Lela Jobava

I’m a journalist, documentary filmmaker and visual researcher from Gali, Abkhazia, working between Georgia and the wider South Caucasus. I move between writing, photography and film, often somewhere between journalism and visual anthropology.

Growing up in a conflict-affected and divided place shaped the way I work: I’m interested in what happens beyond the headlines — how people negotiate identity, memory and belonging, how borders enter everyday life, and how communities adapt to political realities they did not choose. I’m especially drawn to stories about Abkhazia, minorities, displacement, borderlands and overlooked communities, but also to the quieter stories of culture, food, wine and everyday life.

I work as a journalist, researcher, local producer, fixer and interpreter, supporting international journalists and film crews across Georgia and the Caucasus. I can help with finding and approaching contributors, research, translation, locations, access, logistics and field production, while also bringing my own editorial and visual perspective.

I speak Georgian, Russian and English. I value trust, curiosity and patience in the field — and I’m usually looking for the story underneath the story.

I worked as a freelance journalist, writer and researcher for Georgian and International online medias, such are: ChaiKhana Media, OC Media, Civil.ge, Indigo, Materie, Caucasus Edition, Social Justice Center, Fluter, Geo Magazine.

I can provide:

EDITORIAL

Reporting
Feature writing
Conflict reporting
Research
Interviewing
Visual storytelling

PRODUCTION

Local producing
Fixing
Contributor research
Location scouting
Access
Translation / interpretation
Production logistics

VISUAL

Documentary filming
Photography
Video journalism
Visual anthropology
Field research