Inside

The spacious penthouse with a panoramic view of the New York skyline is decked out with designer furniture and valuable works of art. It is bathed in peaceful sunlight when, having been dropped off by a helicopter, art thief Nemo successfully disables the alarm system and breaks in. He is after five paintings by Egon Schiele. But the self-portrait, which is supposed to be hanging in the bedroom, is missing. Then, when the high-end security system can no longer be disarmed, the trap snaps shut. Nemo searches for a way out, but the damage to the highly intelligent system only makes things worse. He has long since lost contact with his accomplices, and it seems that nobody else has been alerted either. Nemo is stuck, alone with the surveillance camera monitors which alternate glimpses of empty corridors, the doorman and the occasional cleaner. Hours turn into days, days into weeks and months. Trapped in a golden cage, he reaches his physical and emotional limits.
Vasilis Katsoupis’ feature film debut is an existential exploration of human needs and the value of art and luxury. Willem Dafoe is convincing in the role of the art thief left to his own devices and doing battle with a dream penthouse that turns into a nightmare.
by Vasilis Katsoupis
with Willem Dafoe, Gene Bervoets, Eliza Stuyck
Greece / Germany / Belgium 2023 English 105’ Colour World premiere Rating R12

With

  • Willem Dafoe (Nemo)
  • Gene Bervoets
  • Eliza Stuyck

Crew

Director Vasilis Katsoupis
Screenplay Ben Hopkins based on an idea by Vasilis Katsoupis
Cinematography Steven Annis
Editing Lambis Haralambidis
Music Frederik Van de Moortel
Production Design Thorsten Sabel
Costumes Catherine Van Brée
Make-Up Esther De Goey
Line Producer Pierre Wallon
Producers Giorgos Karnavas, Marcos Kantis, Dries Phlypo
Executive Producers Jim Stark, Vasilis Katsoupis, Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Charles E. Breitkreuz, Martin Lehwald, Jean-Claude Van Rijckeghem, Stephen Kelliher
Co-Producers Jens Wolf, Neshe Demir, Bastie Griese, Peter Kreutz, David Claikens, Alex Verbaere

Vasilis Katsoupis

Born in Volos, Greece in 1977, he studied media and film in the UK and graduated with a master’s degree in screen arts. He then went on to lecture at the School of Film at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has directed numerous commercials, music videos and creative projects. His first documentary, My Friend Larry Gus, premiered at the 50th Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Inside is his debut feature film.

Filmography

2001 Fragments; short film 2002 Moon of 20 Days; short film 2016 My Friend Larry Gus; documentary 2023 Inside

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023