WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is getting ready for its summer rendezvous with audiences in Northern Evia, offering a rich program for parents, children, and teenagers. As part of the Evia Film Project, we will enjoy films exploring the relationship between humans and nature, while also taking part in exciting film workshops and activities for children.

Registration is required for participation in the workshops. You will find the registration link at the end of the text. All workshops will be conducted in Greek.

MUNICIPAL CHILDREN & YOUTH LIBRARY OF ISTIAIA–AIDIPSOS, LOUTRA AIDIPSOU

Wednesday, 24.06, 10:30 – 13:30

CineValitsa and Off We Go…!

Ages: 6–12
Includes snack break

“Sweet summer has come again, let’s go hand in hand for a swim.”

Amazing, mysterious, and above all fun cinematic surprises await us in this educational workshop for children.

Summer is finally here! How about welcoming it together by solving the mystery of the most magical cinematic suitcase?

Grab your flashlights, dust off your paintbrushes, sharpen your imagination, and let’s discover what happened before the very first movie camera was invented! Who was behind the first cinematic tricks? What happens when images move quickly before our eyes?

Get ready to compete in Film Battles and discover just how much natural beauty can fit inside a movie frame!

All this and much more!

And above all… come dance with us to the rhythm of “My sweet summer, you’ve taken over my mind!”

Workshop facilitators: Irini Delidaki and Maria Papasotiri

Thursday, 25.06, 10:30 – 12:00

Ages: 9+
Includes snack break

“The Day We Became Heroes” by Selini Papageorgiou

An opportunity to watch a special Greek short film (15 minutes long) and talk with the director and the child actors.

Synopsis:

Determined to become heroes, three nine-year-olds ignore their parents’ warnings and decide to help the village outcast after finding him unconscious in the forest.

Credits:

Cast: Talia Alkan, Nikolas Alafakis, Dimitris Bogdanidis, Ioko Ioannis Kottidis, Nefeli Maistrali, Stelios Petsos, Zak Sousis, Mariam Roukhatze | Director: Selini Papageorgiou | Screenplay: Evdoxia Hasapi | Producer: Dimitris Spyrou | Director of Photography: Michalis Gatzogias | Editing: Ioanna Pogiantzi | Music: Paidi Travma | Duration: 15’

Friday, 26.06, 10:30 - 12:00

Creating Our Own Forest Superheroes!

Ages: 7–12
Includes snack break

In this creative workshop, children are invited to imagine and design their own superheroes inspired by the forest and the natural world. Through the basic principles of character design, they will explore how a character is created: from appearance and superpowers to personality and backstory.

Drawing inspiration from animals, plants, and elements of nature, participants will bring to life unique heroes who protect the environment and experience their own adventures. The workshop encourages imagination, observation, and creative expression, while also introducing children to the world of comics and visual storytelling.

Workshop facilitator: Vasileia Vaxevani, storyteller and head of educational programs at the Athens Comics Library.

The workshop was curated by Comicdom and the Athens Comics Library.

TEEN WORKSHOP “IT’S A WRAP!”

Wednesday 24, Thursday 25 & Friday 26 June, 17:00 – 20:00 @ THE LIBRARY
Screening: Saturday, 27 June, 21:30, Apollon Open-Air Cinema

“It’s a Wrap!” – Make Your Own Documentary

Ages: 10–16
With a 10-minute break at 18:30

4 days. One story. Yours.

From the very first idea to the moment you watch your film on the big screen in front of an audience — you will create everything yourself. With your team. With your phone or with a professional camera. Using anything that inspires you: your neighborhood, people no one notices, something that makes you angry, something that makes you think, your favorite book, your beloved pet, the sea… the possibilities are endless.

This is not a class. It’s play - the joy of creation. You try, experiment, make mistakes, laugh, and try again. Here, there is no “perfect,” only “your own.” No one will judge you. We will listen to you and help you express exactly what you feel.

You will work as part of a team. You will film with cameras and phones, conduct interviews and learn editing techniques that bring your ideas to life. You’ll discover how the phone you use every day can become a creative tool. We’ll also talk about AI and how to use it properly without losing your authenticity.

And in the end? Your film will be screened before an audience. You’ll be ready for your next films. You’ll know how to tell your own stories.

For Parents

This workshop does not teach “perfect techniques.” It gives children the space to express themselves, experiment, and create safely. They will collaborate, take initiative, learn to listen, and learn how to tell stories. They will leave with a short documentary they created themselves — and with confidence. Their voice matters.

There are no grades. There are no “wrong” stories. What matters most is hard work, teamwork, and freedom of expression.

And in the end, together, we will all say: “It’s a Wrap!”