26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival / When the camera tells the truth

In the this year’s 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, which runs until March 17, 67 long and short Greek films will be screened. Among the films we stand out from the department Open Horizons we find the “01» by Dimitris Mouzakitis for last years of the poet Nano’s lifeu Valaorite and tthes painteru Marie Wilson when they lived together in Athena and tThe «142 years» by Stelios Kouloglou, which turns the camera on Greek prisonswhich are closed thousands of refugees. In a legal thriller that lasts over a yearThe rescuer Jason Apostolopoulos tries to save three innocent people who have be convicted. Also stands out «Red teacher» by Stelios Charalambopoulos about the political trials of Nikos Belogiannis and Nikos Plombidis and them executions where they have stigmatize her post-modern Greece. There is even the “Farewell» by Anda Picsiou based on a book about memory written by psychotherapist Toula Vlachoutsikou, who suffered from dementia. Folkloric interest has “Armanoi the Vlachs» by Michalis Kamakas for the offer and history of Vlach-speaking Greeksartistic interest has the “Front» for asub-managed idoctor once artistics communitys, philosophical interest has the “In the image of man» by Nicole Alexandropoulos concerning her TEhneti Ncommon sense and the concerns of the Churchwhile ecological interest has o «World of birds of prey» of Lev Paraskevopoulos, talking about the struggle of vultures for survival in a constantly changing world.

Stories of resistance

Viewers better not lose the “Serving the Truth» for her 100 years Union of Editors of Macedonia-Thrace, where the Nicos Aslanidess takes us to period of the Occupationwhen 22 journalists underthey wrote the secret “Honor Protocol” and bindthey were not to offer their services in print of the conquerors and to work only in the newspapers that expressed the Resistance. The tyou say from them I will end up at nazily concentration camps, where they will find horrible death.

Analogous sensitivity e.gun “Forest” by Lydia Duda, which follows the daily life of a family on the border between Poland and Belarus, is radically changed when refugees, expelled from their countries, find refuge next to their home, and the Japanese “Johatsu» his Arata Mori and tTheu Andreas Hartman where introduces us to the mysterious “night transporters” in Japan who help people disappear from the face of the earth. Ramona S. Dias’ documentary “And so it begins” explores the days of a major election contest in the Philippines, where we follow a grassroots movement’s attempts to defend the democracy against totalitarian powers. Heartbreakingalso, is the subject of “Where we used to sleep” by Mateus Wehrle, which takes us to a Romanian village in the Apuseni Mountains, whose inhabitants were evicted because of a copper mine.

Heavy metal and Yiannis Spanos

Finally, there is also music, especially with “Vavel the Band» by Michalis Agrafiotis which goes back to history as one of the first Greek heavy metal bands to release an album in the 80s and tried to have an international career – a dream that he led them pthe station of Dusseldorf. The curtain of the festival will fall on Sunday, March 17 with the screening of the film “Yiannis Spanos: Behind the marquee” directed by Marss I was givings and values ​​the musical heritage tu Spanu. It’s about one musician journey along the path of the composer, from this childhood in Kiato up tothe age of glory in Paris and the appreciation in Greece, with rare documents and enjoyable interviews.

Phihernando Trube and latin

THE honorarys Golds Alexanderwill be awarded to large creator Fernando Trueba, with screenings of his films which rely on deep love and the his knowledge of music. The movie “They shot the pianist”, which marked the beginning of the festival, highlighted her value bossa nova through a neo-noir animated docudrama. THEthe other two are “Calle 54”, where the Trueba captures his adoration for Latin jazz through live performances by the biggest names in the field, and “Chico & Rita”, a history passion and lossinspired by him Kuvano musicianThe Bebo Valdes.

Tribute to Dimitris Papaioannou

It is eagerly awaited the documentary by Eva Stefanis “The heart of the bull», in a special screening. In the documentary, the director follows the show’s tour «Transverse Orientation» of Dimitris Papaioannou on the European stages. Tthis year’s festival explores the artist’s film work, relatively unknown to the general public, screening his short films ‘Nowhere’ and ‘Primal Matter’, where he re-choreographs his theatrical work through the qualities of cinematographer and editor, essentially recasting it in cinematic terms. “Nowhere”, filmed and edited by Papaioannou, reflects on the power of theater to reflect human life. “Primal Matter”, in turn, is a condensed cinematic summary of the production of the same name presented in 2023 where swallowit was with issues of national identity through a creative procedure where highlights a confrontation between the creator and his creation.

Tribute to 50 years of Democracy

One mini tribute with films such as Dzhiga Vertov’s The Man with the Motion Picture Camera, Isidore Issu’s Treatise on Poison and Eternity, Guy Debord’s Critique of Separation, Peter Widonic’s Cinema Vérité and The Five Barriers by Jørgen Leth and Lars von Trier. These are creations that capture the history and evolution of the documentary genre and cinema in general. On the occasion of the completion of 50 years since the restoration of ddemocrat of politics fGreecethe Festival hosts a series of events that pay tribute to the anniversary, but also to the anti-judicial struggleswith four films from important ones creators who they explore historically Facts for local politics. It’s about her “Essay” by Gilles Dassinthe “Legacy of Glauca – Democracy the City of Dreams” by Chris Marquetr, tDavid Burnett’s “Democracy” and his “Death of a Journalist”. Dane Matt Sarnecki.

Citizen queer

Mgreat dedication of the Thessaloniki Festival to self-determination, pthe need for gender confirmation and pits spectrum queer identity with the screening of 33 documentaries

A total of 33 documentaries that exthey praise him self determinationthe need for gender confirmation and its spectrum queer of identity are the big one tribute to the Festival. Between them stands out “The Homosexual Century” (Race D’Ep, 1979) by Lionel Soukaz and Guy Okengham, “Betty” by Dimitris Stavrakas, “The Celluloid Closet” (1996) by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, “Gendernauts” ( 1999) by Monica Troit. After the end of each projectionmany artists, activistsacademics and scientists will discuss with the public. “Betty” (1979) by Dimitris Stavrakas narrates the 24 hours of Betty Vakalidou through memories of her turbulent life. It’s lively“The Celluloid Closet” (1996) by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, which constitutes a entertainingthe recordingthe of the depiction of gay in Hollywood and shows how well-known directors and screenwriters they were hiding their messages within the movies their.

It also stands out Monica Troit’s “Gendernauts” (1999), one of the first films to explore the topic of gender transition, and to “Queer Japan” (2019) by Graham Colbanes, a colorful collage for Japanese LGBTI+ community. It is typical and the film “The Homosexual Century” by Lionel Soukaz and Guy Okengham, where looks back in the first steps of her claims community and reaches up to the 60s. It is worth noting, finally, that in the section Newcomers the movie “Lesbian” is shown, with tthe whicha Tzeli Hadzidimitriou takes us to a village on Lesvos in the 70s and tells a true story about love and acceptance.

Honorary Golden Alexander to Panagiotis Evaggelidis

The courageous cinema by Panagiotis Evaggelidis, which puts the visibility of the LGBTI+ community in the foreground, combineshey the personal element with social reality. To pioneer creator will be awarded an honorary Golden Alexander for his contribution to cinema while it will seven are displayed his movies. Among them the “Weddings of Tilos”, tThe “Chip and Ovie”, The Life and Death of Celso Junior, “Glow in the Dark” and “Sylvia Robin” about the depressed Digeni testing everything we know about transgenderism.