THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KIMON
Neritan Zinxhiria
PLAYS2PLACE, Greece/Albania
Hurting her lover and winning her back; when Kimon’s erotic fantasy about his ex-girlfriend results to her and her lover’s death, remorse will bring him close to the family of the deceased man.
Four years after their separation, KIMON and EVA are in the same car. Kimon, obsessed after stalking her continuously, and Eva, willing to do everything it takes for a second chance, agree to the price of this reconciliation. Eva should hurt the boyfriend for whom she left Kimon. This fantasy is followed by her death, her boyfriend’s death, and Kimon’s pilgrimage towards his own forgiveness. Kimon leaves Athens and embarks on a journey to Northern Greece, at the borders with Albania, that brings him close to KARAFIL, the Albanian father of the deceased boyfriend. The two men soon form a special bond and just when Kimon gets close to confessing, Karafil’s daughter, LUME, shows up unexpectedly and puts Kimon in a tight spot. He must now face both of them in his quest for redemption.
Director’s biography: Neritan Zinxhiria / IMDb
Born in Tirana, raised in Athens; Neritan Zinxhiria lived his own cinema paradiso at Cinema Trianon, a historical movie theatre in Greece. He created his first short film at the age of 18 and four years later he wins all major Greek film festivals with his second short CHAMOMILE. Regarded as one of the best Greek short films ever made, the film was also credited internationally by Cineuropa as one of the most important short films of 2013. His third short THE TIME OF A YOUG MAN ABOUT TO KILL premiered in Busan, South Korea. A prize winner in Audi’s hometown Ingolstadt, the film was produced by Gabriele Oricchio and Valeria Golino and shot in Italy. Holder of 2018 Artworks Excellence Award by the prestigious Stavros Niarhos Foundation, his films have been screened in more than 200 film festivals around the world. His last short film A COUNTRY OF TWO an experimental mosaic of found footage and photos, was presented by New Museum and DESTE Foundation at Benaki Museum. He is currently preparing his first feature film in Greece.
Producer’s biography: Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos / IMDb
Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos is the co-founder and head producer of the Greek production company PLAYS2PLACE. His credits include the award-winning festival hit MISS VIOLENCE (Silver Lion for Best Director and Coppa Volpi for Best Actor in Venice IFF 2013). Vasilis is a member of EAVE, EDN and Cannes Producers Network. He is an alumnus of the training initiatives EAVE Producers, EAVE Marketing, EAVE B’est, MFI Script 2 Film and MIDPOINT TV Launch workshops and has participated in more than 30 co-production and pitching forums. He was awarded with the Midpoint C21 Award during Cinelink 2017.
Where are we at?
Estimated production budget: 877.391,00 EUR
Financing in place: 18.891,00 EUR
Production timeline:
Development and financing: January 2020 - July 2022
Pre-production: August-September 2022
First day of principal photography: 12 September 2022
Shooting (5 weeks): September-October 2022
Editing (8 weeks): October-December 2022
Post-production: January-March 2023
Master delivery: April 2023
International festival premiere: May 2023
Looking for at CineLink?
Financiers- Production Companies: All territories excluding Greece, preference to France, Italy, Germany, Balkan countries
Sales agents: All territories
Distributors: All territories, excluding Greece
Director’s statement
The first seed for my film has its roots in a thought I had when I observed common patterns in the way romantic relationships end. I realized that a vast majority of the partners left behind, shared dark fantasies about seeking vengeance from their ex-partners and destroying their future romantic relationships. I was curious to explore story-wise what would happen if these fantasies were materialized in the worst possible way, bearing inconceivable consequences for the person that created them. THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KIMON is, at its heart, a journey of redemption, and a quest for identity and belonging - themes deeply explored by the rich cultural tradition of both my countries of origin, Greece and Albania, through tales, fables and folk songs. This oral tradition will enrich also the cinematic atmosphere of the film. The narrative unfolds through elliptical scenes that resemble the acts in the folk songs, being in that sense a modern parable about the post-love quest for peace.
Producer's statement
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KIMON is a powerful author-driven drama, a journey of remorse and redemption deeply rooted in the rich cultural tradition of tales, fables and folk songs of the Balkan territory.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO KIMON is the first feature film by the emerging Albanian - Greek filmmaker Neritan Zinxhiria, who brings forward his own double cultural and ethnic identity to narrate a powerful and compelling cinematic debut.
The project is designed as an ambitious European co-production between Greece and two or three more European states (preferably from the Balkans), aiming to create a footprint for a successful collaboration in film co-production in the Balkan peninsula. The film will be shot on location, primarily in Greece and other territories in the Balkans, involving creative and technical personnel as well as services and equipment companies from all respective territories and partners, and its principal photography is set for September 12, 2022.
Production Company profile
PLAYS2PLACE is a Greek production company specializing in the development and production of films, TV series, cross-media projects and theatre performances. The company’s award-winning film department has a special focus on discovering new aspiring filmmakers and developing their first and second features. Its filmography includes the arthouse festival hit MISS VIOLENCE (Silver Lion for Best Director and Coppa Volpi for Best Actor in Venice FF 2013). In 2016, PLAYS2PLACE launched its TV series slate with the aim to deliver high-end, cinematic stories for the Greek and international audience.
Email: vasilis@plays2place.gr