The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival is scheduled to take place from 6-16 March. It will showcase 30 films across three competition sections, with all of them having their world, international or European premieres, including nine Greek productions. The documentaries address timely issues, navigate deep-seated generational traumas, imagine liberation from oppression, reflect on the future of humanity, explore our connection with the environment, and take a stand against discrimination and prejudice.

In the International Competition, ten docs will vie for the Golden Alexander, 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 sum of €5,000. The jury panel comprises photographer, documentary filmmaker, producer and editor Dimitris Athiridis, filmmaker Lauren Greenfield and producer Signe Byrge Sørensen. The six world premieres include Child of Dust [+lire aussi :
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interview : Ventura Durall
fiche film] by Ventura Durall (Spain/Belgium/France), along with three titles by Greek filmmakers: Bull’s Heart by Eva Stefani (Greece), The Goals of August by Dimitris Koutsiabasakos (Greece) and Sculpted Souls by Stavros Psillakis (Greece). Meanwhile, Coexistence, My Ass! [+lire aussi :
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interview : Gianluca Matarrese
fiche film] by Gianluca Matarrese (France/Italy/Switzerland) will have its European bow.

In the Newcomers Competition, ten documentaries by young 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 filmmaker and programmer Inka Achté, journalist Tina Mandilara and filmmaker Tünde Skovrán. Seven films are having their world premieres: My Sunnyside by Matylda Kawka (Poland/USA), Queens of Joy by Olga Gibelinda (Ukraine/France/Czech Republic), Resilience by Tomas Elsik (Czech Republic) and The Treasure Hunter by Giacomo Gex (UK/Philippines/Mexico), along with local titles Lo by Thanassis Vassiliou (Greece/France), Super Paradise by Steve Krikris (Greece/Germany) and Τhey Talk About Worship Here by Byron Kritzas (Greece). Two international premieres are featured: How to Build a Library by Maia Lekow and Christopher King (Kenya/USA), and Pet Farm by Finn Walther and Martin A Walther (Norway), while The Secret of Me by Grace Hughes-Hallett (UK) will be having its European premiere.

The third international competitive section, >>Film Forward, presents ten films that challenge conventions and speak a bold cinematic language. 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 curator and art historian Nadja Argyropoulou, producer Grant Keir and festival consultant Anne Marie Kürstein. The selection includes five world premieres: Museum of the Night by Fermín Eloy Acosta (Argentina), Where Do You Call Home? by Ana Pérez-Quiroga (Portugal), and local films Death Plan for a Dog and a Man by Christos Karakepelis (Greece), NovaMax SkyLand by Dionysia Kopana (Greece) and The One Who Hopes by Stratis Chatzielenoudas (Greece). Four international premieres – Meanwhile by Catherine Gund (USA), Replica by Pello Gutiérrez (Spain), Seeds by Brittany Shyne (USA) and Zodiac Killer Project [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] by Charlie Shackleton (USA/UK) – are on the cards, as is Endless Cookie by Seth Scriver and Peter Scriver (Canada) as a European premiere.