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. This year, the Film Forward Competition Jury members are: Nadja Argyropoulou, art curator; Grant Keir, producer, and Anne Marie Kürstein, film consultant.
Nadja Argyropoulou
Nadja Argyropoulou is an independent curator and art historian based in Athens. She studied history and archaeology (National Kapodistrian University, Athens) and contemporary art history and theory (Essex University, UK). She has curated a large number of exhibitions, public programs and events in Greece and abroad, and cooperated with many cultural institutions (private and public) and independent transdisciplinary social entities. She has written reviews and texts for books, solo and group exhibitions and art publications. She is founding member of the art research collective Saprofyta. She is particularly interested in forms of decentralized aesthetic sociality and queer anarchy, in ecologies of resistance, climate justice and transformative solidarity.
Nadja Argyropoulou is an independent curator and art historian based in Athens. She studied history and archaeology (National Kapodistrian University, Athens) and contemporary art history and theory (Essex University, UK). She has curated a large number of exhibitions, public programs and events in Greece and abroad, and cooperated with many cultural institutions (private and public) and independent transdisciplinary social entities. She has written reviews and texts for books, solo and group exhibitions and art publications. She is founding member of the art research collective Saprofyta. She is particularly interested in forms of decentralized aesthetic sociality and queer anarchy, in ecologies of resistance, climate justice and transformative solidarity.
Grant Keir
Grant Keir is an experienced drama, documentary and hybrid film producer, and international mentor, whose credits include the modern classic, feature documentary From Scotland with Love (directed by Virginia Heath) and A Very Unsettled Summer (directed by Anca Damian). Their company, Faction North Ltd specializes in developing and producing films that occupy the innovative, edgy space between documentary and drama. These include three feature length documentaries: The Artist and the Wall of Death (directed by Maurice O’Brien); Off The Rails (directed by Peter Day), both of which had their World Premieres at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, and Prince of Muck (directed by Cindy Jansen, which had its World Premiere at the competition section of the Edinburgh EIFF and IDFA Luminous Section. It was reviewed by The Daily Telegraph as “The best documentary you’ll see all year.”
Grant Keir is an experienced drama, documentary and hybrid film producer, and international mentor, whose credits include the modern classic, feature documentary From Scotland with Love (directed by Virginia Heath) and A Very Unsettled Summer (directed by Anca Damian). Their company, Faction North Ltd specializes in developing and producing films that occupy the innovative, edgy space between documentary and drama. These include three feature length documentaries: The Artist and the Wall of Death (directed by Maurice O’Brien); Off The Rails (directed by Peter Day), both of which had their World Premieres at Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, and Prince of Muck (directed by Cindy Jansen, which had its World Premiere at the competition section of the Edinburgh EIFF and IDFA Luminous Section. It was reviewed by The Daily Telegraph as “The best documentary you’ll see all year.”
Anne Marie Kürstein
Anne Marie Kürstein worked at the Danish Film Institute as a Festival Consultant specializing in Documentaries (1998-2024) and as the Film Workshop festival manager (1990–1998). Between 1999-2004, she was a board member of Aarhus Film Festival. She was the co-organizer of Copenhagen Film + Video Workshop Festival 90, 92, 94, and Digital Days 1998. From 1987 to 1989, she worked for the youth peace campaign Next Stop. She was also the co-organizer of the Culture Train in Soviet Union. Between 1984–1986 she followed art courses, whereas between 1982–1984 she studied Humanities at Roskilde University. Over the years, she serves as a jury member at numerous short and documentary film festivals.
Anne Marie Kürstein worked at the Danish Film Institute as a Festival Consultant specializing in Documentaries (1998-2024) and as the Film Workshop festival manager (1990–1998). Between 1999-2004, she was a board member of Aarhus Film Festival. She was the co-organizer of Copenhagen Film + Video Workshop Festival 90, 92, 94, and Digital Days 1998. From 1987 to 1989, she worked for the youth peace campaign Next Stop. She was also the co-organizer of the Culture Train in Soviet Union. Between 1984–1986 she followed art courses, whereas between 1982–1984 she studied Humanities at Roskilde University. Over the years, she serves as a jury member at numerous short and documentary film festivals.
