Panopticon (film)

Panopticon
Promotional poster
Georgianპანოპტიკონი
Directed byGeorge Sikharulidze
Screenplay byGeorge Sikharulidze
Produced by
  • Vladimer Katcharava
Starring
CinematographyOleg Mutu
Edited byGiorgia Villa
Music byChiara Costanza
Production
companies
  • 20 Steps Productions
  • FILMO2
  • Ombre Rosse Film Production
  • Tangaj Production
  • Independent Film Project
Distributed byThe Alchemists
Release date
  • 30 June 2024 (2024-06-30) (KVIFF)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
  • Georgia
  • France
  • Italy
  • Romania
LanguageGeorgian

Panopticon (Georgian: პანოპტიკონი, romanized: p'anop't'ik'oni) is a 2024 drama film written and directed by George Sikharulidze in his feature debut. The film explores the blurred boundary between watching and being watched, while reflecting on the uncertain direction of post-Soviet Georgian society. It highlights the tension between traditional values, like religious conservatism and nationalism and the push for modernisation and autonomy.[1]

The film had its premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was nominated for Crystal Globe.[2] It was selected as the Georgian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.[3][4]

Cast

  • Data Chachua as Sandro
  • Malkhaz Abuladze as David
  • Ia Sukhitashvili as Natalia
  • Vakho Kedeladze as Lasha
  • Salome Gelenidze as Tina
  • Ketevan Shervashidze as die Großmutter
  • Maia Gelovani as die Mutter
  • Levan Gabrava as Rati
  • Marita Meskhoradze as Lana
  • Andro Japaridze as Beka

Production

The film is produced by Vladimer Katcharava and coproduced by Olivier Chantriaux Anamaria Antoci and Luca Cabriolu. It was supported by the Georgian National Film Center with €203,702 in 2021. The film score is composed by Chiara Costanza. Filming took place in Tbilisi in the summer of 2022 till the August 2022.[5]

Release

Panopticon had its premiere at 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 30 June 2024, where it competed for Crystal Globe with other eleven feature films.[6][7] In July 2024, it completed in the Parallels and Encounters section of 31st Palić European Film Festival.[8] It competed for Antigone d'Or at the Montpellier Film Festival, in October 2024.[9]

In November 2024, it competed in Main Competition for the Golden Peacock Award at the 55th International Film Festival of India,[10][11] and was screened at the 2024 Stockholm International Film Festival in Discovery section, and at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival,[12] and at the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg.[13]

On 16 January 2025, it was screened in the East Side Stories at the Tromsø International Film Festival.[14]

In March 2025 it participated in the Marseille International Music & Cinema Festival and competed for the 2025 Grand Prize for Best Original Score.[15]

On 19 March 2025, it competed in Teen Competition section of the Sofia International Film Festival.[16]

It was released in French theaters on 24 September 2025 by The Alchemists.[17]

Reception

On the AlloCiné, which lists 17 press reviews, the film obtained an average rating of 3.7/5.[18]

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient(s) Result Ref
2024 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Crystal Globe Grand Prix Panopticon Nominated [19]
Commendation of the Ecumenical Jury Won [20]
2024 Palić European Film Festival Best Film Won [21]
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival Critics’ Prize Won [22]
2024 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Best New Performance Data Chachua Won [23]

See also

References

  1. ^ Sikharulidze, George (30 June 2024). "Panopticon". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  2. ^ Kudláč, Martin (28 May 2024). "The 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival reveals its competition titles". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  3. ^ "🇬🇪 2026 წელს "ოსკარის" 98-ე დაჯილდოვებაზე საქართველო საკონკურსო ფილმის სტატუსით გიორგი სიხარულიძის ფილმს - "პანოპტიკონს" - წარადგენს" (in Georgian). Georgian National Film Center Facebook Page. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  4. ^ Ellie Calnan, Ben Dalton, Mona Tabbara, Orlando Parfitt, Michael Rosser and Tim Dams (18 September 2025). "Oscars best international feature 2026: all the films submitted so far". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 19 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Gabelia, Alexander (4 August 2022). "George Sikharulidze in Production with Georgian /French /Romanian /Italian Drama Panopticon". Film New Europe. Retrieved 14 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Panopticon". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  7. ^ Tim Dams (28 May 2024). "Karlovy Vary Film Festival unveils 2024 official selection". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. ^ Stojiljković, Marko (15 July 2024). "European Film Festival Palić announces the full line-up for its 31st edition". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  9. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (4 October 2024). "The staggering diversity of Mediterranean cinema is set for the showcase at the Cinemed Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  10. ^ Shemin Joy (13 November 2024). "15 films including three from India to compete for prestigious Golden Peacock at IFFI 2024 in Goa". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  11. ^ "15 Films to Compete for the Golden Peacock at IFFI 2024". PIB. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025 – via press release.
  12. ^ "Panopticon". POFF. 10 November 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Panopticon". International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg (in German). 9 November 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Panopticon". Tromsø International Film Festival (in German). 16 January 2025. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  15. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (21 March 2025). "350 films set to showcase in Music & Cinema Marseille". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Panopticon". Sofia International Film Festival. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Panopticon: 24 septembre 2025 en salle" [Panopticon: 24 September 2025 in theaters]. AlloCiné (in French). 30 June 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Panopticon Press reviews" [Panopticon]. AlloCiné (in French). 24 September 2025. Retrieved 23 October 2025.
  19. ^ Leo Barraclough (28 May 2024). "Karlovy Vary Film Festival Lineup Includes 15 Directorial Debuts, Plus Films by Established Filmmakers". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  20. ^ Wise, Damon (6 July 2024). "Karlovy Vary Reveals Award Winners: Mark Cousins' Doc 'A Sudden Glimpse To Deeper Things' Takes The Crystal Globe". Deadline. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  21. ^ Stojiljković, Marko (29 July 2024). "Emilija Gašić's 78 Days wins big at Palić". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  22. ^ Lemercier, Fabien (28 October 2024). "To a Land Unknown triumphs at the Cinemed". Cineuropa. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  23. ^ Frater, Patrick (30 November 2024). "'April' Takes Double Win at Asia Pacific Screen Awards". Variety. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
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