Film Days of the Mediterranean: PANOPTICON

38th Film Days of the Mediterranean 22.1. – 2.2.2025 Karlstorkino, Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 3, 69126 Heidelberg, admission €10, reduced €7.50, members Medienforum €6, advance ticket sales online: www.filmtage-mittelmeer.de or at Karlstorkino (one hour before the first screening until the last film) or at Montpellier-Haus (during opening hours). After his father leaves him to become an orthodox monk, Sandro struggles to reconcile his duty to God and his awakening sexuality, which manifests itself in uncontrollable ways and leads him to questionable behavior. Meanwhile, he searches for meaning and belonging in the troubled society of post-Soviet Georgia.

Georgia, France, Italy, Romania 2024

Director: George Sikharulidze

Cast: Data Chachua, Malkhaz Abuladze, Ia Sukhitashvili, Vakho Kedeladze, Salome Gelenidze

95 min. Original language

George Sikharulidze, born in Tbilisi, studied film in New York. Several of his short films have screened at international festivals. PANOPTICON is his feature film debut and celebrated its world premiere at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. It screened in competition at the Mannheim – Heidelberg International Film Festival 2024 and won the Critics’ Award at Cinémed 2023 in Montpellier.