Panopticon (2025)
Panopticon (2025), directed by გიორგი სიხარულიძე (II), starring Data Chachua and Ia Sukhitashvili.
score
Synopsis
When Sandro’s father decides to devote his life to God and leaves for a monastery, the teenage introvert finds himself deprived of the fundamental certainties of life. Abandoned by his father and his mother, who is working abroad, the young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery, opening up both to a new friendship with the radical Lasha, who has ties with an ultra-right organisation, and also to the chance to explore his own sexuality.
- Oleg MutuCinematography
- გიორგი სიხარულიძე (II)Director, Screenplay
- Giorgia VillaEditing
- ვლადიმერ კაჭარავაProducer
About the film
Panopticon (Georgian: პანოპტიკონი, romanized: p'anop't'ik'oni) is a 2024 Georgian language drama film written and directed by George Sikharulidze in his feature debut. The film reflects on the uncertain direction of post-Soviet Georgian society, touching upon themes of sexuality, grief, unfulfilled potential, as well as the clash between religious conservatism and nationalism with the realities of the modern world.
The film had its premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was nominated for Crystal Globe.
It was selected as the Georgian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
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Panopticon (Georgian: პანოპტიკონი, romanized: p'anop't'ik'oni) is a 2024 Georgian language drama film written and directed by George Sikharulidze in his feature debut. The film reflects on the uncertain direction of post-Soviet Georgian society, touching upon themes of sexuality, grief, unfulfilled potential, as well as the clash between religious conservatism and nationalism with the realities of the modern world.
The film had its premiere at the 58th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where it was nominated for Crystal Globe.
It was selected as the Georgian entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.
Cast
Data Chachua as Sandro
Malkhaz Abuladze as David
Ia Sukhitashvili as Natalia
Vakho Kedeladze as Lasha
Salome Gelenidze as Tina
Ketevan Shervashidze as the grandmother
Maia Gelovani as the mother
Levan Gabrava as Rati
Marita Meskhoradze as Lana
Andro Japaridze as Beka
Production
The film is produced by Vladimer Kacharava 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.
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. In July 2024, it completed in the Parallels and Encounters section of 31st Palić European Film Festival. It competed for Antigone d'Or at the Montpellier Film Festival, in October 2024.
In November 2024, it competed in Main Competition for the Golden Peacock Award at the 55th International Film Festival of India, and was screened at the 2024 Stockholm International Film Festival in Discovery section, and at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, and at the International Film Festival Mannheim-Heidelberg.
On 16 January 2025, it was screened in the East Side Stories at the Tromsø International Film Festival.
In March 2025 it participated in the Marseille International Music & Cinema Festival and competed for the 2025 Grand Prize for Best Original Score.
On 19 March 2025, it competed in Teen Competition section of the Sofia International Film Festival.
The film was screened at the South East European Film Festival in LA on 30 April 2026.
It was released in French theaters on 24 September 2025 by The Alchemists.
Reception
On the AlloCiné, which lists 17 press reviews, the film obtained an average rating of 3.7/5.
Accolades
See also
List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
List of Georgian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
External links
Official website
Panopticon at IMDb
Text from Panopticon (film) on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panopticon_(film)
Trivia
- It premiered on September 24, 2025, a Wednesday.
- It runs 1h35 — a typical feature length.
- Its original title is "პანოპტიკონი".
- This film's quiz has 9 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- Studios20 Steps Productions, Ombre Rosse Film Production, Tangaj Production, Independent Film Project, Filmo 2
- CountriesGeorgia, Italy, Romania, France
- LanguagesGeorgian
- StatusReleased
Photos
Cast
-
Data Chachua
Sandro -
Ia Sukhitashvili
Natalia - Vakhtang Kedeladze Lasha
-
Malkhaz Abuladze
Father - Salome Gelenidze Tina
- Marita Meskhoradze Lana
-
Giorgi Tabidze
Nukri -
Andro Japaridze
Beka - Levan Gabrava Rati
- Maia Gelovani Mother
-
Luke Kankava
Footballer - Paata Kvlividze Demonstration Leader
-
Beka Lemonjava
Ultranationalist - Eka Mzhavanadze Relative
Quiz about this movie
Questions from the whole catalogue.
Play nowIf you liked this one
-
A Adolescente
7.0
-
Off the Map
6.4
-
Tigertail Drama from the 2020s
6.7
-
A Incrível Eleanor Drama from the 2020s
6.9
-
A Caminho da Fé
5.8
-
Lorelei - Amores do Passado Drama from the 2020s
6.0
-
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden
5.9
-
Resgate no Golfo Drama from the 2020s
6.8
-
Dias Sem Fim Drama from the 2020s
6.2
-
Embattled: Dias de Luta Drama from the 2020s
6.7
-
Lugares Santos
6.1
-
A Grande Ilusão
5.9
Tags
Crew
- Oleg Mutu Cinematography
- გიორგი სიხარულიძე (II) Director
- Giorgia Villa Editing
- ვლადიმერ კაჭარავა Producer
- Chiara Costanza Original music
- გიორგი სიხარულიძე (II) Screenplay
Questions about this film
What is Panopticon about?
Panopticon: When Sandro’s father decides to devote his life to God and leaves for a monastery, the teenage introvert finds himself deprived of the fundamental certainties of life. Abandoned by his father and his mother, who is working abroad, the young man embarks on a journey of self-discovery, opening up both to a new friendshi…
Who directed Panopticon?
Panopticon was directed by გიორგი სიხარულიძე (II) in 2025.
Who stars in Panopticon?
The cast of Panopticon includes Data Chachua, Ia Sukhitashvili, Vakhtang Kedeladze, Malkhaz Abuladze and Salome Gelenidze.
How long is Panopticon?
Panopticon runs for 95 minutes, or 1h35.
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Page updated on 09/19/2026.
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