Winner, Cultural Diversity Award under the patronage of UNESCO, 2017
Set in 1992 amid the remote Ushguli community of Georgia’s Svaneti province in the country’s northwest, Dede is the story of Dina, a young woman who challenges the centuries-old traditions and superstitions that rule day-to-day life. Dina’s grandfather has arranged for her to marry soldier David, but she rejects him in favour of handsome Gedi. Both men have recently returned from the Georgian Civil War where Gedi saved David’s life. Dina and Gedi’s elopement tramples on traditional Svaneti culture, but her refusal to abide by tradition will cost her more than she could imagine. Shot on location in the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ushguli, the film is director Mariam Khatchvani’s debut feature.
APSA Winner Clip
Post win interview with Mariam Khatchvani
The Asia Pacific Screen Academy expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the South East Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners of country, including the custodial communities on whose land works are created and celebrated by the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. We acknowledge the continuing connection to land, waters and communities. We also pay our respects to Elders, past and emerging. We recognise the integral role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and First Nations peoples continue to play in storytelling and celebration spaces.
