The 13th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Images of the 21st Century opened on Friday, March 11, 2011; it was a modest ceremony with musical undertones at the packed Olympion Theater. The official opening by Thessaloniki mayor Yiannis Boutaris, was followed by the screening of Roy Sher’s documentary My Sweet Canary, which focuses on the life and career of rebetiko music legend Roza Eskenazi.
Festival director Dimitris Eipides welcomed the audience and civic dignitaries. Among those attending the ceremony were Deputy Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament Anastasios Kourakis and Undersecretary of Transportation Spyros Vougias. «Another beginning finds us here, full of excitement and anticipation, an anticipation that thankfully is still with us, thirteen years after. I say thankfully, because from day one, this anticipation has been the element that keeps us alert and helps us remain faithful to the founding principles underlying the Festival. Our goal has always been to bring audiences to cinemas, to share images that bring our emotions and feelings, stimulating our minds and conditioning our actions both inside and outside theaters”. Mr. Eipides made special reference to the diversity of this year’s program, which includes 233 films from around the world “allowing viewers to move beyond the current affairs agenda and probe under the surface of stereotypical views and beliefs”.
«I am overjoyed by the fact that the Festival has developed deep roots and I can assure you we will do everything in our power to ensure that it keeps on growing new branches in the future”, said Mayor Boutaris in his opening speech.
Before the lights grew dim for the screening, the vocal group Golfo took the stage, performing Greek traditional songs as well as a Turkish piece from the soundtrack of My Sweet Canary. The performance was warmly welcomed by the audience, bringing viewers in the right mood to attend Sher’s documentary.
The Israeli Filmmaker himself took the stage to present the film, highlighting the auspicious occasion of its premiere taking place in Thessaloniki, the city where Eskenazi was born and thrived as an artist. “I have no wife or children, but right now I feel as if I am present in the labor room, since this is the place where my first film is born, with all of you joining the celebrations. Mr. Eipides was instrumental in giving me the chance to present my film here, so I would like to warmly thank him for this opportunity. I can honestly tell you there is no other festival on earth I would rather be. Before the screening starts, allow me to share with you something Roza Eskenazi taught me: ‘The most important thing in life is not the destination, but the journey”.
