APRIL

Sceneggiatura / Screenplay: Dea Kulumbegashvili Fotografia / Photography: Arseni Khachaturan Montaggio / Editing: Jacopo Ramella Pajrin Musica / Music: Matthew Herbert Suono / Sound: Lars Ginzel, Tina Laschke, Zezva Pochkhidze Scenografia / Set Designer: Beka Tabukashvili Costumi / Costume Designer: Tornike Kirtadze, Nikolozi Guraspashvili Interpreti / Cast: Ia Sukhitashvili, Kakha Kintsurashvili, Merab Ninidze Produzione / Produced by: Frenesy Film, First Picture, Memo Films, Independent Film Project Coproduzione / Co-produced by: ARTE France Cinéma In associazione con / In association with: Golda Darty P4, Fremantlemedia, 3 Marys Entertainment, Tenderstories, Adler Entertainment, Sarke Studio, Pyramide Distribution, Goodfellas Distribuzione internazionale / World Sales: Goodfellas

After a newborn dies during delivery, the morals and professionalism of an ob-gyn, Nina, come under scrutiny amid rumours that she performs illegal abortions for those in need. April was presented in competition at the Venice Film Festival 2024, where it won the Special Jury Prize.

“With April, my goal was to explore and analyse the dichotomy and convergence between existence and womanhood. This naturally led me to the themes of birth and death. The story began with a singular woman, a character imbued with an epic quality. She is someone who endures suffering and channels that pain into her life choices and ambitions. Despite this, she remains grounded and distinct from the rest of the world. By ‘epic,’ I refer not to a narrative style but to the vast scope of an individual’s life and existence. The film delves into the tangible, earthy aspects of life as well as the enigmatic and inexplicable dimensions of being. Nina lives the austere life of a doctor, risking her own well-being to provide illegal abortions for those in need. She encounters women in their most intimate moments, whether they are becoming mothers in the throes of excruciating labour or undergoing painful and clandestine abortions, hidden from their families. Nina is a character who loves universally yet no one in particular. She possesses boundless empathy but struggles to form personal connections. She desires and needs nothing for herself, driven solely by her mission. However, she ultimately finds herself unable to effect significant change.” (D. Kulumbegashvili)

Dea Kulumbegashvili
Born in 1986, Dea Kulumbegashvili is Georgian writer and director based in Tbilisi. She studied film directing at Columbia University in New York City. Her debut short film Invisible Spaces was in competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. Her short Léthé, also selected at Cannes, was in competition at the Trieste FF in 2017, followed by Beginning, her award-winning debut feature, which won the 2021 edition of the festival. After its premiere at the Venice FF, April was presented at the Toronto, San Sebastian and New York film festivals, among others.

2014 Ukhilavi sivrtseebi (Invisible Spaces) cm / sf 2016 Leta (Léthé) cm / sf 2020 Dasatskisi (Beginning); Premi / Awards: San Sebastian IFF – Miglior Film, Migliore regia, Migliore sceneggiatura, Migliore attrice / Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress; Toronto IFF – Premio FIPRESCI / FIPRESCI Award 2024 April; Premi / Awards: Venezia, Mostra del cinema – Premio speciale della giuria / Venice FF – Special Jury Prize; San Sebastian FF – Miglior film nel concorso “Zabaltegi-Tabakalera” / Best Film in “Zabaltegi-Tabakalera” Competition