Dry Leaf
| Dry Leaf | |
|---|---|
International promotional poster | |
| Georgian | ხმელი ფოთოლი |
| Directed by | Alexandre Koberidze |
| Screenplay by | Alexandre Koberidze |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Alexandre Koberidze |
| Edited by | Alexandre Koberidze |
| Music by | Giorgi Koberidze |
Production company | New Matter Films |
| Distributed by | Heretic (Germany) |
Release date |
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Running time | 186 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language |
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Dry Leaf (Georgian: ხმელი ფოთოლი) is a 2025 experimental road movie produced, written and directed by Alexandre Koberidze, starring his father David Koberidze as Irakli, it follows a father searching his missing daughter across rural Georgia.[1]
The film had its world premiere in the main competition of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 13 August 2025,[2] where it won the Special Mention prize.
It is Koberidze's second film shot in digital 144p low resolution following Let the Summer Never Come Again (2017).[3]
Plot
When Lisa, a young photographer, disappears, her father decides to search for her. He sets off on a journey through Georgia with her best friend Levani, an invisible person, as Lisa had recently been photographing football stadiums across the country. As the landscape passes by and they travel from one football stadium to the next, the people and their stories change, and with each football pitch and village, the chances of finding Lisa diminish.[4]
Cast
- David Koberidze as Irakli
- Otar Nijaradze as Levani
- Irina Chelidze as Nino
- Giorgi Bochorishvili as Policeman
- Vakhtang Fanchulidze as Policeman
Production
"Dry Leaf" is the English translation of a football pass coined in the 1950s by two-times World Cup winner Brazilian player Didi (Portuguese: folha seca).[5] Football is a recurrent motif during the film, as David Koberidze character searches his daughter through rural Georgia. The Brazilian national football team is also known for being wildly embraced by underdeveloped countries around the world.
It was completely filmed using his personal Sony Ericsson W595, which was also used during the production of his first feature film Let the Summer Never Come Again (2017). Its low-resolution (144p), gives the "natural visual" the filmmaker aimed.[3][6]
Alongside casting his father in the lead role, Koberidze's brother Giorgi Koberidze composed the film score and oversaw the sound design.[6]
By May 2025, it was reported that film was in the final stages of post-production.[7][8]
Release
Dry Leaf had its World Premiere at the main competition of the 78th Locarno Film Festival on 13 August 2025, where it competed for Golden Leopard.[9]
The film had its North American premiere at Wavelengths section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September.[10][11] It was also screened at the Currents Selections of the 2025 New York Film Festival in October.[12][13]
It was presented at the World Cinema section at the 30th Busan International Film Festival on 18 September 2025.[14] It was also screened on 5 October 2025 at the Bangkok International Film Festival in the Main Competition,[15] and at 'Strands: Dare' section of the 2025 BFI London Film Festival on 11 October 2025.[16][17]
It was screened in the Snapshots section of the 61st Chicago International Film Festival on 17 October 2025,[18] and in Features at the Vienna International Film Festival on the same day,[19] and the next day in International Perspective at the São Paulo International Film Festival on 18 October 2025.[20]
It will be screened in Survey Expanded: Fragilities at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival on 7 November 2025,[21] and had its Singapore Premiere in the Undercurrent section of the 36th Singapore International Film Festival on 29 November 2025.[22][23]
It was presented in the 'Best of Festivals' at the 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival on 15 November 2025.[24]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Locarno Film Festival | 16 August 2025 | Golden Leopard | Dry Leaf | Nominated | [25] |
| Special Mention | Won | [26] | |||
| Bangkok International Film Festival | 15 October 2025 | Grand Prix | Won | [27] |
References
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Locarno Film Festival. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Mona Tabbara (8 July 2025). "Locarno unveils 2025 line-up including premieres of Radu Jude's 'Dracula', Kamal Aljafari's 'With Hasan In Gaza'". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ a b Kiang, Jessica (17 August 2025). "'Dry Leaf' Review: A Gorgeously Eccentric Road Trip Through Blurry Rural Georgia". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf - New Matter Films". newmatterfilms.com. 30 March 2020.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (17 July 2025). "Locarno Golden Leopard Contender 'Dry Leaf' Acquired for World Sales by Heretic, Drops Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ a b Meza, Ed (11 August 2025). "'Dry Leaf' Director Alexandre Koberidze Lines Up Next Pic, Romantic Mystery Drama Inspired by Pet Shop Boys Album 'Bilingual'". Variety. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ Popp, Olivia (8 May 2025). "Alexandre Koberidze's Dry Leaf is now in post-production". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf: Independent Feature Film". Crew United. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Szalai, Georg (8 July 2025). "'Dracula' by Radu Jude, David Lynch-Exec Produced 'Happy Worker' Set for Locarno Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". TIFF. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (8 August 2025). "TIFF Announces 2025 Wavelengths Lineup, Featuring the Very Best of the Avant-Garde". IndieWire. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (7 August 2025). "NYFF Reveals 2025 Currents Lineup, Including New Films by Tsai Ming-liang and Radu Jude". IndieWire. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ "63rd New York Film Festival Line up". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
- ^ "Selection List: World Cinema". BIFF. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Bangkok International Film Festival. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (3 September 2025). "BFI London Film Festival: Chloé Zhao's 'Hamnet' & Kate Moss Biopic 'Moss & Freud' Among Headline Titles — Full List". Deadline. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". BFI London Film Festival. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Chicago International Film Festival. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ "The Viennale: Dry Leaf". Vienna International Film Festival. 17 October 2025. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". São Paulo International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Thessaloniki International Film Festival. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Singapore International Film Festival. 23 October 2025. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (23 October 2025). "Shu Qi's 'Girl' to Open Singapore Film Festival, Deepa Mehta and Youn Yuh-jung Receive Honors". Variety. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
- ^ "Dry Leaf". Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
- ^ Marta Balaga (8 July 2025). "Radu Jude, Abdellatif Kechiche Head to Locarno as Swiss Fest Announces Lineup, An 'Ambitious and Exciting Edition'". Variety. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
- ^ Georg Szalai (16 August 2025). "Locarno Film Festival Top Award Goes to 'Two Seasons, Two Strangers' by Sho Miyake". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ Silvia Wong (16 October 2025). "'Dry Leaf', 'Secret Of A Mountain Serpent' win top prizes at Bangkok film festival". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 18 October 2025.