Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2024, Palić European Film Festival 2024
Ecumenical Jury Commendation - Karlovy Vary 2024
When Sandro’s father decides to devote his existence to God and leaves for a monastery, the introverted teenager finds himself deprived of the fundamental certainties of life. Alone and abandoned during his formative years - with a mother illegally working abroad and a grandmother too old to substitute a parent - Sandro embarks on a dizzying journey of self-discovery, opening up both to a new friendship with the right-wing radical Lasha and also to the chance to explore his burgeoning sexuality, a trial that will eventually prove to be a revelation of his humanity.
A Georgian-American filmmaker, George Sikharulidze holds a B.S. in Media Communications from New York University and an M.F.A. in Film Directing from Columbia University. His short films –The Fish that Drowned (2014), Red Apples (2016), A New Year (2018) and Fatherland (2019)– have premiered at renowned festivals such as Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. His first feature project Panopticon was selected at the Cinéfondation Residence of Cannes Film Festival as well as the Torino Script Lab (2019). Apart from writing and directing, George is a professor of filmmaking at Tisch School of the Arts.