Georgian Film “Supporting Role” Unveils Trailer Before Rotterdam Premiere

The trailer for “Supporting Role,” the latest film by Georgian writer-director Ana Urushadze, has been released ahead of its world premiere in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in February 2024. This marks Urushadze’s second feature film following the acclaimed “Scary Mother,” which won the award for best first feature at the Locarno Film Festival in 2017.

“Supporting Role” delves into the life of a once-celebrated star of Georgian cinema. The narrative unfolds after he attends a casting session with a young female director, prompting a unique and often surreal journey of self-transformation. Initially offended by the prospect of a supporting role, the protagonist gradually begins to embrace this unexpected character, leading him into a complex exploration of identity and artistry.

The film features a notable performance by Dato Bakhtadze, who is joined by Nata Murvanidze, recognized for her leading role in “Scary Mother,” where she earned accolades for best performance at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

Production and Funding Details

“Supporting Role” is produced by a collaborative team comprising Davit Tsintsadze of Zazafilms in Georgia, Ivo Felt of Allfilm in Estonia, Zeynep Atakan of Zeyno Film in Turkey, Andrey Epifanov of Cinetrain in Switzerland, Eleonora Granata Jenkinson of Melograno Films in the United States, along with Sophio Bedenashvili and Bacho Meburishvili of Enkeny Films, and Bakhtadze himself in Georgia.

Filming took place in various locations across Georgia, with cinematography led by Estonian filmmaker Rein Kotov. The project received funding from the Georgian National Film Center, the Estonian Film Institute, the Estonian Cultural Endowment, the MEDIA Programme of Creative Europe, Eurimages, and Cinetrain.

As anticipation builds for its premiere, “Supporting Role” aims to continue the impressive trajectory of Georgian cinema on the international stage, following the significant recognition achieved by Urushadze’s previous work.