Awards & Juries

This year’s Alpha Bank Accessibility Award is accompanied by a cash prize of 3,000 euros and is awarded to either an individual or a film that highlights accessibility issues in the arts.

Η Fischer, επίσημος χορηγός των Βραβείων Κοινού επί σειρά ετών, θα απονείμει πέντε βραβεία στις ταινίες που θα συγκεντρώσουν τις περισσότερες ψήφους των θεατών: τέσσερα για διεθνείς παραγωγές που κάνουν ελληνική πρεμιέρα στο Φεστιβάλ (στις ενότητες «Διεθνές Διαγωνιστικό», «Meet the Neighbors+», «Film Forward» και «Επίσημο πρόγραμμα»), και το βραβείο «Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης» στην ελληνική παραγωγή που κάνει πρεμιέρα στο Φεστιβάλ.

This year, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), comprising distinguished film critics, presents two awards: one for the best film in the International Competition section and another for the best Greek film that has its premiere at the Festival. This year’s jury members are RobertHorton, IfigeneiaKalatzi, and GenaTeodosievska.

This year’s press & industry screenings are dedicated to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of FIPRESCI.

The FOS Award, powered by PPC, celebrates actors and actresses making their film debut, in a lead or supporting role, in a Greek feature-length film in the Festival official lineup. In the awards’ ceremony, two awards will be bestowed, to an actress and an actor respectively, both accompanied by a 3,000-euro cash prize. Public Power Corporation (PPC), as a strategic partner, offers its support to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival; the Festival stands by Greek and international filmmakers who breathe life into every shot and scene through their work, as well as the city that has been linked for decades now with the culture and the 7th art.

The members of the jury are: Calliope Alpitsi, elculture Managing Director; Yorgos Nanouris, actor; and Panagiotis Timogiannakis, film critic.

* “Fos” is the Greek word for “Light,” whereas PPC stands for the Public Power Corporation of Greece.

The First Prize of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), a cash prize of 3,000 euros, will be given to the Greek film that wins the award from the Jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), the Second Prize, a cash prize of 2,000 euros, will be given to the Greek film that will win a distinction at the AGORA Works in Progress, whereas since last year a new Original Music Award has been launched, accompanied by a cash prize of 2,000 euros. The members of the Best Original Music Award jury are: Leonidas Antonopoulos (deputy director of the radio station KOSMOS 93.6), Margarita Mytilinaiou (Ηead of ERT’s music radio); and Tassos Rossopoulos (composer, deputy director of the ERT Third Programme 90.9).

The Hellenic Parliament presents its “Human Values” award to a film from the International Competition section. The members of the Jury of the Hellenic Parliament TV are: Aris Fatouros, director-producer, Program Consultant; Vasilis Douvlis, director, Head of the Program Department; and KostasDimos, Program Collaborator.

The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center will award two prizes in the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. More specifically, the awards are the following: The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center Award, accompanied by a 5,000 euros cash prize, granted to a debutant director, in a Greek production having its premiere in the official selection (“First Run”) and the Best Location Award, accompanied by a 1,500 euros prize, bestowed by the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center, to a location manager of a film by a debutant director in a Greek production premiering at the official selection.

The J. F. Costopoulos Foundation, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, instituted in 2019 The J. F. Costopoulos Foundation Award in the context of the Thessaloniki Film Festival. The prize will be awarded to a film from the Greek program selection, holding its premiere at the Festival. The members of this year’s committee are: Betty Kaklamanidou; Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki; Konstantinos Vassilaros, producer; and Yorgos Zois, filmmaker

For yet another year, Finos Film bestows an award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, distinguishing a Greek film that premieres at the Greek Film Festival section. The members of the committee of the 66th organization are: Panagiotis Charamis, filmmaker; Barbara Dukas, Director, Conductor of DISFF Pitching Lab; and filmmaker Christina Ioakeimidi.

The Youth Jury, comprising students from the School of Film at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, will present the Best Film Award and the Special Jury Award. Eligible for these awards are Greek films premiering at the Greek Film Festival. Youth Jury supervisor: Apostolos Karakasis, Professor in Film and Television Theory & History, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. This year’s jury members are: Vlassis Alexoudis, Anna Baltzi, Vassilis Seralidis, Lefkothea Vavouraki, and Ifigenia NefeliZisimatou.

The WIFT GR Award is presented by the Greek Chapter of WIFT (Women in Film & Television) to a film from the International Competition, Meet the Neighbors+ or Film Forward Competition for the best woman’s contribution and presence in front or behind the camera. The members of this year’s committee are Elena Athanasiadou, producer, Communications & Social Media expert, WIFT GR board member, Maria Chatzigianni, filmmaker, human geographer, WIFT GR board member, and Ioanna Tsilili, filmmaker, screenwriter, WIFT GR member.

The Greek Association of Film Critics (PEKK) awards, as every year, the Best Greek Film that is screened in the official selection of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The decision is made by the General Assembly of the members that have attended the Festival. PEKK’s award will be given to a Greek film from the Greek Film Festival 2025 program.