Ana Urushadze’s ‘Supporting Role’ Trailer Launches Ahead of Rotterdam Premiere

The trailer for “Supporting Role,” the latest film by Georgian writer-director Ana Urushadze, has officially premiered ahead of its debut in the prestigious Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam next month. This marks an exciting return for Urushadze, who gained international recognition with her debut feature, “Scary Mother,” which won the best first feature award at the 2017 Locarno Film Festival and received accolades at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

In “Supporting Role,” Urushadze weaves a narrative centered around a once-celebrated star of Georgian cinema. Following a casting session with a young female director, the protagonist embarks on a surreal and transformative journey. Previously accustomed to portraying heroic leads, he faces an unexpected shift when offered a supporting role, which initially offends him. Over time, he unconsciously embraces this new character, leading to a compelling exploration of identity and acceptance.

The film features performances by Dato Bakhtadze, who takes on the lead role, and Nata Murvanidze, known for her award-winning performance in “Scary Mother.” Murvanidze’s portrayal earned her recognition at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, further solidifying her place in the industry.

Produced by an international team, “Supporting Role” includes contributions from Davit Tsintsadze of Georgia’s Zazafilms, Ivo Felt of Allfilm in Estonia, Zeynep Atakan of Zeyno Film in Turkey, Andrey Epifanov of Cinetrain in Switzerland, and Eleonora Granata Jenkinson of Melograno Films in the United States. The film’s production also involved local talents Sophio Bedenashvili and Bacho Meburishvili from Enkeny Films in Georgia.

Filmed on location in Georgia, the cinematography is led by Estonian cinematographer Rein Kotov. The project received funding from several esteemed organizations, including the Georgian National Film Center, Estonian Film Institute, Estonian Cultural Endowment, the MEDIA Programme of Creative Europe, Eurimages, and Cinetrain.

With its world premiere approaching, “Supporting Role” is poised to captivate audiences and critics alike, building on the momentum of Urushadze’s previous success. As anticipation grows, the film promises to explore themes of transformation and identity in a unique and engaging manner.