14/02/2024 - A total of 36 titles will be vying for the main awards in three competitions at the most important documentary gathering in Greece

The 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TiDF) is scheduled to take place from 7-17 March. It will showcase 36 films across three competition sections, with 35 of them having their world, international or European premieres. The films tackle a range of topics that will resonate with audiences, including coming-of-age narratives, tales of women's empowerment, depictions of resistance against discrimination and prejudice, captivating portraits of remarkable individuals, and explorations of humanity's connection with the environment.

In TiDF's International Competition for the Golden Alexander, 12 documentaries will vie for the top prize, which includes €12,000 in cash and eligibility for consideration for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Additionally, there's the Silver Alexander Award, accompanied by a cash prize of €5,000. The jury panel comprises producer-director Valerie Kontakos, director-producer Rachel Leah Jones and festival programmer Sudeep Sharma. The seven world premieres include Forest [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lidia Duda
film profile] by Lidia Duda (Poland/Czech Republic), Johatsu – Into Thin Air [+see also:
interview: Andreas Hartmann, Arata Mori
film profile] by Andreas Hartmann and Arata Mori (Germany/Japan), Pol Pot Dancing by Enrique Sánchez Lansch (Germany/Cambodia) and where we used to sleep by Matthäus Wörle (Romania), along with three titles by Greek filmmakers: Stray Bodies [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Elina Psykou
film profile] by Elina Psykou (Greece/Switzerland/Italy/Bulgaria), Unclaimed by Marianna Economou (Greece) and Unclickable [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Babis Makridis (Greece). Meanwhile, And So It Begins by Ramona S Diaz (USA/Philippines), My Stolen Planet [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Farahnaz Sharifi (Germany/Iran), Nocturnes by Anupama Srinivasan and Anirban Dutta (India/USA), and Two Strangers Trying Not To Kill Each Other [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Jacob Perlmutter and Manon Ouimet (UK/Denmark) will be enjoying their international premieres, and the Sundance award winner A New Kind of Wilderness [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Silje Evensmo Jacobsen (Norway) will have its European bow.

In the Newcomers Competition, 12 documentaries by first-time and sophomore filmmakers are contending for the Golden Alexander "Dimitris Eipides" Award, which includes a €10,000 cash prize, along with the Silver Alexander Award, which comes with a €4,000 cash prize. The jury consists of producer Maria Drandaki, director Alisa Kovalenko and director Gianluca Matarrese. Eight films are having their world premieres: A Shelter of One's Own by Éva Tourrent (France), A Tree Grows in My Dreams Every Night by Vid Hajnšek (Slovenia), Fighting Demons With Dragons by Camilla Magid (Denmark), May Your Will Be Done by Adrián Silvestre (Spain) and Tell Them About Us by Rand Beiruty (Germany/Jordan), along with local titles Lesvia by Tzeli Hadjidimitriou (Greece), Panellinion by Spyros Mantzavinos and Kostas Antarachas (Greece), and Tack by Vania Turner (Greece). Three international premieres are featured: A Stranger Quest by Andrea Gatopoulos (Italy), Glass, My Unfulfilled Life [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Rogier Kappers (Netherlands) and Touché by Martina Moor (Italy/Belgium/Brazil). For its part, Eternal You [+see also:
film review
interview: Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck
film profile] by Hans Block and Moritz Riesewieck (Germany/USA) will be having its European premiere.

The third international competitive section, >>Film Forward, presents 12 films that defy conventions and employ a bold and daring cinematic approach, providing audiences with an opportunity to experience these unique works. Awards in this section include the Golden Alexander, offering a €6,000 cash prize, and the Silver Alexander, with a €3,000 cash prize. Serving on the jury are visual artist Sister Sylvester, director Bo Wang and curator Christoforos Marinos. The selection includes Avant-Drag! by Fil Ieropoulos (Greece), Chrysotile by Sarah del Pino (France), Desire Lines by Jules Rosskam (USA), Diagnonsense by Ane-Martha Tamnes Hansgård (Norway), First Milk by Panagiotis Papafragkos (Greece), From Abdul to Leila [+see also:
film review
interview: Leila Albayaty
film profile] by Leila Albayaty (Belgium/Germany), Holding Back the Tide by Emily Packer (USA), Only Godard by Arnaud Lambert and Vincent Sorrel (France), Reas [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lola Arias
film profile] by Lola Arias (Argentina/Germany/Switzerland), Soundtrack to a Coup d'État [+see also:
film review
interview: Johan Grimonprez
film profile] by Johan Grimonprez (Belgium/France/Netherlands), The Forest In Me by Rebecca E Marshall (UK) and When I Meet My Friends by Yannis Karydas (Greece).