The awards of the 28th TiDF

Amidst a warm and moving ambiance, turning the spotlight on documentaries, the filmmakers and the protagonists of their films, the awards of the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival were bestowed on Sunday March 15th 2026.

The host, Vassilis Terzopoulos, the Festival’s Greek Program Coordinator, welcomed the audience at the awards ceremony, stating that “during a difficult period for both our region and the entire planet, Thessaloniki once again became the focal point for revealing the truth about the world around us, a truth we genuinely need,” while noting that the Festival honors all those who document and share this truth with us.

Three films were awarded with the Golden Alexanders of the Festival’s competition sections. The International Competition Golden Alexander was bestowed to the documentary Closure by Michał Marczak, which will automatically be eligible to submit for Academy Awards® consideration in the Documentary Feature category. The Newcomers Golden Alexander was awarded to the documentary At No Cost by Mary Bouli, whereas the Film Forward Golden Alexander went to the documentary Dear Future by Christiana Cheiranagnostaki.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS

The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival presents an International Competition Section. Ten films of over 70 minutes in length compete for the Golden Alexander and the Silver Alexander Award. The Golden Alexander award is accompanied by a €12,000 cash prize. The Silver Alexander Award is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.

The International Competition jury is composed of:

Dana Bunescu (film editor)

Caroline Libresco (curator, programmer, producer, and creative executive)

Yorgos Papalios (film producer)

Caroline Libresco initially thanked Elise Jalladeau, Orestis Andreadakis, Yorgos Krassakopoulos, and Angeliki Petrou for the organization of a wonderful festival in the birthplace and cradle of democracy, while remarking that American society is currently fighting a very difficult battle to defend democracy and freedom. Dana Bunescu, in turn, also expressed her gratitude to the Festival and its staff, and commended Yorgos Papalios (who left Thessaloniki earlier this day), their co-member on the jury, noting that they loved all the films in the section equally.

The International Competition Golden Alexander was bestowed to the documentary:

Closure by Michał Marczak

Reasoning: The Golden Alexander goes to a film that mobilizes cinema to the fullest degree, giving us the experience of being one with the interior life of a father in an impossible state, and making something radically present out of absence.

After receiving the award and thanking the Festival and the jury, Michał Marczak said: “I feel profoundly moved, standing here before you, a year after presenting the film at the Agora Thessaloniki Pitching Forum. It was such an important time for me because that was when we finalized our collaboration with the film’s French producers. I dreamt of returning here to present the film, and I’m so glad it came to be. I’d like to thank Daniel, who is featured in the documentary and who recently suffered a serious back injury, which is why he was unable to come to Thessaloniki. I am very grateful he allowed me to tell his family’s story, and I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the crew for our exceptional collaboration.”

The International Competition Silver Alexander was bestowed to the documentary:

Birds of War by Janay Boulos & Abd Alkader Habak

Reasoning: The Silver Alexander goes to a movie about the crucial role that everyday citizens play in protecting our humanity, defending democracy, and insisting on love in the face of intractable violence, hate, and war.

Abd Alkader Habak thanked the Festival and the jury for this honor, mentioning that this particular film was both a path and a destiny for him and his partner, Janay Boulos, as it chronicles the different cycles of their life amidst armed conflicts, as well as how war shaped their shared trajectory in both life and art.

Special Mentions were bestowed to the documentaries:

The Beauty of Errors by Jukka Kärkkäinen

Reasoning: The director and his team activate sensitive antennas, revealing the love that lies in tiny moments, and in the hidden interstices of existential nothingness.

Producer Juha Löppönen accepted the award, and thanked the Festival and the jury on behalf of Jukka Kärkkäinen, the film’s director. In fact, as a token of appreciation and gratitude, he performed a rendition of Nikos Xilouris and Yannis Markopoulos’ legendary song “Hilia Miria Kimata,” featuring lyrics tailored to the city of Thessaloniki and the Festival.

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Around Paradise by Yulia Lokshina

Reasoning: We celebrate the tenacity of a young filmmaking team, who use their keen observation and narrative juxtaposition to show us uniquely contemporary, yet age-old efficiencies of global fascism and colonialism.

Yulia Lokshina expressed her gratitude and excitement about the award, stating that it was the culmination of four years of work, during which they journeyed to Paraguay quite frequently to document this community of European radical utopians, in an endeavor that, aside from being purely cinematic, also served as a way to depict the shifts and the sweeping changes in our world, so as to not be surprised by the developments ahead.

NEWCOMERS COMPETITION AWARDS

Ten films of over 50 minutes in length, created by young filmmakers, will compete for the Golden Alexander “Dimitri Eipides” and the Silver Alexander Award. The Golden Alexander “Dimitri Eipides” award is accompanied by a €10,000 cash prize. The Silver Alexander Award is accompanied by a €4,000 cash prize.

The Newcomers Competition jury is composed of:

Melody Gilbert (documentary filmmaker, and educator)

Farahnaz Sharifi (filmmaker and film editor)

Chryssa Tzelepi (documentary filmmaker)

Melody Gilbert initially took the floor to talk about the enjoyable experience of serving on an all-female jury, composed of members from different countries, and stated that their thoughts and prayers are with the people of Iran. In turn, Chryssa Tzelepi agreed with Melody Gilbert, expressing the hope that peace will prevail across the world, as wars have an impact on the entire planet and not only on the countries and the people directly afflicted. As for Farahnaz Sharifi, she thanked the other two members for making a reference to Iran, while also expressing her gratitude and joy at being in Thessaloniki in this distinguished capacity.

The Newcomers Competition Golden Alexander “Dimitri Eipides” was bestowed to the documentary:

At No Cost by Mary Bouli

Reasoning: This film is an intimate, cinematic exploration of a young woman who tries to take control of her body. At every step of the way, we witness the filmmaker reveal subtle but powerful moments. It is a journey from innocence to understanding how to protect and care for her body, despite the medical system’s indifference.

The director Mary Bouli stepped onto the stage, along with the documentary’s protagonist Danae Papadaki, and the DoP Asimina Lydia Dionysopoulou, and after thanking the Festival and the jury for the award, they read a letter from the organization Filmmakers for Palestine, noting at the same time that amid these difficult global circumstances, they themselves made a film about the violence inflicted on women in their own bodies.

The Newcomers Competition Silver Alexander was bestowed to the documentary:

Replica by Chouwa Liang

Reasoning: In a time we are witnessing a lack of intimacy and human connections, this film reveals a new way of living and loving. It skillfully weaves stories about loneliness, societal expectations for women, and the reality of virtual relationships. We appreciate the filmmakers’ non-judgemental and empathic approach to this controversial topic.

FILM FORWARD COMPETITION AWARDS

The Film Forward Competition Section includes ten films of over 45 minutes, which experiment with the form and method of documentary filmmaking. The films will compete for the Golden Alexander, which is accompanied by a €6,000 cash prize, and the Silver Alexander, which is accompanied by a €3,000 cash prize.

The Film Forward Competition jury is composed of:

Aikaterini Gegisian (visual artist)

Sandra Pires (architect and cultural programmer)

Alberto Valverde (programmer and ECAM Forum Coordinator)

Aikaterini Gegisian thanked the Festival for the honor and the hospitality, emphasizing that the jury truly evaluated all the films in this competition section in terms of their intentions, motivations, efforts, and the talent showcased by their creators. In turn, Sandra Pires commended the outstanding quality of the films in this section and expressed her sincere gratitude to the Festival and its people.

The Film Forward Competition Golden Alexander was bestowed to the documentary:

Dear Future by Christiana Cheiranagnostaki

Reasoning: For the systematic exploration of archives as western colonial structures and formal connection of fragments in the current moment of hypervisuality.

Profoundly touched, Christiana Cheiranagnostaki thanked the Festival and the jury for the great honor. The film’s producer, Yorgos Tsourgiannis accompanied her on stage, and he thanked the Festival, all of the entities that contributed to the film’s realization, such as EKKOMED and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, as well as all of the film’s collaborators who were unable to attend, including Manos Tzivakis, Panagiotis Papafragkos, Michail Kostadis, and Aris Athanasopoulos. “I’m delighted to be here once again for a film we had originally presented at the Agora Docs in Progress. It’s been a pleasure to accompany Christiana Cheiranagnostaki on this journey, and we will keep working together on the films to come,” he concluded.

The Film Forward Competition Silver Alexander was bestowed to the documentary:

Level by Carlos Mora Fuentes and Anna Berkhof

Reasoning: For the gift of its visual poetry and for giving form to the tenderness we feel when connecting to nature.

IMMERSIVE: ALL AROUND CINEMA AWARD

The Immersive competition section of the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival embraces creations that make use of high-end technologies to present different views of extended reality, transcending film genres and immersing the viewer in an exciting interactive viewing experience. The Golden Alexander awarded to the best film of the section is accompanied by a monetary award of €2,000.

The Immersive: All Around Cinema Competition jury is composed of:

Avinash Changa (Creative technologist)

Carla Navarro (Festival organiser)

Nikos Papageorgiou (PhD in Art History, Archaeologist)

The Immersive Golden Alexander was bestowed to the film:

Another Place by Domenico Singha Pedroli

Reasoning: Over several days of reviewing and discussion, we evaluated each entry on its concept, narrative, and use of the immersive medium. The jury is pleased to award the XR prize to Another Place. This work resonates because it explores a socially important contemporary topic while making full use of what immersive does best. Its sound, visuals, and carefully considered interactions are well implemented and balanced, reinforcing one another to draw the audience into the experience in a way no other medium could replicate, making it not just a strong XR artwork, but an exemplary one.

PODCAST AWARDS

The podcasts selected for the Podcast Competition section have their eyes set on the Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a cash prize of €2,000. In addition, all podcasts taking part in the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, both from the Competition section and the Out of Competition section, are eligible for the ENS Louis Lumière-French Institute of Greece Award for Upcoming Audio Documentary Creator. The recipient of the award will have the chance to attend the 6-week Sound Documentary International Summer Programme hosted by ENS Louis Lumière, in France, addressed to young professionals of the audio-visual field (authors of blogs, podcasts, or any other audio project).

The Podcast jury is composed of:

Vicky Arvelaki (producer, director of historical documentaries and Head of the Crete Cultural Center)

Mary Retsina (podcaster, advertisement announcer and travel content creator)

Giorgos Toulas (journalist and radio producer)

The Best Podcast Award was bestowed to the podcast:

The Last Projectionist by Nikos Theodosiou

Reasoning: For the completeness of the creation, the documentation, the time-long research, the wholeness of the composition, the use of audio possibilities, the sensitivity in the portrayal of the constant history of a fading cinema-related profession with unique features.

Nikos Theodosiou came up on stage to receive his award, stating: “I’m grateful to the jury and the Festival. For those of you who didn’t listen to it, the podcast focuses on former cinema projectionists. One of them, in the audio documentary, says to me during an interview: ‘I participated in a Festival. At the awards ceremony, they thanked all the film’s contributors, the directors, the technicians, and the scriptwriters. Yet, not even a single thank you was ever said to the person in the projection booth, on whom the film’s success and the quality of the screening depend.’ So, I’d like to dedicate this award to those people, the unseen heroes, many of whom have passed away. The monetary component of this award will go towards the completion of a film on the same topic. Thank you.”

A Special Mention was bestowed to the podcast:

Lightly My Beautiful Mermaid by Yorgia Karidi & Miss BwO

Reasoning: For the sensitivity of the approach, the originality of the topic, the disarming honesty, the listener’s startling, the tenderness and the attentive gaze on a taboo issue.

Going on stage, Yorgia Karidi and Miss BwO said: “From Palestine to Kolonos, no woman is alone”.

The jury of the ENS Louis Lumière Award-French Institute of Upcoming Audio Documentary Creator is composed of:

Thanasis Vasiliou (film director, screenwriter and academic)

Aimé Besson (Audiovisual Attaché at the French Institute of Greece)

Valérie Fouques (Head of Public Relations at the ENS Louis Lumière)

Valérie Fouques presented the award: “It is an honor to be here, representing the ENS Louis Lumière, the oldest film school in France, that last year celebrated its centenary. We were very impressed by the podcast that we awarded, in view of the creator’s passionate, dynamic and explorative mood and the energy that the accompanying letter radiated”.

The Scholarship award ENS Louis Lumière Award – French Institute of Upcoming Audio Documentary Creator was bestowed to:

Panagiota Vagiou for the podcast December Headlines

Reasoning: We decided to award this prize to an application that truly impressed us. First, we were struck by the candidate’s very passionate, dynamic and curious profile, and by the energy that came through in the motivation letter and throughout the application. This person also demonstrates a strong culture and understanding of sound documentary: Panagiota Vagiou. Your archival montage is a strong political gesture. The piece deals with the murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos in 2008, an event that deeply affected Greek society. Through your montage, you show how the media reported the event at the time. You let the media voices speak for themselves, without adding a voice that explains or gives a specific opinion. In this way, the work shows that archives are not only records of past events but archives are a living material that engages in dialogue with the present. Your final intervention does not try to explain. Instead, it places your generation — who were about ten years old at the time — in front of a trauma and a grief, which have never been fully resolved and are still present today. This gives the piece both artistic and political importance. You have an ability to tell stories, your work reflects a sincere and thoughtful perspective. It seems very well suited to the expectations of a program such as the one offered by ENS Louis-Lumière: Bravo!

Panagiota Vagiou received the award: “I am grateful for this award. Unfortunately, I don't feel that I have won something, because there are a lot of creators of my generation, much more talented and hard-working and with a lot more qualifications than me, who live in places like Iran, Palestine, Sudan and Ukraine. I would like to dedicate this award to them, and I commit to doing as much as I can, so that I can help them share their story and win their own awards. Thank you”.

MERMAID AWARD

The Mermaid Award is presented by the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival to the best LGBTQI+ themed film from the Festival’s official selection. The prize, accompanied by a €3,000 cash prize, is awarded by a three-member jury.

The Mermaid Jury is composed of:

Konstantinos Menelaou (filmmaker and producer)

Gréta Olafsdóttir (director and producer)

Marco Antonio Orsini (writer, director, producer and mentor)

The Mermaid Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Barbara Forever by Brydie O'Connor

Reasoning: Through archives, memories, and the voice of its central subject, the film pays tribute both to the intimate life of its subject and to the collective coming-out of a generation of women, granting them voice and visibility. Drawing richly on the subject’s own documentary works, the film is crafted with remarkable sensitivity and artistry, offering a profound insight into the pioneering experimental practice of Barbara Hammer. For bringing this vital story to life with such emotional power and cinematic grace, the Mermaid Award goes to Barbara Forever.

Bestowing the Honorable Mention, Gréta Olafsdóttir stated: “I thank the filmmakers who shared their stories with us. Watching your films was an honor. Furthermore, LGBTQI+ films are nowadays more important than ever, and I can attest to that as a member of the LGBTQI+ community.”

An Honorable Mention was bestowed to the documentary:

A Song Without Home by Rati Tsiteladze

Reasoning: A deeply moving film about the struggles of a transgender person searching for safety, dignity, and a place to belong. Through her journey, the film reveals the courage it takes to live truthfully in a world that often remains hostile and unsafe for queer people. With sensitivity and compassion, it brings visibility to a story that urgently needs to be heard. For giving voice to this powerful and important story, the Honorable Mention goes to A Song Without Home – directed by Rati Tsiteladze.

ALPHA BANK ACCESSIBILITY AWARD

The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award is bestowed on a film from Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival’s official selection. The award is accompanied by a cash prize of 3,000 euros and awarded to either a personality or a film that highlights accessibility issues in the arts.

Rouli Christopoulou, Head of Corporate Responsibility & Culture at Alpha Bank bestowed the award, saying: “The relationship between Alpha Bank and the Festival is rooted in a simple yet profound idea, that is, that the magic of cinema shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be a right. Therefore, since 2019, we have been working together to create a cinema for all, a cinema that does not exclude people with mobility, hearing, or visual impairments. In fact, this year we were especially glad that the Festival expanded this initiative even further, with a screening for neurodiverse audiences. For us at Alpha Bank, this collaboration with the Festival is not merely a corporate social responsibility initiative; on the contrary, it is a commitment and a conscious decision to do everything within our power to put an end to obstacles, prejudice, stereotypes, and inequalities that still prevent people from participating equally in cultural life. Only 7.7% of people with a serious disability have even been to the cinema, so we’re doing everything we can to change that.”

The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Echoes of Beneath by Vasilis Barachanos

Reasoning: In Alpha Bank we consider equal access to culture is a fundamental prerequisite for a society free of exclusions. Within this framework, since 2019 we have been working side by side with the Thessaloniki Film Festival, contributing to the hosting of universally accessible screenings. The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award foregrounds films and filmmakers that shed light on the experience of disability and the issue of equal participation in arts. This year’s award is bestowed to the Greek documentary Echoes of Beneath by Vasilis Bacharanos, which unravels the course of Antonis Tsapatakis, world champion in para swimming as well as medal winner in the Summer Paralympics. Through his personal story, the film portrays with honesty and strength the process through which a person redefines his life, identity and boundaries after a profound overturn of events, reminding us that the real strength often lies beneath the surface.

The director, Vasilis Barachanos, stepped onto the stage and expressed his gratitude for the award.

“HUMAN RIGHTS IN MOTION” AWARD BY PACE

The “Human Rights in Motion” award was created by the Council of Europe to highlight the strong connection between documentary filmmaking and human rights, honoring the director whose film most effectively captures the struggle for freedom, democracy, and fundamental rights. Starting this year, the award is presented at four leading documentary festivals in Europe: the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, FIPADOC in Biarritz, France, Sheffield DocFest, and doclisboa in Lisbon. At the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, the award, which comes with a cash prize of €5,000, is open to all films from the three competition sections that address issues of human rights and democratic values.

The “Human Rights in Motion” Award jury is composed of:

Bassam Alasad (producer and green production consultant)

Aimilios Charbis (journalist)

Toby Lee (filmmaker and educator)

Before the award was presented by the jury, Theodoros Roussopoulos, the former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, offered a greeting on behalf of the Council of Europe: “For those of you who have been around quite a while, you may remember that I was a journalist, and that I take pride in the fact that I introduced the documentary to private television. I consider the documentary a work of great importance, as it is an artistic depiction of reality, which is why, when I was elected the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I proposed the establishment of a documentary film award, the Human Rights in Motion Award at the Festival, which is now being presented for the second time. We must not confuse the Council of Europe with the European Union. The Council of Europe was an institution, established in 1949, soon after the war. It was Winston Churchill’s idea, and it was created to serve democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It has nothing to do with the countries’ economy, it functions more like a pronaos of old churches: anyone interested in becoming a member of the European Union must first obtain permission from the Council of Europe, or in other words, they must pass an examination. We have 46 member states and 612 members in the Parliamentary Assembly, who are elected in their national parliaments and represent their countries in numbers proportional to the population of each country, and of course, they do this on a voluntary basis, without remuneration. Because wars are raging in our region, the connection with art that relates to reality, such as in the case of the documentary genre, becomes particularly relevant.”

The “Human Rights in Motion” Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Birds of War by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak

Reasoning: For its emotional honesty and ability to carry us through an intense, deeply human emotional journey. Set against the devastation of war, the film offers a sensitive, dignified portrait of their region, with a quiet yet powerful sense of hope. This film refused to seek compassion through sentimentality. Instead, it offers a truthful and intimate portrait of human connection, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, love can emerge, endure, and give meaning to survival.

Filmmakers Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak accepted the award. Janay Boulos noted: “Thank you for this recognition. I’m deeply saddened about everything that’s happening in the world. We are in the homeland of democracy and I’m upset to see the concept of democracy being used for the murder of people all over the world. This award is an incentive to keep telling our story because the only thing that will remain are the stories we tell.”

Special Mentions were bestowed to the documentaries:

EXILE(S), Tales From an Island by Yorgos Iliopoulos

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Around Paradise by Yulia Lokshina

Upon accepting the Special Mention, Yulia Lokshina said: “Thank you for this award. The film addresses some of the most difficult issues of our time, polarization in European societies, and radicalization. Thank you for listening to our story.”

Upon receiving the Special Mention, Yorgos Iliopoulos stated: “Many thanks to the Festival and the jury, and especially to the people of the Festival who have been involved with the film from the very beginning to this day.”

HELLENIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION AWARDS

Within the framework of the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ΕRΤ) will bestow an award to the Greek production that wins the FIPRESCI award. The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation will also present the “ERT – Thessaloniki Pitching Forum” award, which is accompanied by a €2,000 cash prize, to the best Greek project participating at the Thessaloniki Pitching Forum.

The General Director of ERT3, Aris Panagiotidis, presented the award: “It is a great pleasure and honor to be among colleagues, as I also mentioned a few days ago at the Agora Awards. As a producer, I understand the difficulties. There are few times in life when you make a debut, and I’m not sure whether it is more difficult to appear for the first time or to continue doing what you love for many years. I would like to thank the Festival for embracing Thessaloniki and for collaborating excellently with ERT. I would also like to thank perhaps the most beautiful film set in Greece: Thessaloniki itself, which includes people of different backgrounds and religions. It is a city that supports diversity, understands existing differences, and tries to ease them so that we can all move forward together. Thank you very much.”

The ERT Award was bestowed to the documentary:

EXILE(S), Tales From an Island by Yorgos Iliopoulos

Yorgos Iliopoulos went on stage to receive the award: “I would like to thank ERT for supporting this project. I would, also, like to sincerely thank the people of the Festival who contributed to the project from its beginning until today. Their presence is essential. It is a very difficult time to make movies: whoever makes movies is a winner. Congratulations to everyone and thank you very much”.

EKKOMED AWARDS

In the framework of the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (EKKOMED) will award two prizes: A €3,000 prize award to a Greek documentary participating in Agora Docs in Progress; and a €3,000 prize award to a debut documentary feature (over 50 minutes) that premieres in the Greek Program.

The EKKOMED Jury is composed of:

Evi Gavriilidou (Member of Promotion and Distribution of Greek Cinema, Hellas Film)

Stavroula Geronymaki (Head of International Investments and Sustainable Film Development)

Zoe Kandyla (Director of Development and Production, ΕΚΚΟΜΕD)

The EKKOMED’s General Director of Greek Cinema​​, Athena Kartalou noted: “With great joy, our jury selected this year a film that we had supported from the very beginning and truly believed in, just as we believed in other films we saw at the Festival this year. We wish it every success in its next steps.”

The EKKOMED Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Stories of a Lie by Olia Verriopoulou

Reasoning: For its personal and courageous cinematic approach that confronts the ongoing negotiation between truth and lies, life and death. For reminding us that we may not always have the answer, but that cinema itself is a question, the EKKOMED Award for a Debut Documentary Feature is presented to Olia Verriopoulou for Stories of a Lie.

Receiving the award, director Olia Verriopoulou thanked EKKOMED for the award: “I was thinking that as you grow older, first times become fewer and fewer, and little by little there will be no more first times. So, I would like to thank you for the Debut Award. At a time when it’s becoming increasingly hostile to make your debut, it is more necessary than ever for the film community to take a stand and become a space for mobilization. I would also like to thank the Festival for giving us the courage to take risks and be bold when filmmaking, and for showing the greatest care and attention to Greek creators.”

“HUMAN VALUES” AWARD OF THE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT

The Hellenic Parliament bestows its “Human Values” award to an International Competition section film.

The “Human Values” Award jury is composed of:

Aris Fatouros (director and Program Consultant of the Hellenic Parliament TV)

Vassilis Douvlis (director and Head of the Hellenic Parliament TV’s Programming Department)

Kostas Dimos (Hellenic Parliament TV Program collaborator)

Representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, Theodoros Karaoglou, Thessaloniki B Member of the Hellenic Parliament, noted: “Dear organizers, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to express my great pleasure at being here with you, and I am honored to represent Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis and the Hellenic Parliament, and to participate in the closing ceremony of the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, an institution with international reach which brings to the fore stories, ideas, and concerns from all around the globe each year. The documentary has the unique capacity to capture reality, shedding light to the unseen aspects of society and inviting us to see the world with greater understanding and sensitivity. Through the filmmakers’ gaze, issues concerning human dignity, freedom, memory, and our collective responsibility are highlighted. This is why the “Human Values” Award, which was first awarded in 2006, carries such significance. The award honors works that promote values which are found at the core of democracy and social cohesion: respect, solidarity, and advocating for the truth. The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival is an important meeting place, bringing together creators, ideas, and different cultures, while contributing substantially to the promotion of culture and public discourse. I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the organizers, the filmmakers, and to everyone who contributed to the success of this exceptional event.”

The “Human Values” Award of the Hellenic Parliament was bestowed to the documentary:

La Pietà by Rafa Molés and Pepe Andreu

Reasoning: The Hellenic Parliament bestows its “Human Values” award to a documentary that combines observational cinema and the creative use of archival material to contemplate on the fragile beauty of biggest glacier of Europe that is gradually shrinking, composing a cinema requiem on nature under threat and the memory that is being lost. The award goes to the film La Pietà of the International Competition section, directed by Rafa Moles and Pepe Andreu, a co-production between Spain, Iceland and Lithuania.

The filmmakers, Rafa Molés and Pepe Andreu, stepped onto the stage to receive their award. Taking the floor, they remarked: “Thank you so much for this award, we have come here with our entire team from Spain, Iceland, and Lithuania. The Festival gave us the opportunity to come together. We made a film showcasing beauty as a powerful weapon. We believe that beauty continues to be a tool we can use to change the world.”

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AWARD

The Amnesty International Award brings in contact two institutions that share a strong sensibility and similar goals: they both operate on a complementary level, with the Festival promoting and screening films by documentarist that reveal the brutal violation of human rights, and with Amnesty International then taking on the difficult task of mobilizing, exerting pressure and raising public awareness. Receiving recognition by a humanitarian institution such as Amnesty International within the context of a cinematic institution such as the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival is doubly important for a filmmaker, since their work is honored both on an artistic and a humanitarian level.

The Amnesty International Award jury is composed of:

Mirella Legaki (economist, vice-president of the Greek Confederation of Cine-Clubs)

Gina Petropoulou (documentary filmmaker, producer and artistic director of the Peloponnisos International Documentary Film Festival)

Andreas Yolassis (architect, visual artist, poet and member of the Greek section of Amnesty International)

Eleni Kontou, the President of the Board of Directors of Amnesty International, took to the stage to announce the Award and the Honorable Mention.

The International Amnesty Award was bestowed to the documentary:

American Doctor by Poh Si Teng

Reasoning: For its compelling portrayal of the actions of three American doctors from different backgrounds who, in order to save lives in Gaza, find themselves facing personal danger in their attempt to reveal the truth. The film captivatingly depicts the physicians’ efforts to treat the victims of genocide while raising their voices as citizens against their own government. With personal testimonies and shocking footage from the bombing of Nasser Hospital to the political struggle in the halls of American power, the film reveals a terrible reality, paving the way for humanity and collective action.

An Honorable Mention was bestowed to the documentary:

Scarlet Girls by Paula Cury

Reasoning: For its discreet cinematography, lyricism, and sensitive portrayal of women's stories that highlight the problem of the complete and unconditional ban on abortion in the Dominican Republic, resulting in the abolition of the fundamental right to self-determination of the female body.

“CITY STORIES” MUNICIPALITY OF THESSALONIKI AWARD

Thessaloniki has always been a cinematic city. Its light, atmosphere, and people make everything seem to unfold in a more filmic, rather than literal, dimension of space and time. The Municipality of Thessaloniki actively embraces and supports the city’s intrinsic connection with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the country’s leading film institution. To further strengthen this relationship, a cooperation agreement was recently co-signed, establishing two awards granted by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, each accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize, for Greek films presented at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. Since cities are spaces where the lives and dreams of their residents converge, the Greek film section of the 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, eligible for the Municipality of Thessaloniki Award, is titled City Stories. The selected films explore themes and narratives centered on contemporary urban life and the everyday experiences of city dwellers.

The jury is composed of:

Spyros Vougias (member of the Festival’s Board of Directors and of the Thessaloniki City Council)

Myrto Patsalidou (editor and director)

Stergios Fourkiotis (director)

The award committee took the stage for the presentation: Spyros Vougias, member of the Festival’s Board of Directors and of the Thessaloniki City Council; editor and director Myrto Patsalidou; and director Stergios Fourkiotis. On behalf of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the award was presented by Deputy Mayor of Culture, Tourism Development and Intermunicipal Cooperation, Vasilis Gakis, who stated: “In the introduction to the rationale that we prepared with the committee, with whom we worked hard, we mention that Thessaloniki is a cinematic city. You can feel it if you live here or visit it. The light, the atmosphere, its people — all seem to move in a cinematic, rather than in real space and time. To emphasize its existential connection with the Festival, the Municipality of Thessaloniki established this award. We worked with the committee and unanimously selected one of the 11 nominated films in the ‘City Stories’ category, which, as noted, has to do with the city and the people who live in it and tell stories about it.”

The “City Stories” Municipality of Thessaloniki Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Bugboy by Lucas Paleocrassas

Reasoning: The City of Thessaloniki bestows the City Stories Award to a film that unfolds a coming-of-age take with sensitivity and tenderness, bringing forth the need of acceptance and inclusion. Set amidst the reality of contemporary urban societies that find it hard to embrace anything that stands out as different, the film turns its gaze to everything that goes by unnoticed, shedding light on the power of the small worlds we build and reminding us that the sense of belonging can find room even in the most unexpected places. With a cinema glance that balances between the documentary genre and the dramatized narration, the film crafts a microcosm of understanding, offering the viewer a touching experience. The film is bestowed to the film Bugboy by Lucas Paleocrassas.

Director Lucas Paleocrassas accepted the award, expressing heartfelt thanks for the recognition: “Thank you very much for this acknowledgment. I wish that George, our protagonist, could be here to experience this moment. This award is for him and for all the boys and girls who have felt different and invisible. Today, we need their empathy and perspective more than ever”.

FIPRESCI AWARDS

This year, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), comprising distinguished film critics, presents two awards: one to the Best Documentary of the International Competition for Best Feature Length Documentary Program and one to a Greek film that participates in the three International Competition sections.

The FIPRESCI jury is composed of:

Ruggero Calich (Turkey)

Stefanos Dalasis (Greece)

Stefanie Diekmann (Germany)

The FIPRESCI Award to the Best Documentary of the International Competition was bestowed to the documentary:

Birds of War by Janay Boulos & Abd Alkader Habak

Reasoning: A testament to extraordinary courage, dedication, and strength, Birds of War (UK/SYR/LBN) is a film which is exceptional in both content and form. Integrating voice, video, and text messages, video diaries, TV footage, screenshots, documentary material from war zones, and rushes from the day-to-day struggle of a citizen filmmaker, this film tells the story of two people brought together by their steadfast belief in the power of the image and their shared conviction in the responsibility of documentary filmmaking and independent journalism. To the idea that the political is always personal, and the personal always political, Birds of War gives a new, almost breathtaking meaning. Not only is this a film about dedication and solidarity, it is also a story about love in very dark times and the determination of two filmmakers to share their life and work.

Handing out the award on behalf of the jury, Stefanie Diekman thanked the filmmakers for their wonderful films.

Director Abd Alkader Habak, said while getting the award: “It is a great honour. It is our third award at this Festival and this means a lot to us”.

The FIPRESCI Award to Greek film that participates in one of the three International Competition sections:

EXILE(S), Tales From an Island by Yorgos Iliopoulos

Reasoning: A subtle analysis of a very complicated reality. A nuanced approach to a harsh history and a bleak present. An objective, multi faceted gaze into past tragedies and today’s transiences. Director Yorgos Iliopoulos manages to make us feel the curse upon an island in the Aegean through its recording of the inhabitants’ humble testimonies. Carefully avoiding quick judgement and slowly uncovering a long history of violence, injustices and destruction, the young filmmaker exposes the deep sadness of a once upon a time joyful and prosperous environment. Iliopoulos demonstrates once again how the unwillingness of political authorities to respect an international treaty transforms both the native population and the newcomers into hostages of a sinister and clumsy social engineering project.

Stefanos Dalasis spoke about the important role that FIPRESCI plays in promoting the art of cinema: “FIPRESCI has been the International Federation of Film Critics for a century now, since 2025 marked 100 years of contributions to the development of the art of cinema”. Receiving the award, the director Yorgos Iliopoulos thanked the Festival for the great honor.

GREEK ASSOCIATION OF FILM CRITICS AWARD

The Greek Association of Film Critics awards, as every year, the Best Greek Film that is screened in the official selection of the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. The decision is made by the General Assembly of the members that have attended the Festival.

The award was given by the Vice President of PEKK, Christos Skyllakos, who, upon presenting the award, said: “All our members watch the films of the Greek program and we make the decisions collectively. Yesterday, while watching the 2013 film Affection to the People about the Greek films that were made during the dictatorship, we saw that at that time there was a lot of courage, and a lot of great Greek directors emerged then. We urge contemporary filmmakers to showcase the same courage.”

The PEKK Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Bugboy by Lucas Paleocrassas

Reasoning: The Greek Association of Film Critics awards the film Bugboy as the Best Greek Film screened in the official selection of the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival for the way it foregrounds a dramatic representation of the real while filming a coming-of-age portrait in a direct manner.

Receiving the award, the director Lucas Paleocrassas thanked the Festival for the support it provided during its making: “This is unbelievable. I wish that George was with us to share this experience. I hope that the film continues to grow, to resonate with the audience. I also hope that it will help us give solace to young people that might feel the same as our film’s hero. We would like to thank the Festival and the organizers that supported the films during its developmental stages. It is great to be here every year”.

WIFT GR AWARD

The WIFT GR Award is presented by the Greek Chapter of WIFT (Women in Film & Television) to a woman filmmaker of a film selected for the official international competition sections of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

The WIFT GR Award jury is composed of:

Niovi Anazikou (journalist, documentarist and WIFT GR Vice President)

Adamantia Fytili (producer and WIFT GR member)

Maria Giannouli (filmmaker, screenwriter and WIFT GR member)

The award was bestowed by Niovi Anazikou, journalist, documentarist and WIFT GR Vice President: “Good evening. First, I would like to say for those of you who do not know, that WIFT GR is an association, member of a world-wide network for women and femininities in cinema and the audiovisual sector and its goal is to enhance equality, visibility and creativity by women. Also, on behalf of our jury, I would like to thank all women directors for the beautiful stories that they shared with us”

The WIFT GR Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Birds of War by Janay Boulos & Abd Alkader Habak

Reasoning: The Women in Film & Television Greece Award is presented to the film Birds of War by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak, a work that transforms the testimony of war into a deeply human story about freedom, perseverance, and love. Through the personal perspective of Janay Boulos — a Lebanese filmmaker and journalist — the reality of Lebanon and Syria is not presented as a distant war-torn geography, but as their own place of life, memory, and everyday existence, ruptured by violence. What began as a professional collaboration between Boulos and the Syrian photojournalist Abd Alkader Habak gradually evolves into a love story that is not born in spite of the war, but within it. Birds of War becomes a profound cinematic act of memory and resistance against the dehumanization of war. WIFT GR particularly honors the female perspective that shapes the core of the narrative, as well as the gaze of a creator who transforms personal experience and vulnerability into a collective testimony about dignity in life and freedom.

Directors Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak came on stage. Receiving the award, Boulos thanked the Festival: “We would like to thank you once more for the award. I do not have much to say, we are grateful for the way you received us here. We had the greatest audience, the Greek audience, watching our film and we really hope that we will continue to communicate our story, convey its message, while inspiring people to create films and record stories. This is what we want. Thank you”.

WWF GREECE AWARD

The reciprocal relationship between humans and nature is brought to the fore in the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s official program, with films that capture the effects of human intervention on the environment and the price paid by humanity. The award is presented by the World Wildlife Fund Greece to the best film of environmental interest. As WWF Greece points out: “Through truths that concern global threats, such as climate change, and through the exploration of our strange relationship with time, the need for and the overexploitation of our natural resources, and the stark contrasts between the natural and urban landscape, the directors merge realism and art to create works that go beyond the ecological documentary.”

The WWF Greece Award jury is composed of:

Katherine Embiricos (Head of International Engagement at the Museum of Cycladic Art and film producer)

Υannis Kantea-Papadopoulos (film critic)

Yukiko Krontira (Communications Associate at WWF Greece)

Yukiko Krontira, Communications Associate at WWF Greece and member of the jury, presented the award: “WWF Greece celebrates 35 years this year and during this time our connection and collaboration with the Thessaloniki Film Festival is one of the longest and most beautiful ones. It is a connection recognizing that our interrelation with nature has a significant impact on the planet’s health, on ourselves and on future generations. This connection, also, recognizes that cinema has a unique power to highlight these crucial issues”.

The WWF Greece Award was bestowed to the documentary:

Time and Water by Sara Dosa

Reasoning: For its subtle poetry, touching portrayal of a life intertwined with nature, the value of remembrance and the urgent responsibility to care for our planet for future generations, the jury unanimously presents the WWF Greece award to Sara Dosa's Time and Water.

YOUTH JURY AWARDS BY THE STUDENTS OF THE THESSALONIKI UNIVERSITIES

The Youth Jury comprises students of the School of Film of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and will present the Best Film Award and the Special Jury Award. Eligible for these awards are Greek films participating in the International Program. Youth Jury supervisor: Apostolos Karakasis, Associate Professor in Film and Television Theory & History, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This year’s jury members are: Filippos Beerstecher-Gravanis, Anastasia Maria Glikopoulou, and Irodotos Katsaris.

The award was announced by Filippos Beerstecher-Gravanis, member of the jury: “I would like to thank the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival for the opportunity it gave us. It was truly a remarkable experience, highly educational, that opened new horizons for us, as students of the School of Film”.

Τhe Best Greek Film Award of the Youth Jury was bestowed to the documentary:

Where Shadows Rest by Marianna Economou

Reasoning: The film’s direction, combined with the film’s cinematography, focuses on the mythological essence of Elefsina and the mysterious shipwrecks hidden in the darkness of its seabed. Narratively, as we follow the planning of the opening ceremony of “Eleusis 2023,” the mystery gradually extends into the depths of the human soul as well, directly raising questions about the relationship between humans and nature, mythology, and their past.

The Special Jury Prize of the Youth Jury was bestowed to the documentary:

Born Twice by Stelios Kouloglou

Reasoning: At a time when human rights are being questioned and systematically violated, the film reveals the intergenerational guilt and the unspeakable pain caused by the Holocaust. Following the shocking experience of a survivor, the film highlights the power of courage, as well as forgiveness, when remorse is genuine.

The film’s producer, Leonidas Liambeys, received the award on behalf of the director, thanking the Festival.

FISCHER AUDIENCE AWARDS

Fischer, the long-term official sponsor of the Audience Awards, will bestow five awards: The “Peter Wintonick” Audience Award for an international film over 50 minutes; the Audience Award for a film in a competitive section; Audience Award for a Greek film over 50 minutes; the Audience Award for a film under 50 minutes; and the Fischer Platform+ Audience Award for a Greek film screened online and premiering at the 28th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

The award was presented on stage by Yannis Katsougris, Head of Sponsorships at the Athenian Brewery, who stated: “It is a great pleasure for me to be here once again at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival to present the Fischer Audience Awards. First of all, I would like to congratulate all the creators for their films, as well as the Festival team for yet another outstanding organization. For us at Fischer, it is a special honor to support the Audience Awards. This year, we are also marking twelve years of presence at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. This year, 155 films participated in the Fischer voting, and a total of 22,196 viewers casted their votes. What better way for a beer brand to engage with the audience in such a meaningful way and through such an important cultural institution! The Audience Awards are among the most beloved by creators because they have something unique: they express the voice of the viewers and highlight the films that touched them the most.”

Five Audience Awards are bestowed to three Greek and two international films.

The “Peter Wintonick” Audience Award for an international film over 50 minutes was bestowed to the documentary:

American Doctor by Poh Si Teng

The Audience Award for a film under 50 minutes was bestowed to the documentary:

Square of the Unseen by Theodore Selekos

The Audience Award for a Greek film over 50 minutes was bestowed to the documentary:

Echoes of Beneath by Vasilis Barachanos

Receiving the award, Vasilis Barachanos said: “We would like to thank the Festival for hosting our film, which had its premiere here. It is a film on unity, family and how important it is to be strong and to achieve important things”.

The Audience Award for a film in a competitive section was bestowed to the documentary:

Sentient by Tony Jones

Tony Jones accepted the award, saying: “This award is a great honor for us. We created a film that really speaks about empathy. Today, there is not a lot of empathy in the world. We invite you to watch our film and to get to know our work better. The film explores empathy as it relates to the way we treat animals in laboratories, as well as to the people who work with them”.

The Fischer Platform+ Audience Award for a Greek film was bestowed to the documentary:

Single Headlocks by Panagiotis Papoutsis

Find the Agora awards of the 28th TiDF here.