Rusudan Gaprindashvili is a Georgian filmmaker based in Germany. She studied at the State Film and Theatre University (Tbilisi), the University of Georgia Institute for Media Studies, the International Center of Photography (New York), TU Dortmund and SAE Institute Bochum. Her short film Shards received the Promotional Award at Oberhausen. Her documentary How to Talk to Lydia? financed by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW GmbH and The Whickers, premiered in 2025 as opening film of Job Film Days International Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury Prize, and won Best Documentary at the China Academy Awards. During development, it was presented at DOK Leipzig, Beldocs and Close Up 2023/24, winning the Pitch the Doc and MEDIMED Awards. Since completion it has travelled internationally, screening at festivals across Europe and beyond. She is an invited member of the Close Up Advisory Board 2026/2027.
PROJECT
Second Hands
Keto, 27, is terrified of death. Yet for the past eight years, since leaving Georgia for Dortmund with her two brothers, she has earned a living clearing out the apartments of the recently deceased. Unlike controlling Jaba and her dreamer twin Dato, who treat every job as a treasure hunt that might finally change their fortunes, Keto is drawn to the traces people leave behind. Whatever the grieving consider garbage is shipped to their parents’ shop in Tbilisi, where discarded belongings are given a second life. To help pay off the family's debts, Keto also cares for Melinda, an elderly woman living with dementia. Melinda becomes the only person who allows Keto the intimacy and tenderness missing from her own life. When Melinda dies, Keto's brothers approach the clearance like any other job. Among her belongings is a porcelain dinner set, valuable only if complete. Overwhelmed by grief and disgusted by her brothers' indifference, Keto secretly steals a single plate, destroying the sets overall value. Her act sets off a ruthless search that reveals how far her brothers are willing to go for money, and forces Keto to confront her family.
