Walls | Christos Sarris – 2023

Christos Sarris’s “Walls” draws heavily on his personal experience working with incarcerated individuals at a prison in Nigrita, Greece, where he taught the basics of filmmaking on both a theoretical and practical level. Through a series of workshops, Sarris provided them with the tools to create a film that not only speaks to their own experiences but also resonates with audiences around the world, discussing fundamental rights and values.

The film is accompanied by a musical adaptation of C. P. Cavafy’s poem “Walls” by Laura Jane Grace, Emmy-nominated artist, author, activist, musician, and founder of the American punk-rock band Against Me!

“‘Walls’ is a thought-provoking film that takes place within the confines of a prison. Through the eyes of inmates, we are given the opportunity to explore the themes of freedom, dreams, hope, and the human condition in a way that is both poignant and emotive. The powerful musical adaptation of Cavafy’s poem ‘Walls’ by Laura Jane Grace adds another layer of emotion and depth to the already compelling narrative.”

Directed by Christos Sarris
Music written and arranged by Laura Jane Grace

Camera: Christos Sarris, Dimitris Zivopoulos

Assistant Directors: Smaragda Dogani, Dimitris Zivopoulos

Editor: Marios Kleftakis

VFX: Aias Kokkalis

Sound Mixer: Dimitris Miyakis

Sound Designer: Giorgos Chanos

Color Correction: Manthos Sardis

Translation from Turkish: Yannis Panourgias

Production Coordinator: Elena Choremi

Executive Producer: Marina Danezi (Laika Productions)

Production Assistants: Stelios Doulgeridis, Angeliki Avgeri

Production Manager: Tasos Koronakis

Featuring: Bankin Ahmado, Fikret Oz, Anxhelo Pambuku, Saimir Kaceku, Adnane Sengad, Giorgos Vidakis, Vassilis Grammenidis, Spiros Drosakis, Kostas Barkoulis, Christina Koutsandrea

Thanks to: Georgios Economou, Director of Nigrita Penitentiary, Konstantinos Papathanasiou, Secretary General for Anti-Crime Policy, Civil Protection Ministry