The Thessaloniki International Film Festival has assigned, for the first time, the spots of its 65th edition to two filmmakers whose creations converse in a unique way with the Festival’s program. The spots “Transformation” and “Vampires” are directed by Nikos Kolioukos, who won the second award at the Student Competition Section of the Cannes Film Festival. Moreover, the spot titled “Scared?” was directed by Meni Tsilianidou, who was bestowed with the Best Direction, Best Actor and Best Actress Awards at the Student National Competition of the Drama International Short Film Festival.
This year’s spots explore key themes running through the program of the 65th Thessaloniki Film Festival. “To me the notion of the monster has no negative or positive meaning; it is a force sleeping within us and waking up from time to time, capable both for a destruction or a miracle,” notes Nikos Kolioukos. Meni Tsilianidou, on her part, adds: “In real life the coming of age comes sooner than it’s supposed to. In the world of cinema, however, we never grow old”.
The spots of the 65th TIFF:
Transformation
Vampires
Scared?
About Nikos Kolioukos
Nikos Kolioukos (b. 1996) is a film director based in Athens. He graduated from the Film Department of the School of Fine Arts at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His debut short film, The Chaos She Left Behind, was awarded this year at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, winning the 2nd prize in La Cinef competition. ARTE TV, Europe's premier public service channel dedicated to culture, bought the rights to distribute his short film in France and Germany. The film won the Best Director and Best Actress awards in the National Student competition at the 46th Drama International Short Film Festival. It also received the 2024 Iris Award for Best Student Film from the Hellenic Film Academy. The film continues its international journey, with its latest stop being the 30th Sarajevo Film Festival. In 2023, the Greek Film Centre commissioned Nikos Kolioukos to create the official promotional spots for their annual campaign. He is currently preparing with Homemade Films his next short film, Amnesia, a queer love story set in the working-class Thessaloniki of the 1980s, which is supported by the Greek Film Centre.
Meni Tsilianidou studied at AUTh’s Film School, working over the last years as a director and a 1st/2nd assistant director. She has co-directed the short film Small Talk with the Bad Man (2020), which has been screened in more than fifteen film festivals all around the world, having won three audience awards. Her latest film Driving Me Crazy (2024) premiered at the 47th Drama International Short Film Festival, at the National Student Competition section, snatching the Best Director, Best Actress and Best Actor Awards. Recently, she directed the advertising spot for the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece, as well as the spot of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
Credits:
Transformation
Natasa: Maria Filini
Orestis: Thanos Tokakis
Vampires
Andy: Vassilis Boutsikos
John: James Rodi
Director - Scriptwriter: Nikos Kolioukos
Producer: Kyveli Short
DOP: Alexandra Riba
Editor: Yorgos Zafeiris
Music - Sound design: Pélagie Hadzinikitas
Sound Recordist: Kostas Drakopoulos
Set Designer: RECTIFIER
Costumes: Marli Aliferi
Make-up artist: Voula Chourtsidou
Production Manager: Laura Ganotis
Production coordinator - Script supervisor: Ar Apost
1st Assistant Director: Ioanna Roumelioti
1st Camera Assistant: Carolina Apikian
2nd Camera Assistant: Ioannis Mylonas
Gaffer: Nikos Pylarinos
Assistant make-up artist: Vasiliki Kostopoulou
Mixer: Kleitos Kyriakides
Color Grading: Dimitris Manousiakis
Image Lab: Frenel Post
Production accounting: Sofia Kastanara, Gogo Xanthi & Nikos Chourzoumis
Catering: Cafe Boheme
Van renting service: Voyager
Equipment renting service: DK Rental
Production Company: Homemade Films
Special Thanks:
Maria Drandaki
Lefteris Theodoroudis
Alexandros Kazamias
Christoforos Kartalos
Kassiani Leontiadou
Kostas Barlis
Zoe Sigalou
Marina Siotou
Syllas Tzoumerkas
Makis Triantafyllou
Angelos Psimenos
Credits “Scared?”
Cast: Natassa Daliaka & Saidulaev Aslan
Director: Meni Tsilianidou
Scriptwriters: Dimitra Kapsala & Anna Maria Lagortsi
Production Company: FRENEL PRODUCTIONS
Executive Producer: Alexis Anastasiadis
DOP: Dimitris Kossivas
Set Designer – Costumes: Panos Sellas & Stella Deliantoni
Production Manager: Antonia Chalavazi
Editor: Evdoxia Chasapi
Original Music: Pélagie Hadzinikitas
Sound Designer & Mixer: Enes Achmet Kechagia
Γραφιστικά / Graphic Designer: Kelly Nikou
Color Grading: Maria Tzortzatou
Sound Recordist: Simos
1st Assistant Director: Yolanda Tsirba Anagnostou
Continuity Supervisor: George Georgakopoulos
Production Assistant: Aspasia Stavropoulou
1st AC: Lazaros Kenanoglou
Gaffer: Haris Fragou
DCP: Dimitris Manousiakis
Voice Over: Orestis Andreadakis
Special Thanks: Giota Tsilianidou & Pantelis Kelemanis
