The Flaw

Local title
Viga
Original title
The Flaw
Director
Theophilos Papastylianos
Country
Year
2026

One little song breaks through authoritarian censorship built on propaganda, manipulation, isolation and fear.

In a bleak future where the Regime decides who belongs and who doesn't, the Line divides everyone. Now, a ruthless Interrogator is ordered to follow a perfect Plan and prove a Suspect's guilt. A game of psychological manipulation unfolds as the Plan advances with cold precision. Every word or action is cast in a new light. Reality itself becomes twisted. But just as the puzzle seems complete, a single flaw changes everything. When a gun is drawn, the question is no longer who will pull the trigger – but whether either man can cross the Line that has always divided them.

Created by a Latvian art team, the film’s futuristic architecture is striking: eerie corridors, darkened rooms, table lamps, vast garages and mirrored reflections. Occasional bird’s eye views reveal Riga’s skyline transformed into an unnamed dystopia, where intimate encounters and psychological games become tools for uncovering guilt.

Edvinas Pukšta

Director
Theophilos Papastylianos
Screenwriter
Theophilos Papastylianos
Producer
Panos Papahadzis, Theophilos Papastylianos
Co-producer
Alise Rogule, Lina Yannopoulou
Cast
David Dawson, Arthur McBain, Ralf Little, Angela Brouskou, Lyne Renée, Sarah Akokhia, Georgia Small
Cinematographer
Thodoris Zacharakis
Editing
Yannis Chalkiadakis
Production Design
Michail Samiotis
Composer
Dimitris Fessas
Make-up
Dora Nazou
Sales agent
Jacques Kruger
Production
Argonauts Productions S.A.
Co production
Mima Films, ERT S.A.
Music
Michalis Nivolianitis
Sound
Yannis Antipas
Sound
Tone Studio
Runtime
Language
Subtitles
Theophilos Papastylianos
Director
Biography

Theophilos Papastylianos is a Greek filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer. His early work includes the short films “Algorhythm” (2001) and “Showtime” (2006), which screened at international film festivals. His feature-film debut, a dystopian thriller “The Flaw” (2026), is a Greece–Latvia co-production based on Antonis Samarakis’ novel.

Filmography

The Flaw (2026)

Award for Best Baltic Film, grant of 5000€ from Piletilevi

Screenings

Screening130820 / Viga
SubtitlesEnglish
Q&A guestsTheophilos Papastylianos (Director, Screenwriter, Producer), Katerina Tsakota (Costume design), Dimitris Fessas (Composer), David Dawson (Cast), Arthur McBain (Cast), Ralf Little (Cast), Lyne Renée (Cast)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Trailer