Vibrant and fascinating, unraveling heart-wrenching human stories and burning up-to-the-minute issues, the Greek documentaries take center stage at the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, which will take place from March 6 to March 16, 2025, both in physical spaces and online. A total of 73 full-length and short documentaries from Greece will be screened in the three competition sections, International Competition, Newcomers and >>Film Forward, as well as in the Open Horizons, Platform+ and Special Screenings sections.
Τhe Festival is offering its tangible support to Greek documentary filmmakers for yet another year, submitting a rental fee to all Greek films that take part in its official selection. Moreover, the documentaries taking part in the Platform+ section will be screened at the Festival’s digital platform, made available from March 7 to March 21, 2025, aiming at a wider screening range for the audience.
Personal stories, touching journeys into time and the Greek landscape, shattering events that left their mark on contemporary Greece, tender portraits of gifted personalities that went down in the history of art, stories of female emancipation and empowerment, the loneliness of the urban metropolis, Greek landmarks of mythical proportions, nostalgia and repatriation, as well as the complex of historical and collective memory are among the topics and themes found at the core of this year’s Greek documentaries.
The advisory committee assigned with the task of the preselection of films for the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival was composed by film director Angelos Kovotsos, journalist Dimitris Pantsos, and visual artist and filmmaker Maria Tsangari.
Let’s take a glance at the 27th TiDF documentaries:
International Competition
Bull’s Heart
Eva Stefani
Can art give meaning to our lives? A documentary produced by Onassis Culture, which focuses on the performance Transverse Orientation by Dimitris Papaioannou. Filmmaker Eva Stefani follows the preparations behind Transverse Orientation and its tour across theatrical stages in Europe, observing from a close distance Dimitris Papaioannou and his collaborators in their effort to give shape and breathe life into the work. For two years, her camera captured scenes from the rehearsals at the Onassis Stegi during the pandemic, as well as performances in Paris, London, Vilnius, and other international destinations, leading to the last show in San Francisco. The central question that runs through the documentary is “Why do we do what we do?” elevating art as a means of resisting the futility of things and a way to reapply meaning to our own lives.
Sculpted Souls
Stavros Psillakis
Swiss dentist Julien Grivel for 26 years (1972-1998) treating Hansenites (lepers) for free in Greece. An inner journey that helped him see the world and life differently. "By adopting the language of the Greeks, I unconsciously adopted their thinking," he says. His friendship with Manolis Fountoulakis (ex-hansenite) was a catalyst.
The Goals of August
Dimitris Koutsiabasakos
The Goals of August is a kaleidoscope of events, incidents and moments from the everyday life of a village in southern Pindos mountains during an impromptu football tournament. The documentary’s aim is to create, through observation, an “impressionistic” portrait of a small community in its summer aliveness. A portrait with light and shadows, charming and sometimes frightening, which despite its contradictions is, above all, unexpectedly alive and genuine.
Newcomers Competition
Lo
Thanassis Vassiliou
A year after his mother’s death the director returns to the empty Athenian apartment of his childhood to deal with a problematic inheritance. From the now bare surfaces of the flat fragments of his family’s memories emerge, intertwining his personal history with the collective trauma of the Greek Junta.
Super Paradise
Steve Krikris
Over the past 50 years, Mykonos has experienced radical transformations. Ιt was dirt cheap, today it is unaffordable; it was “off-the-beaten-track,” now it is a top destination; it was a symbol of inclusivity, today it is one of exclusivity. How did a tiny island become a melting pot for such divergent experiences? Was it a paradise? Is it still?
They Talk About Worship Here
Byron Kritzas
Poetic, dramatic, funny, MTV kids in Corfu, Kore. Ydro. occupied the Greek indie pop/rock scene like a few bands, receiving both adoration and derision. The documentary follows their journey, focusing on the two main members, as well as on the importance of being special without feeling shame.
>>Film Forward Competition
Death Plan for a Dog and a Man
Christos Karakepelis
In lockdown hibernation, an outcast like an invulnerable superhero, plans an epic escape for himself and his dog; he wants to escape the deadliest virus: life itself. An adventurous death trip that will magically drive them both from their hovel to the wild mountains and up to New York, from suffocating reality to absolute freedom.
NovaMax SkyLand
Dionysia Kopana
Among Athenian balconies, fragmented images, sounds, and fleeting and incomplete stories emerge. The seasons change, the significant intertwines with the insignificant, and beauty and ugliness coexist. Weather phenomena, absurd circumstances, events, human gestures, and other fragments of life weave together the spectrum of an urban ecosystem.
The One Who Hopes
Stratis Chatzielenoudas
In the twilight of a post-apocalyptic age, an intergalactic traveller seeks the sacred language of birds on the last remaining planet. With an artificial mind as her companion, she will learn that even in the stillness of silence, the desire to communicate endures, unyielding and eternal.
Special Screenings
Mysterious Deaths in Ancient Greece: Olympias. Thirst for Power
Kalliopi Legaki
Olympias, a princess of royal blood, married King Philip II, gave birth to Alexander the Great, and ended up ruling the kingdom of Macedonia. Raised in a male-dominated society, she prevailed against her opponents and imposed her will. How is it that such a powerful woman faced such a horrible death in the end? In this documentary series produced by COSMOTE TV, renowned archaeologist Theodore Papakostas investigates the death of prominent personalities of Ancient Greece and reveals a darker side that no one had imagined. The documentary will be screened within the framework of the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival as a special screening, in collaboration with COSMOTE TV.
L'éclairage revient / Waves of Light
Pantelis Kalogerakis, Michalis Kalogerakis, Panagiotis Andrianos
Five landmark PPC's steam-electric power plants — in Aliveri, Ptolemaida, Megalopolis, Ladonas, and Lavrion — come alive through music and visuals, within the framework of the Waves of Light online festival, carried out by the Greek National Opera in collaboration with the Public Power Corporation, under the artistic curation of Giorgos Koumendakis. Five artistic teams create site-specific video performances, drawing inspiration for the music and the script from the spaces, the history, and the people who worked there. The first video, titled L'éclairage revient (The Light Returns), was filmed at the Steam-Electric Power Plant of Aliveri. The artists behind it drew inspiration from notes and journals found at the plant, crafting a soundscape where Arthur Rimbaud's poetry interacts with the reflections of those who once worked at Aliveri. Following the screening, which will take place in collaboration with PPC a live concert will be given by Michalis and Pantelis Kalogerakis, featuring selected moments from their albums (Prosopiko, Rimbautika, Varvara Project, Melpomeni’s Tales etc.)
Kyrillos & Methodios – Enlighteners of the Slavs
Maria Hatzimichali-Papaliou
1942, Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. A group of resistance fighters seeks sanctuary in an Orthodox church. They have just assassinated Reinhard Heydrich, the “Butcher of Prague”. Eventually they are arrested and executed. But how did an Orthodox church come to stand at the heart of Europe, in the first place? The answer lies twelve centuries earlier, in the story of two brothers from Thessaloniki, Cyrill and Methodius, and their disciples, who brought Christianity to the Slavs. By creating the Cyrillic alphabet and writing system, they paved the way for the Slavic people to join the European family of nations.
Postscript: From The Bus Terminal To The Art Theatre
Lakis Papastathis
In the first episode of the second season of the documentary series Postscript (ΕRΤ, 2021-2022), filmmaker Lakis Papastathis takes us on a walk from the bus terminal on Akadimias Street to the Stoa Orfeos and the Art Theater. From the “Pink building” on Akadimias Street designed by architect Stamatis Kleanthis, to the Cultural Center building which formerly housed the Elpis hospital, Lakis Papastathis tells the stories of the city - of its important people, its politicians, artists, and ordinary citizens, from the middle of the 19th century to the 1970s. Mythology, history, and personal memories weave together to create a tour that continues on from Asklipiou Street, past the corner of Ippokratous and Akadimias Streets, where trams once concluded their journey, descending towards the Akropol of revues, and then to the juncture of Panepistimiou and Ippokratous Streets, where protests for Cyprus took place in the 1950s, as well as earlier, during the funerals of Charilaos Trikoupis in 1896, and of King Alexander in 1920. The tour passes through the Arsakeio and ends at Stoa Orfeos and the basement of the Art Theater Karolos Koun.
Prior to the documentary’s screening, the presentation of the homage volume LAKIS PAPASTATHIS. Long Shot, released by Benaki Museum publications, edited by Katerina Evangelakou and accompanying the exhibition LAKIS PAPASTATHIS. Searching for the Lost Image, will take place. The book comprises texts written by fifty distinguished personalities of arts and culture. Filmmakers, theatre and TV professionals, writers, painters, journalists, musicians, students and friends of the acclaimed film director give their valuable insights, making up a pluralistic biography, imbued with unpublished photo material that foregrounds key moments from Lakis Papastathis’s career. Speakers: Giorgos Argyroiliopoulos (DoP), Apostolos Karakasis (filmmaker), Lina Nikolakopoulou (lyricist) and Katerina Evangelakou. The event will also be attended by actress Yvonne Maltezou.
Open Horizons
A Couple of Years
Lydia Konsta
In 1960, 600,000 Greeks immigrated to Germany to live as workers – the so-called Gastarbeiters. Descendants of this migration stream, Teo, Aglaia, and Vasso, allow us a glimpse of their daily lives and reveal the effects of that migration on their present and future: The film captures the encounter of two cultures and their interaction in contemporary socio-political developments.
Alone With the Moon – The Tiger Lillies Live at Olympion SKG
Grigoris Apostolopoulos
The dark cabaret of The Tiger Lillies and the provocative mind of Martyn Jacques, through a haunting performance filmed at the emblematic Olympion Theater in Thessaloniki and in the course of one single night in the city. Alone with the Moon.
Biko & His Balkan Orchestra
Anna Antonopoulou & Giorgio Spyridis
In Strumica, North Macedonia, maestro Biko Agusev proudly upholds his family’s rich tradition of Balkan music. Each year, the enchanting sounds of Biko and his brass band resonate through the air as they join their Greek friends, captivating crowds with their thunderous and unique melodies during the vibrant carnival festivities of Naoussa, Greece.
Craftswomen
Gabriella Gerolemou
Maria, Vrou, and Magda work occasionally in a basement workshop, engaging in various woodworking activities. Lately, they contemplated opening their carpentry shop, which is leaving the security of their neighborhood and transitioning from something semi-professional to becoming professional craftswomen. The time signals they are ready.
Cum As You Are
Marta Bakri
In Spain and Greece, we meet groups and individuals and discuss the body, gender, sexuality, and social relationships. Myths, patterns, prejudices, and taboos. Not a simple observation, but more of an acquaintance with the “other,” the unfamiliar, the excluded by the society, where the body fights to “come as it is.”
Delta
Vivian Papageorgiou
At the Delta of the Pinios River, in the shadow of Mount Olympus in central Greece, a small community of coastal fishermen work tirelessly to sustain their way of life. The film is driven by resilient and humorous characters, whose stories unfold over the seasons, set against the ever-present backdrop of water.
Kaiti Drosou: Memory Box
Athanasia Drakopoulou
Kaiti Drosou (1922–2016), poet and journalist, was known for her intense resistance activity during the Occupation, where she also met her husband, writer Aris Alexandrou. Her life was intertwined with significant historical events (Occupation, Civil War, Exiles) and is reflected in her poetry, marked by honesty and an anti-heroic perspective. She passed away in 2016 in Paris.
Khalil Abu Yahia – For Gaza Is Death And Love
Alexia Tsouni & Haim Schwarczenberg
Palestinian researcher and activist Khalil Abu Yahia manages to survive three critical surgeries for his spinal cord cancer. He eventually gets killed at the age of 28, along with his wife and their daughters, in an Israeli bombing in Gaza in October 2023. His Israeli friends unite in Jerusalem and amplify his voice for a free Palestine for all.
On Lavender
Makis Evangelatos & Eirini Chatzi
On Lavender explores the multiplicities of gender identity in Greek society, weaving a tapestry of narratives that reflect the intricate complexities of identity in an evolving world. This debut feature is the result of a four-year effort and marks the first in-depth exploration of gender identity in Greece, primarily funded by its contributors.
People, Gods, and Other Creatures
Svetlana Strelnikova
Gavdos, a small Greek island, a paradise at the southernmost tip of Europe that attracts visitors from every corner of the globe. Its few inhabitants are torn between the development of tourism and the love of a simple, quiet and free life.
Proporefsi
Panos Arvanitakis
Motorcycles, as a monument of human ingenuity, carve the path of mechanical division. Fire, iron, metals, and tools require hands that blacken, and the riders comply. Yannis, a man found on a solitary and timeless journey, encounters riders from the past and the present, as the two-wheeled machine is elevated to a spiritual phenomenon.
Return to Homeland
Chryssa Tzelepi & Akis Kersanidis
A film based on Titus Millech, a German psychiatrist who renounces his identity and embarks on a personal journey through space and time of the crimes of World War II. A story where the personal becomes public and reveals to us the secrets of collective consciousness and an individual trauma that has not yet been healed.
Say, Where Does Desire Grow?
Stergios Paschos
Yorgos Panousopoulos talks about cinema, love, his childhood years and death in a narrative that juxtaposes his words with pieces of his work up to 1990.
Sexability - A Story About Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Love
Dimitris Zivopoulos
The film Sexability by MDA Hellas follows the life of Panos, a man with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It focuses on his search for love and the connection between disability and sex. Through stories from patients, parents, experts, and a sexual assistant, it explores the topic with honesty and without taboos.
Steps
Iro Siafliaki
Motorcycles, as a monument of human ingenuity, carve the path of mechanical division. Fire, iron, metals, and tools require hands that blacken, and the riders comply. Yannis, a man found on a solitary and timeless journey, encounters riders from the past and the present, as the two-wheeled machine is elevated to a spiritual phenomenon.
Tanais: Embraced by the Abyss
Vicky Arvelaki
Through microhistories of people who were taken on board of Tanais and tragically lost their lives as prisoners of war, after the steamship was torpedoed in 1943, the common fate of people coming from different religious and cultural backgrounds is brought forth. The film reenacts historical events of the past more than eight decades later.
Anneta Papathanasiou
An artistic journey into memory, trauma, healing, and reconciliation. Visual artist Artemis Alcalay presents her works, narrates the story of her family, and unfolds how she – consciously or subconsciously – processed untold family stories, collective trauma, and the memory of the Holocaust.
The Luthier
Yannis Kostavaras
The isolation of the Greek countryside combined with the lifestyle that a musical instrument maker leads, a lifestyle that many would consider peculiar, creates an interesting reality, one that is simple, yet unconventional. A portrait that will introduce us to the world of flamenco, uniting cultures and musical traditions around the world.
The Prototype
George Matsikas & Marilena Girlemi
Communitism revived an unused heritage building in Athens by fostering collectives and initiatives of the city that needed space to create. As they challenge preconceived notions on shared space in the city, the documentary follows the struggle of preserving their vision, while reflecting on their past.
The Return of Ivan
Thomas Sideris
The Russian-speaking journalist and author Ivan Avramov, born in a village in the Azov region, tries to return to his conquered birthplace and the people he once considered his own, through the fragments of his memory and identity.
The Siege of Candia: Mama Creta
Orfeas Peretzis
The 22-year Siege of Candia unfolds through the struggles of the besieged and the attackers, the failed Venetian efforts, and an unfulfilled love. Personal testimonies bring to life the dramatic events of Crete’s past, as memory and time collide nearly four centuries later.
They Tried To Bury Me...But They Didn't Know I Was A Seed
Voula Kostaki
A non-biographical documentary that approaches the poetic work of Dinos Christianopoulos recording the impact of his poetry on the young generation through the subjective view of a director. A creator and poet, a special scholar is approached by painters, musicians, publishers in Thessaloniki.
True to Our Inner Daemon
Tassos Gkoletsos
Somewhere between realism and magic, ordinary people long for the miracle. They instinctively dive into acts of redemption and pursue a moment of freedom so addictive, that they want to experience it again and again. It is this moment of ecstasy that they cease thinking and simply live! An ecstatic experience of Greek paganism, struggling against modern conformity.
Women Fighters - 2nd part 1944-1960
Leonidas Vardaros
National liberation, British interventin, December uprising, Civil War. The left-wing organizations – KKE, EAM, EPON – have been banned. The only organization that operates openly is PEOPEF, through which the mothers, wives, and sisters of the imprisoned, the exiled and the condemned facing the firing squads, battle for the salvation of their loved ones.
Open Horizons Shorts
9:30
Constantine Venetopoulos
9:30 delves into the case of the vitriol attack on Ioanna Paliospyrou, documenting her recovery and the trial of her assailant that gripped Greece. The film examines the psychological impact, community response, and resilience required to navigate the aftermath of such violence, spotlighting the pursuit of justice and victim support.
A River Called Vakirtzis
Panos A. Thomaidis
From the façades of the capital's main cinemas in the 1950s and 1960s, inviting passers-by into the dark theaters, George Vakirtzis's gigantic, original, and bold visual creations today adorn public and private collections and are internationally acclaimed.
Albgreko
Ilir Tsouko
Denisa, Dimitris, Stefania, and Orestis, children and grandchildren of Albanian immigrants from the 1990s, were born and raised in Greece. They share their experience on camera – not the experience of immigration itself, but rather their own stories, stories that are neither only Albanian nor only Greek but Albanian and Greek together.
Bugs Under My Skin
Marko Krimpalis, Charalampos Ioannis Nikoulis
With the departure of Flokosh as a launchpad, one of the directors Marko Krimpalis, ruminates on the difficulties they faced in capturing insects through their lens. As they roam Bangkok, the image of butterflies repeatedly seizes their attention while its reality swiftly evades it. Marko investigates the paintings of the similarly fleeting nature his family left behind.
CRACKS OF GREEN: The Co-creation Of The 1st Urban Food Forest In Greece
Yorgos Ntalis
The documentary chronicles the creation of Greece's first urban food forest in Neapolis, Thessaloniki. Designed using regenerative agriculture principles and planted with over 750 food-producing trees and plants, this community-led effort transformed a grassy lot into a hub for permaculture, urban farming, environmental education, community life, and hope.
Hope for the Future
Michalis Felanis
HOPEgenesis fights depopulation in remote areas, offering free medical care, covering costs, and providing psychological support to women wishing to become mothers. Since 2015, it has supported over 800 families, bringing hope for the future to regions where births had nearly ceased.
Return to Depot
Dimitris Zahos
A documentary exploring Thessaloniki's historic Depot district, where the abandoned Tram depot reopens for a theatrical performance organised by Parallaxi. Through this cultural intervention, the film examines the forgotten neighborhood's present reality and potential revival of the significant industrial heritage site.
Takis.
Michael Roubis
Takis, a former nightclub owner, shares his inspiring journey of giving up everything to rescue stray dogs in Crete. Beginning with a few abandoned dogs, his sanctuary now cares for over 400. Despite challenges, Takis has transformed local attitudes and inspired global support in tackling Greece’s stray dog crisis.
Titaness
Lukas Agelastos & Spiridoula Gouskou
The documentary aims to create a captivating, yet uncomfortable and hypnotic portrait of Carmen, a Flamenco dancer who struggles to get by in Seville. Following the repetitive details of her routine and using a mix of observational filming, experimental editing, and conventional narrative, the film seeks to engage the viewer's senses.
Tonnage
Yorgos Kyvernitis
A documentary on the vernacular and seemingly trivial encounters with the daily lives activities of Eleusis' dockworkers. With a direct reference to the exact meaning of Tonnage, a word describing the weight in tons, especially of cargo or freight, the film traces the vexed semantics and archives of such a weight historically and symbolically.
Platform+
’48 | Resisting the Big Settlement
Team 218
An attempt to express the daily experience of Palestinians excluded by an apartheid regime, exploring various aspects of the Israeli occupation. Through narratives from four different regions of Palestine, it culminates in a collective narrative of Palestinian resistance as an everyday act of survival and struggle.
5% – Against the Current
Maritina Laskaridou & Konstantinos Pappas
The story of a twenty-year-old long-distance swimmer who was born prematurely and has struggled since his first breath. His moving attempt to cover a distance of 42.2 kilometers in open waters without stopping. A distance that no athlete his age has achieved to date.
50 Years Refugees: The Return That Never Was. Cyprus 1974-2024
Athanasios Gioumpasis
The documentary explores life in Cyprus before, during, and after the Turkish invasion of 1974, presenting personal stories. Refugees and enclaved Greek Cypriots describe the chaos of the Turkish military’s invasion, recounting experiences of displacement, loss, captivity, restricted freedoms, efforts to preserve cultural identity, and survival.
Arctic Odyssey
Evangelos Rassias
This epic cinematic journey is filled with breathtaking landscapes and unforgettable moments. Andreas and Alexandros embark on a bike-packing adventure in Norway, overcoming physical and mental challenges, conquering obstacles, and discovering the best version of themselves. Their journey allows viewers to live each moment as if they were there.
Day By Day
Lazaros Kenanoglou
In a time when more and more people are forced to live on the streets of big cities, we observe a day in the life of nine homeless individuals in Lisbon. The camera focuses on Nelson, Francisco, and Gonçalo, who swing between street life and the homeless shelter, yet continue to hope and plan for their future.
For a Red Shirt
Nikos Theodosiou & Dimitris Spyrou
By a remarkable coincidence, the invention of cinema coincides with the first major wave of Greek immigration to America. Inspired by this event, the film unravels the thread of immigration from that time to the great crisis of the 21st century, through its cinematic recordings with unknown or rare documents.
Hellenic Places: Naousa
Vasiliki Iskenderoglou
Through the art of animation, the film chronicles the history of the Heroic City of Naousa, in Northern Greece, from antiquity to the present, emphasizing the city's contribution to the Greek Revolution and the heroic struggle of its people for freedom. The film is the fourth episode of the animated historical documentary series titled Hellenic Places.
In the Land of Traumas
Anastasios Stamnas
The documentary explores the life and work of Anna Vidali who studied the traumatic experiences of women who lived through the violent events of the Resistance and the Civil War in Greece. Along with the narration of her research, Anna Vidali reveals her own childhood trauma.
Karibu: Giorgos Stamoulis
George Papastamoulos
Long-distance runner Giorgos Stamoulis greets us with “Karibu” (i.e., “welcome” in Swahili, as we follow him to Kenya, where he trains with world-class athletes. The film explores his personal journey, the beauty of the land, and the support he receives as he runs after his dream, and captures his determination to bridge everyday life and limitless aspirations. Welcome to his pursuit of a dream.
Love in the Time of My Grandma
Zoi Stavridi-Michalopoulou
How did women of a not-so-distant generation experience love – both the romantic and physical dimensions of it? Through their narration, silences, glances, and gestures, this documentary explores some of the facets that made up the world of our grandmothers.
Lost Yannina, a Topography of Jewish Memory
Nikos Chrisikakis
Lost Yannina, a Topography of Jewish Memory explores the impact of WWII on the space of the Greek city of Ioannina, as experienced by the few Holocaust survivors. Through their testimonies – collected between 2009 and 2024 – and their physical movement in the places mentioned in their narratives, humble loci of modern everyday life become powerful sites of memory.
Night Recedes
Timon Koulmasis
Night Recedes retraces the fascinating journey of two artists, Memos Makris (1913-1993) and Zizi Makris (1924-2014). A love story, between Athens under German occupation, the teeming cultural life of post-war Paris, and Budapest during the Cold War. The art and history of the 20th century, its hopes and disappointments.
Surface
Menios Carayannis
A young girl floats half-drowned on the surface of the lake. The farmer who finds her brings her to his home and takes care of her. The girl gives no answers about what happened, while testimonies from the farmers describe the destruction from the storm and floods. Compassion seems to be the only ally in the struggle towards the surface.
The Aegean State
Ioanna Asmeniadou
Thirty-five years. Four empires. Twelve islands. The Dodecanese islands were always desired: by Mussolini, who was dreaming of a new Roman Empire; by Churchill, who wanted to offer them as a reward; by Hitler, whose conquest was the last battle won during WW2. For the islanders, it was an adventurous path towards freedom.
The Charcoal Makers of Ikaria Island
Manos Arvanitakis
The story of Ikaria’s renowned charcoal makers, who traveled Greece and Asia Minor. Elderly burners recount hardships, while women recall life on the island. Descendants share memories of relocation. Guided by historian Themistocles Katsaros and excerpts from The Charcoal Burners (1977), we revisit a bygone era, during which charcoal fueled Greece’s industry.
The Hospitable Gaze: Photographers, Enemies, and Tourists in Sfakia, Crete
Konstantinos Kalantzis
The Hospitable Gaze is an ethnographic film that distills two decades of research in a highland region of Crete, mythologized for its rugged traditionalism. By thinking with photography, the film unpacks notions of locality, enmity, and otherness, in relation to tourism, memories of the German occupation, and concepts of tradition and hospitality.
The Man Who Watched Ships
Takis Bardakos
A little elegy for unfulfilled dreams, set against the port of Eleusis.
The Sleeping Female Figures of Athens 1st Cemetery
Yannis Tzivrailis
A journey of the camera, a wandering of the director among the graves mainly adorned with female figures in the First Cemetery of Athens, is the subject of the film. The narrator’s reassuring and comforting voice guides us through the corridors, offering us useful and rare information that comes to light for the first time regarding the sculptures.
There is a War Going On Outside
John Malamatinas & Yorgos Poulopoulos
In the heart of Athens, Paris, and London, three young lives – Nikos Sabanis, Ibrahima Bah, and Chris Kaba – are cut short by police violence, exposing the deeply entrenched racism within Europe's policing systems. Through their stories, this documentary reveals systemic injustice, while following the relentless fight for justice in their communities.
Till Our Dying Breath
Manolis Sfakianakis
The early years of the Cretans’ struggle for freedom and union with Greece, based on the “Memoirs of Callinicus Kritovoulides,” a key and official reference text on the events of the era.
Untouched Coffee Cups
Anna Vasof
Untouched Coffee Cups by Anna Vasof explores life in a Tyrolean hospice through patients, staff, and relatives. With empathy, humor, and experimental visuals, Vasof looks into time, loss, dignity, and mortality while reflecting on filmmaking. She expands space and time using a special camera, offering a multifaceted perspective.
Variants (With Nikos)
Yannis Misouridis
From time to time, the director exchanges visual material with musician Nikos Veliotis. Usually, the director sends pre-edited footage, while occasionally, Veliotis provides a musical piece that guides the images. This process unfolds as a unique “correspondence” between pictures and sounds.
When the Swallows Fall Silent
Constantinos Patsalides
In a rapidly changing old city, a heartfelt narrative unfolds around the historic Faneromeni School and the iconic Mattheo’s restaurant where the history and cherished traditions of the past collide with the pressures of modernization. It’s a fight against the odds in a neighborhood that is no longer the same.
Where Are They?
Nikos Aslanidis
Fifty years ago, Vassos lost his mother, his four sisters, and his nephew, who was only six months old… They were found dead in a mass grave. Next to the infant was his pacifier. Panagiotis lost his parents and his 8-year-old brother. He has been looking for them for 50 years, without any results.
Where Love Lives
Meropi Kaloudi Laini
Against the backdrop of local Easter traditions, the passage of seasons, and tourists enjoying their summer vacations on the island of Corfu, the film tells a story of memory, the fear of loss, and the enchantment of the small rituals of everyday life through which human relationships and their stories are built.
White Mountains
Alexandros Papathanasiou
Alexandros Papathanasiou travels to Crete to meet Lefteris Eliakis, a guerrilla fighter during the Greek Civil War and a political prisoner for two decades. This insightful portrait conjures the ghosts of the Civil War – the maverick people, revolutionary politics, and breathtaking events that have shaped today’s Greece.
