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Director's phobia sparks surreal film concept
21 Aug
Summary
- New film explores a woman's mental and physical struggles.
- The director's personal fear of butterflies inspires the plot.
- The film blends detective elements with mysticism and body horror.

Georgian director Ana Urushadze, known for "Scary Mother" and "Supporting Role," is preparing her third film, "Fear of Butterflies." The narrative follows a woman approaching 30 who undergoes strange mental and physical transformations, with the director describing it as a detective story infused with mysticism and body horror.
The film's title stems from Urushadze's long-standing fear of butterflies, which she explored with a psychologist friend. This led to an insight about the fear manifesting as a perceived illness or invalidity, resonating with her own hypochondria.
Production of "Fear of Butterflies" is being managed by Allfilm, Urushadze's previous collaborator. Amidst industry disputes in Georgia, Urushadze is seeking international financing and is uncertain about filming within the country.
Urushadze's debut, "Scary Mother," received critical acclaim, winning awards at Locarno and Sarajevo. Her subsequent film, "Supporting Role," a character study set in Tbilisi, also garnered festival attention and awards at Rotterdam. The latter was inspired by an encounter during the casting for "Scary Mother."