55th Thessaloniki Film Festival
31 October - 9 November 2014
OPENING CEREMONY
31 October - 9 November 2014
OPENING CEREMONY
The curtain rose on the 55th Thessaloniki Film Festival on Friday, October 31, 2014. The opening ceremony took place at the Olympion theatre with actress Penelope Tsilika (Little England) hosting. The ceremony was followed by the screening of Kornel Mundruczo’s filmWhite God.
Festival director Dimitri Eipides commented on the 55-year history of the Festival, noting that it has been “a dynamic period of constant evolution for an institution that has established Thessaloniki as a major attraction in the world of international cinema. The Festival is still serving its traditional major goal: to showcase the work of new, independent filmmakers. The packed theatres stand as proof that our audience embraces our philosophy. The international competitive section is complex and polyphonic, featuring films from Greece, Scandinavia and Spain to Mexico and America. The Open Horizons section invites viewers to join us in discovering some of the best contemporary films. We will also present tributes to three esteemed filmmakers, Kornel Mundruczo, Roy Andersson and Ramin Bahrani”. Mr Eipides made special reference to the 100-year anniversary of Greek cinema, calling it a “landmark for this year’s festival edition,” adding: “Selected films, both classics and contemporary features, will be screened in the context of this cinematic feast taking place in Thessaloniki.”
Mr Eipides then commented on the Balkan Survey section of the Festival, which showcases recent productions from the region and includes a tribute to the work of Serbian filmmaker Zelimir Zilnik. Then, Mr Eipides said: “This year, our Festival is also honouring the great lady of European cinema, Hanna Schygulla. The muse of Rainer Werner Fassbinder will be presented with the Golden Alexander award for her unique and multifarious career. We will also have the the pleasure of attending a performance of her songs by Hanna Schygulla herself. The Festival will also honour four important Greek filmmakers at a special event.”
In his closing remarks, Mr Eipides welcomed the members of the International jury and the FIPRESCI jury, wishing them the best of luck in their work. He also expressed his thanks to the Ministry of Culture and Sports, to the Municipality of Thessaloniki, to the European MEDIA program, to Greece’s Public Television and to the Festival sponsors, who, as he noted, "continue in these difficult times to provide their support."
Taking the floor, Thessaloniki mayor Yannis Boutaris declared the official opening of the 55th Festival. “Thessaloniki and its people share a special relationship with the Festival. It is an institution of global esteem, which opens our doors to the world, highlighting the extrovert character of the city, its contemporary face and human power. The Festival is both a great celebration and a powerful venue for synergies and collaborations. We are supporting the Festival and its people, particularly Festival director Dimitri Eipides, during this crucial and difficult period. We are supporting the staff and the festival’s hardworking volunteers. We support the Festival not only because it is our duty to do so, but also because we love this institution. It never ceases to amaze us and remind us of our own initiation to the cinema, renewing this special bond forged between viewers and filmmakers.” Mr Boutaris then welcomed the audience to the Festival and promised to meet them at the theaters.
Penelope Tsilika commented on the long history of the Festival, “one of the oldest film festivals in the world,” adding: “Together with the 55 years of the Festival, this year we are celebrating an even longer anniversary: the centenary of the birth of Greek cinema. Throughout this 100-year period, Greek cinema has been conversing with History and audiences. From the first screenings in local beer houses and the newsreels featured in theaters to the packed open-air cinemas in working-class neighbourhoods and the great international festivals, Greek cinema has taken audiences on many journeys, and our hope is that it will always return home, to the Greek audience.”
The 55th Festival is paying tribute to Hungarian filmmaker Kornel Mundruczo, who directed the Festival’s opening film White God. The filmmaker could not attend the ceremony due to prior obligations in the theatre, but sent a video-message: “I am nevertheless honoured by the organisers’ invitation”. In White God, 13-year-old Lilli rebels against adult society, while her faithful dog leads a violent canine rebellion against humans. This “is a story about injustice,” the director added, expressing his hope for the establishment of “social peace.”
"Presenter Penelope Tsilika wearing a dress designed by Denise Eleftheriou"
