Greek-Colombian filmmaker Spiros Stathoulopoulos, best known for PVC-1 and Meteora [+lire aussi :
bande-annonce
fiche film], is set to unveil his latest feature, The Megalomaniacs, at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF, 7-23 November), premiering in the Rebels with a Cause section, dedicated to bold and boundary-pushing cinema (see the news). The film marks Stathoulopoulos’ return to long-form fiction since 2022's Cavewoman, and continues his exploration of form, philosophy and human absurdity through a premise inspired by the little-known field of archaeoacoustics: the theory that ancient pottery might contain traces of recorded sound.

The story follows Sofia, a marine archaeologist who embarks on a radical mission to prove that ancient pottery once captured sound, etched into it like a primitive vinyl record. Before she can test ancient amphorae, she must sculpt replicas to experiment with. Reluctantly, she enlists the help of Potter, her cynical ex-brother-in-law, a failed sculptor drowning in wine and resentment towards sound itself, especially the racket of her foul-mouthed cockatoo. Amid clashing egos and surreal twists, their journey leads to a discovery that transcends centuries.

Sofia is portrayed by Angeliki Papoulia, one of Greece’s most highly acclaimed actors (Dogtooth [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Yorgos Lanthimos
fiche film], The Lobster [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Yorgos Zois
fiche film], Arcadia [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Yorgos Zois
fiche film]), who leads the cast alongside Belgian actor Jan Bijvoet (Borgman [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Alex van Varmerdam
fiche film], Wil [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche film]) as Potter. The cast also features Christos Passalis (Dogtooth, Silence 6–9 [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
interview : Christos Passalis
fiche film]) and Vasilis Magouliotis (Broadway [+lire aussi :
critique
bande-annonce
fiche film]).

Stathoulopoulos wrote and directed the film, extending his fascination with the limits of human belief, and the absurdity of spiritual and scientific dogma. As in Meteora, The Megalomaniacs explores the tension between the sacred and the profane, while visually, the helmer is continuing his signature long-take aesthetic that he introduced with the single-shot structure of PVC-1. Colombian cinematographer Andrés Felipe Morales is once again lensing the movie. The creative team also includes George Cragg and Martina Zamolo as editors, Spyros Laskaris as art director, Eva Goulakou as costume designer, and Stavros Raptis as casting director. The movie was shot on location in Elefsina, a coastal town west of Athens known for its deep industrial and mythological heritage.

Reflecting on the production, producer Konstantinos Vassilaros told Cineuropa: “For me, this was a truly exciting adventure, a rare Greek-Cypriot-Colombian co-production that gave me the chance to meet and collaborate with the very talented director Spiros Stathoulopoulos, who is exceptionally smart and funny. Together, we have assembled a stellar cast and an outstanding crew from all three co-producing countries. We spent a month last winter shooting in and around Elefsina, while the long-take style he is known for provided space for the actors and the camera to perform each scene seamlessly. That joy and the creative energy of the shoot made its way into the film itself, a rebellious and delightfully ‘bonkers’ cinematic work. The support from Úrsula and Paul at ISB Films was invaluable, and we could not be happier to have Denis and Anna from Reason8 Films on board as our international sales agents, who believed in the film right from the very first cut. Being selected for Tallinn’s Rebels with a Cause section reminds us that there is always the right home for each film, and we have found ours at Black Nights, thanks to Tiina Lokk, Javier García Puerto and the rest of the wonderful PÖFF team.”

The Megalomaniacs is a Greek-Cypriot-Colombian co-production staged by Konstantinos Vassilaros for Athens-based StudioBauhaus, in co-production with Stelios Kammitsis for Felony Film Productions and José David Corredor Becerra for Candelaria Cine. Úrsula Romero Gerberding and R Paul Miller served as executive producers for Spain’s ISB Films, with Neda Film as an associate production partner. The film received support from the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece, ERT SA, the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus (SEKin), Proimágenes Colombia and Creative Europe – MEDIA. International sales are handled by Reason8 Films, represented by Anna Krupnova.