“Mr. Velvet Scoter” (მისტერ გარიელი) – Watch Film

The story of a long, lost Caucasian treasure.

Starring: Nika Paposhvili, Tabatskuri, and the Velvet Scoters.

Watch “Mr. Velvet Scoter”

GEORGIAN & ARMENIAN subtitles available, via settings button on YouTube.

Mr. Velvet Scoter synopsis

On a mountainous, volcanic plateau in southern Georgia, a long lost treasure has been found. This treasure, the velvet scoter, a diving duck, the last of its kind in the entire Caucasus. 

In 2016, Nika Paposhvili was a young, ambitious masters student at Ilia State University when he took on the challenge to go on a wild duck chase across the lakes of Georgia. His discovery of Tabatskuri’s velvet scoters has changed everything for Nika, as he has gone on to commit his life to this bird, and support its battle against extinction. 

Now a PhD candidate, for the last 6 years, Nika has worked year-round to protect this small and highly vulnerable population. Whilst protecting scoter life in Tabatskuri, he balances family life in the capital, Tbilisi – where his young family both cheer him on, and excitedly await his returns.

Mr. Velvet Scoter has been created in association with Garieli, Ilia State University, and Conservation Leadership Programme.

This film poster can be downloaded for republishing, providing a link to the film or this page are provided. It can be downloaded from this Google Drive.
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  • Contact Nika for donation to his “Garieli” NGO, nika.paposhvili.1@iliauni.edu.ge
  • Support the promotion of Mr. Velvet Scoter by donating to Saxon’s donation page
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Media coverage

Reportage by Formula TV Georgia

Originally televised on 30.05.23, and shared on Formula TV Facebook.

“Mr. Velvet Scoter” film stills

The following images are AVAILABLE for republishing, providing a link to the film or this page are provided. The images are available for download on this Google Drive folder.

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