ask targeted questions, and better understand how university knowledge connects to the demands of the modern workplace. International events like ARTFF 2026 allow students to broaden their professional and academic horizons, build new contacts, and learn from representatives from various countries. Such activities foster critical and creative thinking, an interdisciplinary perspective, and international competencies among students. For the Faculty of Business Technologies, student and academic staff participation in international educational and cultural projects is a vital component of the modern vision of higher education.

Amidst rapid technological advancement, the fields of business, art, culture, and tourism are increasingly converging, creating new opportunities for both professional development and the establishment of innovative business models. I believe the ARTFF 2026 experience is particularly valuable for our students because it showed that modern business technologies are not limited to traditional business sectors. Technological expertise is actively being leveraged to advance culture, art, tourism, and the creative industries, giving rise to new professions, services, and business models. Fostering this kind of interdisciplinary perspective is precisely the direction our faculty will continue to prioritize in the future.”

– Professor Rusudan Kutateladze