29/09/2005

“A fast train that goes to the right direction” – this is the optimistic approach to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) major shifts in its management and program structures this year, by its newly appointed president Georges Corraface.
Corraface, a well-known French-Greek actor, and the festival director Despina Mouzaki were speaking in Thessaloniki, Tuesday, about the innovations and the program of this year’s 46th edition of the festival, November 18-27. New sections, such as "Independence Days", "Crossroads" and "Agora" are added to the festival.
"Crossroads", a co-production forum, November 24-26, is in essence a pitching of projects that are in any way connected to the Mediterranean or the Balkans to producers and potential backers.
"Agora" offers a meeting place for specialists from various sectors of film production, distributors, and sales agents from all over the world.
Greek cinema will also be in the spotlight at this year’s TIFF, with the screening of the whole of this year’s film production.

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TIFF’s complete program which will include over 200 films is expected to be publicized at the end of October. The festivals’ annual budget stands at nearly 8 million euro, with two thirds of it financed by Greek Culture Ministry subsidies.
Corraface was offered the position of the TIFF president in May, replacing Pantelis Voulgaris. He had resigned following criticism of his election to the post instead of the out-of-favor with the right wing government former president Theo Angelopoulos. These events were followed by the dismay and subsequent resignation of Dimitris Eipides, a long standing persona behind the festival’s special sections and the International Documentary Festival which is associated to the festival.
Mouzaki, who had replaced Michel Demopoulos as Festival Director, said that changes always bring reaction and nervousness and it will take some time before the dust settles down. She also said that the festival’s door remains open to Eipides should he wish to return.