17/11/2015 - Athina Rachel Tsangari’s London winner was the most sought-after film in the Agora’s video library, with Thessaloniki contender Silent a far-off second

Always buzzing with film professionals mining their way through the massive viewing lists in order to pile up as many watched titles as possible during the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Agora’s video library is a popularity contest in itself: its top-ten list is a fail-proof harbinger of interest from distributors, journalists, agents and producers alike.

Athina Rachel Tsangari’s London winner Chevalier [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], one of the most-discussed films of the entire festival, topped the viewing lists before going on to win the Audience Award for a film in the Greek Panorama (ex-aequo with Constantine Giannaris’ Spring Awakening [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which was not available in the video library), distantly followed by Giorgos Gkikapeppas’ International Competition entry Silent, which was tapped as best of show by the FIPRESCI jury.

Third place was secured by Yorgos Zois’ Venice-screened Interruption [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daphné Patakia
interview: Yorgos Zois
film profile], which held the second slot reserved for local titles in the International Competition section, but failed to impress any of the voting bodies. Rams [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Grimur Hakonarson
film profile], on the other hand, which added Thessaloniki’s top gong to its Un Certain Regard Award, ended up in fourth place, followed by Mustang [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Deniz Gamze Ergüven
film profile], the Balkan Survey’s Audience Award winner.

Slots six to nine were occupied by local titles Smac, Blind Sun [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (FIPRESCI winner for the Greek Panorama section), The Cypress Deep Down and Symptom, while the Berlinale-awarded 600 Miles, which went on to win the Best Director Award for Gabriel Ripstein, rounded off the top ten.