The competition section “Immersive: All Around Cinema” embraces creations that make use of high-end technologies to present different views of extended reality. The Immersive competition section of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival showcases new films that offer an exciting interactive viewing experience, transcending film genres and immersing the viewer in each artwork’s unique environment. The Golden Alexander awarded to the best film of the section, is accompanied by a monetary award of 2,000 euros. The members of the Immersive Jury of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival are: Myriam Achard, Head of new media partnerships and public relations at PHI; Maria Kouzinopoulou, journalist; and Marina Vranopoulou, art curator and founder of “Dio Horia” art gallery
Myriam Achard is the voice and face of PHI internationally. Her mission is twofold: to promote the development of local and international artistic avant-garde, while paving the way for new creators. Since 2006, she has worked with Phoebe Greenberg to promote PHI’s creative impulse, driven by an ambitious message: to develop and promote artistic innovation in the world. Thanks to its efforts, the group today occupies a prominent place in the artistic avant-garde, both as producer and distributor. PHI exports its creative impulse to three continents, from New York to Tokyo, via Venice. As head of new media partnerships and public relations, Myriam Achard travels the world in search of the most innovative and immersive works to present them in Montreal.
Marina Vranopoulou is a curator, researcher, and cultural leader based in Athens, Greece. She is the Founder and Director of Dio Horia Gallery, a contemporary art platform dedicated to advancing Greek and international artistic practices through curated exhibitions, publications, and residency programs. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Observer, and the Financial Times. For over fourteen years, Vranopoulou served as Program Curator at the DESTE Foundation in Hydra, where she directed major curatorial and educational initiatives. She also held curatorial roles at the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens. In addition, she is the Co-Founder of the Saprophyta Cultural Organization and a Board Member of NADA (USA) and the Greek Galleries Association (PSAT). Through her leadership, Vranopoulou continues to promote inclusive, research-driven approaches to contemporary art, fostering cultural exchange and supporting artists across global contexts.
Maria Kouzinopoulou is a journalist with the Athens–Macedonian News Agency, specializing in science and technology reporting. She holds a master’s degree in Cultural Policy, Management, and Communication and has extensive experience covering culture and human rights. Her work focuses on people; their stories, concerns, needs, and creative tools of expression. At a time of rapid scientific and technological progress, Kouzinopoulou explores how innovation reshapes storytelling, broadening the boundaries of human experience. She is particularly interested in how extended reality (XR) fosters multisensory engagement and deepens empathy, intercultural understanding, and intergenerational dialogue. For her, cinema represents a vital meeting point between technological advancement and social reflection, where augmented and virtual reality open up new, dynamic forms of narrative centered on the human experience.
