Chechen Documentary ‘Imago’ Debuts Clip Ahead of Cannes Premiere, Rediance Handles Sales (EXCLUSIVE)

by

A special sneak peek of the Chechen documentary “Imago,” helmed by director Déni Oumar Pitsaev, is being unveiled by EbMaster. This film, distributed globally by Rediance and set for release in France by New Story, will make its first appearance at Critics’ Week during the Cannes Film Festival.

Oumar Pitsaev, a Chechen filmmaker who had been exiled, makes his way back to the Pankissi Valley in Georgia, situated at the base of the Caucasus Mountains, where members of his Chechen kin reside. Upon receiving a small plot of land in the valley as an inheritance, he perceives this as an opportunity to construct the treehouse that he’s long dreamed about since childhood.

However, simplicity rarely exists in the rugged Caucasus region. Upon his return to a village situated merely on the Chechen border, where he was born and holds little familiarity – a place he barely knows – he inadvertently rekindles old conflicts, long-buried family disputes, and most significantly, the question that persistently arises: at what point, and to whom, will he tie the knot?

In a statement, the director shared that when their cousin extended an invitation for them to spend a summer in Pankissi, they realized they would need to face all the aspects they had been avoiding for years: the burden of tradition, the expectations from family, the heavy influence of religion, and the unspoken issues regarding self-identity.

This movie serves as a reconnection and confrontation – with my Chechen heritage, my fragmented kin, and the self-imposed distances within me. I explore the balance between acceptance and liberty, between the place I escaped from and the potential haven I could eventually create.

The story ‘Imago’ explores transformation – understanding growth, forgiveness, and envisioning a future that cherishes the past yet isn’t constrained by it.

This movie is made by Triptyque Films from France, with additional production by Need Productions in Belgium, as well as Arte Cinema and RTBF. It received backing from the Sundance Institute, ASR, and Eurimages, and was showcased at various pitching events such as Hot Docs in Toronto, Sheffield, and Locarno.

Read More

2025-05-08 11:07