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Happy Holidays, the latest feature from Palestinian Filmmaker Scandar Copti, has taken the top prize at the Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece.
Copti’s film won the Best Feature Film Award, which comes with a 10,000-euro cash prize. Awarding the prize, the jury, headed by Sara Driver, praised the film for “intricately weaving different narratives and perspectives that fully expose the complexity of national, gender and class dynamics that can divide societies and for seeing the future in the face of a young woman the Golden Alexander goes to Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti.”
Happy Holidays debuted at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The story open after a minor accident sets off a chain of events, unraveling lies and unspoken truths that sow division within a multifaceted patriarchal society.
The festival’s Best Director Award, which comes with a 5,000-euro cash prize, was picked up Leonardo Van Dijl for Julie Keeps Quiet. The film follows Julie, a star player at an elite tennis academy. When her coach falls under investigation and is suddenly suspended, all of the club’s players are encouraged to speak up. But Julie decides to keep quiet. The jury described the as a “powerful but quiet psychological film.”
“Beautifully constructed, performed and shot. The Silver Alexander for Best Director goes to Leonardo van Dijl for Julie Keeps Quiet,” the jury said.
Elsewhere, Portuguese performer Joana Santos won the Best Actress Award for her role in On Falling by Laura Carreira.
Check out the full list of winners below.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
The International Competition section includes debut or sophomore films of up-and-coming filmmakers.
The jury is composed of:
Sara Driver (filmmaker and producer)
Denis Côté (filmmaker)
Konstantinos Kontovrakis (producer)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander – Theo Angelopoulos”, accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti
Reasoning: For intricately weaving different narratives and perspectives that fully expose the complexity of national, gender and class dynamics that can divide societies and for seeing the future in the face of a young woman the Golden Alexander goes to Happy Holidays by Scandar Copti.
The Festival’s Grand Sponsor, COSMOTE TV, supports the Best Director Award “Silver Alexander”, which is accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize and was bestowed to:
Leonardo Van Dijl for Julie Keeps Quiet
Reasoning: This is a powerful but quiet psychological film. Beautifully constructed, performed and shot. The Silver Alexander for Best Director goes to Leonardo van Dijl for Julie Keeps Quiet.
The Best Actor Award was bestowed to:
Mahmood Bakri for his performance in To a Land Unknown by Mahdi Fleifel
The Best Actress Award was bestowed to:
Joana Santos for her role in On Falling by Laura Carreira
MEET THE NEIGHBORS+ AWARDS
Meet the Neighbors+ competition section includes debut or sophomore films from the 36 countries of Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.
The jury is composed of:
Manal Awad (actress)
Maryna Er Gorbach (filmmaker)
Vassilis Sourapas (distributor)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander – Michel Demopoulos”, accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
Vittoria by Alessandro Cassigoli & Casey Kauffman
Reasoning: It’s a surprising, moving, innovative approach to the very sensitive subject of adoption that, catching us completely off guard, brought the audience, and us, to tears.
The Best Director Award “Silver Alexander”, accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to:
Laila Abbas for the film Thank You for Banking With Us
Reasoning: The director manages to narrate a female driven story of everyday life within the constraints of the patriarchy and political situation of Palestine with an intriguing tone and unexpected elements of humor that skillfully play with audience expectations.
The Best Actor Award was bestowed to:
Volodymyr Kravchuk for his performance in U Are the Universe by Pavlo Ostrikov
Reasoning: For his outstanding performance in a one man story trapped in the universe, he amazingly managed to take us into the journey of human experience and love.
The Best Actress Award was bestowed to:
Antonia Zegers for her role in The Exiles by Belén Funes
Reasoning: For her warm, eye-catching performance of a woman that energizes the story of a mother facing tough choices and brings to the screen convincingly a wide range of emotions.
Special Mention was bestowed to the actress:
Elvira Lara for her role in The Exiles by Belén Funes
Reasoning: For her powerful portrayal of a young girl balancing childhood and maturity, and for her ability to capture both innocence and resilience, we celebrate Elvira Lara and look forward to witnessing her continued talent and bright future in cinema.
Special Mention was bestowed to the entire cast of the film:
Killerwood by Christos Massalas
Reasoning: For the collaborative spirit and presence of its cast in a team effort that buzzes with creative energy.
>>FILM FORWARD AWARDS
The Film Forward International Competition Section presents the work of new, daring filmmakers who challenge our relationship with storytelling and aspire to renegotiate it through their debut or sophomore films, beyond the boundaries of film genres.
The jury is composed of:
Mina Kavani (actress)
Lois Patiño (filmmaker)
Haris Vafeiadis (filmmaker)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander”, accompanied by a 8,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
Universal Language by Matthew Rankin
Reasoning: For an exceptional film with a really original idea that mixes times, spaces and cultures, with a very unique cinematic language and sense of humor.
The Best Director Award “Silver Alexander”, accompanied by a 4,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to:
Noaz Deshe for the film Xoftex
Reasoning: This movie is the symphony of the chaos and intense daily life of the immigrants in the jungle of a refugee camp, through a very powerful cinematic language.
Special Mention was bestowed to the film:
Maldives by Daniel Bolda
IMMERSIVE: ALL AROUND CINEMA AWARDS
The competition section “Immersive: All Around Cinema” embraces creations that make use of high-end technologies to present different views of extended reality.
The jury is composed of:
Arkaitz Basterra (producer, screenwriter, director and Investor’s Committee Member [Moby Dick Film Capital])
Ellen Kuo (Head of XR Market at the NewImages Festival)
Maria Mavropoulou (visual artist)
The Immersive: All around Cinema “Golden Alexander”, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
Play Life by Žilvinas Naujokas, Vilius Petrauskas, Mantas Pronckus, Donatas Ulvydas
Reasoning: The jury commends Play Life for its elegant simplicity and stunning visual design. This immersive VR experience beautifully brings Algis Kriščiūnas’ paintings to life, allowing viewers to step inside vibrant, dreamlike worlds. Its seamless blend of art and technology creates a captivating, meditative journey through mesmerizing imagery.
Special Mention was bestowed to the film:
Journey of Piraeus by Filippos Tsitos
PODCAST COMPETITION AWARDS
Seven Greek-speaking and three English-speaking podcasts take part in the Podcast Competition section, competing for the Best Podcast Award.
The jury is composed of:
Maria Markouli (journalist, writer and radio producer)
Yannis Nenes (journalist and radio producer)
Gregoris Rentis (film director and producer)
The Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the podcast:
Friends in Liminal Spaces by Anastasia Sotiropoulos
Reasoning: Friends in Liminal Spaces is the story of how the communication between two unknown people in liminal conditions evolves, leading to an unexpected friendship. The podcast touches upon morality issues, while standing out for its narrative technique endowed with rich media elements.
Special Mentions was bestowed to the podcast:
A Story Told by the Mountains by MASH (Christos Kapenis & Katerina Anastasiou)
Reasoning: Α poetic and slightly kooky story of the love between two mountains that plays out with scientific details of geology and chemistry, with poetry and imagination. A podcast with a happy end and an eco message.
MERMAID AWARD
The Mermaid Award is a prize for the best LGBTQIA+-themed film from the official selection of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Mastercard supports the award with a monetary prize of 3,000 euros.
The jury is composed of:
Sofia Rozaki (visual artist)
Gordon Spragg (PR and marketing consultant for independent cinema [WOLF consultants])
Yorgos Tsitiridis (journalist)
The Mermaid Award was bestowed to the film:
All Shall Be Well by Ray Yeung
Reasoning: We would like to thank the Thessaloniki Film Festival for selecting us as the jury for such a significant award. It is a great honor for us. Among many important and interesting films, we chose All Shall Be Well by Ray Yeung for its exceptional and skillful direction, which pays particular attention to detail, and for the warmth and generosity with which it presents human relationships — especially the bond between the two women. In the current context, our priority is to highlight how fragile and far from guaranteed fundamental human rights can be. This film is an indictment of patriarchy and deeply rooted homophobia, showing how often queer relationships are devalued as unequal or invalid. It reminds us that families formed through LGBTQI+ bonds are often stronger than legally recognized biological relationships. Ending on a hopeful note, we want to emphasize what the title itself says — that in the end, all shall be well.
SMART7 AWARD
Aiming to foster the transnational circulation of European titles, the Smart7 film festival cooperation network features a Competition Section, presenting a selection of seven national films (one from each member country). One film will win the Smart7 Award, followed by a prize of 5,000 euros. The network is composed of the following film festivals: New Horizons International Film Festival (Poland), IndieLisboa International Film Festival (Portugal), Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Greece), Transilvania International Film Festival (Romania), FILMADRID International Film Festival (Spain), Reykjavik International Film Festival (Iceland), and Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris (Lithuania).
The Smart7 Award was bestowed to the film:
It’s Not My Film by Maria Zbąska
Reasoning: It’s Not My Film is a moving blend of romantic comedy and survival cinema, showing a rare image of mature love on the big screen. The film’s beautiful cinematography captures a couple’s journey to mend their relationship, with authentic dialogue and profound reflections. The characters confront nature as a metaphor for their inner conflicts, and though their attempts are imperfect, they are deeply touching. This film stands out for its narrative simplicity, humour and powerful visual style.
FOS AWARD
This year, we are delighted to welcome a newly established award, FOS powered by PPC. Actors and actresses making their film debut, in a lead or supporting role, in a Greek full-length film taking part in the Festival’s official lineup, are competing for the award. In the awards’ ceremony, two awards are bestowed, to an actress and an actor respectively, both accompanied by a 3,000-euro cash prize.
The jury is composed of:
Katerina Didaskalou (actress)
Renos Haralambidis (actor and film director)
Giannis Tsortekis (actor)
The “FOS” Award for an actor making his debut in a lead or secondary role, in a Greek full-length film, was bestowed to:
Yannis Karampampas for his performance in Wishbone by Penny Panagiotopoulou
Reasoning: For succeeding in breathing life, the story’s narrative and personal testimony into his gaze.
The “FOS” Award for an actress making his debut in a lead or secondary role, in a Greek full-length film, was bestowed ex aequo to:
Eva Samioti & Myrto Meitani-Kastrinaki for their performances in Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis
Reasoning: Because these rare cases do exist in cinema, where the communication can become so narrational, heart-wrenching and personal, that awards should be shared.
ALPHA BANK ACCESSIBILITY AWARD
The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award is accompanied by a cash prize of 3,000 euros and is awarded to either an individual or a film that highlights accessibility issues in the arts.
The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award was bestowed ex aequo to:
director Leonard Mink and actor Ben Kermer for the film Tremolo
Reasoning: In Alpha Bank we place great emphasis on the right for everyone to be a part, in the most equal way possible, to the cultural life of our country. The fact that one out of eleven fellow citizens of ours faces some kind of handicap renders the goal of universal accessibility a top social priority, as at the end of day, the deprivation of access equals to the deprivation of freedom. To this end, we have been working alongside the Festival since 2019, contributing to the hosting of universally accessible screenings. In 2022, we launched the Accessibility Award for films that foreground accessibility issues in the arts. This year, we are delighted to bestow the Accessibility Award to the medium-length German film Tremolo directed by Leonard Mink. The film unfolds the story of a deaf boy who, after a long time, reunites with his father, a musician who cannot speak sign language. In the course of a prolonged weekend, father and son realize that they do share a common language, which is no other than music. Child protagonist, Ben Kermer, being deaf himself, adds to the genuine representation of the challenges posed by physical disability in everyday life and in human relationships, as the movie conveys a deep socially-sensitive message for the notions of acceptance and otherness.
HELLENIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION AWARDS
The First Prize of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), a cash prize of 3,000 euros, will be given to the Greek film that wins the award from the Jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), the Second Prize, a cash prize of 2,000 euros, will be given to the Greek film that will win a distinction at the AGORA Works in Progress, whereas since last year a new Original Music Award has been launched, accompanied by a cash prize of 2,000 euros.
The jury of the Best Original Music Award is composed of:
Leonidas Antonopoulos (deputy director of the radio station KOSMOS 93.6)
Dimitris Nikoloudis (performer, music producer at the ΕRT3 radio programme)
Tassos Rossopoulos (composer, deputy director of the ERT Third Programme 90.9).
The Best Original Music Award was bestowed to:
Yannis Veslemes for the music of the film Maldives
Reasoning: ERT’s jury, taking into consideration the contribution to the film’s narrative, the originality of the composition, as well as the distinctive musical interpretation, bestows the Best Original Music Award to a Greek film celebrating its premiere at the Greek Film Festival to Yannis Veslemes for the music of the film Maldives directed by Daniel Bolda.
The ERT Award given to the Greek film that wins the award from the Jury of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) was bestowed to:
Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis
“HUMAN VALUES” AWARD OF THE HELLENIC PARLIAMENT
The Hellenic Parliament presents its “Human Values” award to an International Competition
section film.
The jury is composed of:
Aris Fatouros (director and Program Consultant at the Hellenic Parliament TV)
Vasilis Douvlis (Head of the Program Department at the Hellenic Parliament TV)
Kostas Dimos (Program Collaborator at the Hellenic Parliament TV)
The “Human Values” Award of the Hellenic Parliament was bestowed to:
Julie Keeps Quiet by Leonardo van Dijl
Reasoning: The television station of the Hellenic Parliament bestows the award “Human Values” to a film that explores with mastery, narrative conciseness and powerful interpretation the dilemma of a teenager talented tennis player called to cope with her personal trauma and break her deafening silence, in the shadow of the suicide committed by a female fellow athlete and the sending-off of their coach. The award is bestowed to the film Julie Keeps Quiet by Leonardo van Dijl.
HELLENIC FILM AND AUDIOVISUAL CENTER – CREATIVE GREECE AWARDS
The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece will award two prizes in the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. More specifically, the awards are the following: The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece Award, accompanied by a 5,000 euros cash prize, granted to a debutant director, in a Greek production having its premiere in the official selection (“First Run”) and the Best Location Award, accompanied by a 1,500 euros prize, bestowed by the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece, to a location manager (or a director in case of no location manager in the film) of a film by a debutant director in a Greek production premiering at the official selection.
The jury is composed of:
Yanna Sarri (Director of the Department of Promotion, Hellas Film, Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece)
Zoe Kandyla (Development & Production Director, Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece)
Dimitris Bouras (film critic, Press Office of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece)
The Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece Award to a debutant director, in a Greek production having its premiere in the official selection, was bestowed to:
Kostis Charamountanis for the film Kyuka Before Summer’s End
Reasoning: Kostis Charamountanis’ direction interweaves a variety of miscellaneous expressive elements with boldness and explorative spirit, achieving a coherent and unique cinematic language. Vividness, humour and tenderness foreground the film’s themes around the transition to adult life and family with a sense of originality.
The Best Location Award of the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece was bestowed to:
Marios Dimopoulos & Niki Saliagopoulou for the film Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis
Reasoning: With the Location Award we wish to honor the emerging specialty, at least for Greek standards, of location managers. With talent and perceptiveness, location managers contribute to the precision of the adaptation of the script on screen, and the detection of the director’s vision. Ιn this spirit, and taking into consideration the narrative and creative use of locations, the 2024 Location Award is bestowed by the directorate of the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece to Marios Dimopoulos, location manager of the film Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis. The selected location is a key character of the story, aptly reflecting the alterations in the psyche of the heroes. From the safety of memories offered by a decayed pansion all the way to the expectation of a better future that nests in the construction sites of a neighborhood with a supermarket serving as the main square, the movie succeeds in tracing in every shot aspects, perspectives and emotions, while displaying a remarkable minimality of spaces. Always under the gaze of an ever-watchful sick palm tree.
J.F. COSTOPOULOS FOUNDATION AWARD
The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary, instituted in 2019 The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award in the context of the Thessaloniki Film Festival. The prize will be awarded to a film from the Greek program selection, holding its premiere at the Festival. The film should present a comprehensive proposition, promote the art of cinema and demonstrate its affinities with the other forms of art.
The jury is composed of:
Betty Kaklamanidou (Professor at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
Vassilis Douvlis (filmmaker)
Pantelis Mantzanas (cinematographer)
The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award was bestowed to the film:
Arcadia by Yorgos Zois
Reasoning: This year’s J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award is unanimously bestowed to the film Arcadia directed by Yorgos Zois. Placing the universal theme of loss and grief at its narrative core, Arcadia stood out for its genuine interpretations, aesthetic thoroughness and directorial dexterity, while crafting a unique world in the borderline between the real and the imaginary.
FINOS FILM AWARD
For yet another year, Finos Film bestows an award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, distinguishing a Greek film that premieres at the Greek Film Festival section.
The jury is composed of:
Barbara Dukas (Director, Head of DISFF Pitching Lab)
Christina Ioakeimidi (filmmaker)
Iasonas Triantafyllidis (journalist)
The Finos Film Award was bestowed to the film:
Kyuka Before Summer’s End by Kostis Charamountanis
Reasoning: The Award is bestowed to a filmmaker gifted with a distinctive personal gaze. Through many details, he foregrounds in a unique way the relations and the dynamics between the three members of a family that struggles to cope with a common trauma, aided by the outstanding performances of the actors. Editing, cinematography and narrative pace portray summer in a vividly sensuous way, through an experimental approach, whereas the film oozes a sense of dream and freedom.
THE FIPRESCI AWARDS
The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), comprising distinguished film critics, presents two awards: to the best film of the International Competition section and to
the best Greek film that has its premiere at the Festival.
The jury is composed of:
Senem Erdine
Manuel Halpern
Yannis Zoumboulakis
The FIPRESCI Award to the best International Competition film was bestowed to:
Arcadia by Yorgos Zois
Reasoning: Cleverly incorporating a metaphysical idea, a mind game, Arcadia takes on a humanistic dimension by talking about concepts like loss, guilt and repentance, aptly, comprehensively and with a satisfying cinematic look.
The FIPRESCI Award to the best Greek film that has its premiere at the Festival was bestowed to:
Riviera by Orfeas Peretzis
Reasoning: For its aesthetic accuracy, rich metaphors, and the irony of a character attempting to fix or find her place in a particular world.
GREEK ASSOCIATION OF FILM CRITICS (PEKK) AWARD
The Greek Association of Film Critics (PEKK) awards, as every year, the Best Greek Film screened in the official selection of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
The PEKK Award was bestowed to the film:
Meat by Dimitris Nakos
Reasoning: For its composed directorial and scriptwriting approach in dealing with the topic of contemporary Greek boondocks, the Greek Association of Film Critics bestows the Best Greek Film Award to the film Meat by Dimitris Nakos.
WIFT GR AWARD
The WIFT GR Award is presented by the Greek Chapter of WIFT (Women in Film & Television) to a film from the International Competition, Meet the Neighbors+ or >>Film Forward Competition for the best woman’s contribution and presence in front or behind the camera.
The jury is composed of:
Niovi Anazikou (journalist, documentary filmmaker and WIFT GR Vice President)
Mary Kolonia (screenwriter, director, producer and WIFT GR Secretary General)
Mirella Legakis (economist, Greek Federation of Cinema Clubs Board Member and WIFT GR Board Member)
The WIFT GR Award was bestowed to the film:
Sugar Island by Johanné Gómez Terrero
Reasoning: WIFT GR awards the prize to the film Sugar Island by Johanné Gómez Terrero, which sheds light on the socio-political realities of the Dominican Republic. The film is impressive in its technical excellence, as the direction, cinematography, editing and sound design compose an atmosphere of social realism and lyricism. Through the story of a pregnant teenager, the director explores social inequality, heritage and identity, highlighting the additional challenges due to gender as well as the empowerment of women. Sugar Island comments on human and gender-based inequality, inviting the viewer to a dialogue on contemporary social challenges and the value of life.
CREW UNITED AWARD
The Crew United, consisting of a 5-year free Premium Membership in the Crew United platform, was bestowed to:
Dimitris Nakos for the film Meat
Reasoning: The sharpness with which the director approached the drama of a family in the Greek countryside and the insightful look with which he revealed the pathogenesis in the relationships between them, but also within the context of the wider community, made us decide that the Crew United award to a director of a Greek production from the competition sections of the Festival, goes to the director Dimitris Nakos for the film Meat.
YOUTH JURY AWARDS BY THE STUDENTS OF THE THESSALONIKI UNIVERSITIES
The Youth Jury comprises students of the School of Film of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and will present the Best Film Award and the Special Jury Award. Eligible for these awards are Greek films premiering at the Greek Film Festival.
Youth Jury supervisor: Apostolos Karakasis (Assistant Professor in Film and Television Theory & History, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)
The jury is composed of:
Dimos Ganas
Angeliki Dekavala
Angelos-Manolis Spartakos
Andreas Sotiriadis
Silva Tsoumana.
The Best Film Award of the Youth Jury was bestowed to:
Kyuka Before Summer’s End by Kostis Charamountanis
Reasoning: The Youth Jury of AUTh’s Faculty of Fine Arts Film School bestows its Best Film Award to the film Kyuka Before Summer’s End by Kostis Charamountanis. For the way he unfolds a story we can connect to in a resourceful and fresh way, guided by the distinctive editing style that converses with the viewer and the characters of the film. The filmmaker, through his distinct directorial gaze, touches upon issues such as inclusivity, loneliness and family trauma. In tandem with the film’s cinematography and music, the filmmaker crafts a unique aesthetic reminiscent of a summer, but also a reminder as to how harsh reality can get.
The Special Youth Jury Award was bestowed to:
Meat by Dimitris Nakos
Reasoning: The Youth Jury of AUTh’s Faculty of Fine Arts Film School bestows a Special Mention to the film Meat by Dimitris Nakos. For making ideal use of the thriller genre conventions featuring anti-heroes, as the events keep you in constant alert. The music enriches handily the rural landscape of the film’s universe and the actors’ performances sweep you away, while the framing and the directorial approach maintain a sustained feeling of excitement. The film mirrors Greek society, addressing themes such as the lack of accountability, toxic masculinity, exploitation of minorities and the prevalence of personal interest over human relationships.
FISCHER AUDIENCE AWARDS
Fischer, the official sponsor of the Festival’s Audience Awards for the last decade, will give five prizes to films that have their first public screening in Greece at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and gather the most positive votes from the audience: four prizes will be awarded to international productions from the Festival’s Official Program (the International Competition, Meet the Neighbors+, Film Forward, and Official Selection sections) premiering in Greece, as well as the “Michalis Cacoyannis” award to a Greek film premiering at the Festival.
Fischer Audience Award – International Competition:
To a Land Unknown by Mahdi Fleifel
Fischer Audience Award – Meet the Neighbors+:
The Mohican by Frederic Farucci
Fischer Audience Award – >>Film Forward:
Kyuka Before Summer’s End by Kostis Charamountanis
Fischer Audience Award – Official Selection:
Ghostlight by Alex Thompson & Kelly O’Sullivan
Fischer Audience Award “Michael Cacoyannis” – Greek Film Festival:
Wishbone by Penny Panagiotopoulou
AGORA AWARDS
Earlier within the week, the Agora Awards of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival were bestowed. Making use of all available tools and the new technologies, the Festival’s Agora showcased a new series of actions, supporting successful initiatives carried out both in physical spaces and online. This year’s Agora was crowned with great success, as nearly 650 visitors attended its events.
The Crew United Award was presented by Venia Vergou and Iris Asimakopoulou from Crew United and was bestowed to:
Vasilis Zlatanos
The reasoning: “The Crew United Prize, within the framework of the programme Meet the Future of Agora, is awarded to a film composer who showed to us how to elevate the impact of a film scene with his music composition, to the highest level and on top of magnificent acting performances. And it goes to Vasilis Zlatanos”.
The winner receives a 5-year Premium membership subscription on Crew United, the leading online networking platform.
The newly established Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra Award was bestowed to:
John Konsolakis
A committee headed by Simos Papanas, Artistic Director of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, and comprised by Antonis Sousamoglou and Miltos Logiadis grant a unique award, giving the opportunity to a young composer among the participants to record their next cinematic work with the TSSO.
The reasoning of the jury: “The unique Symphonic Film Music Award established this year by the State Orchestra of Thessaloniki within the framework of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, aims to promote the creation of film music for symphony orchestras. Unlike other music awards, this is the only one in the world that specializes in Symphonic Film Scoring and will provide the winner with the infrastructure to professionally record the symphonic part of their next film’s soundtrack. This year, the prize is bestowed on a pilot basis to one of the Greek composers participating in Meet the Future, while from 2025 our goal is to become international and present this award to films participating in the AGORA Work In Progress section of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. It is important to mention that such a recording carries significant costs and thus, composers are often deterred from engaging a symphonic orchestra. TSSO will offer human resources, venues, technical equipment, and additionally up to 20,000 euros for the various costs of the recording process. We are happy to announce the Symphonic Film Music Award of TSSO for 2024 is awarded to John Konsolakis!”
CROSSROADS CO-PRODUCTION FORUM AWARDS
Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award – Post-production(image and sound) was bestowed to:
THE HUNCHBACK
Director: Ahu Ozturk, Production: Pinar Aydin-Leyla Film, Türkiye
The reasoning of the jury: “The award goes to the project that portrays two women who lived through loss, abandonment and delusion so honestly rendered that we immersed ourselves completely into their lives”.
The 8,000-euro award for script development bestowed by CNC-Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée:
The reasoning of the jury: “The award goes to the project and a team who translate the absurdity of their own life experience into a biting, poetic and humorous journey from ‘to use their own words’ 3rd world to first class”. The award goes to:
Director: Rakan Mayasi, Production: May Odeh, Zorana Musikic – Mayana Films, Co-production: Abdallah Al Ramahi, Palestine, Germany, Jordan
The Greener Screen Award offering consultation on sustainability practices before and during the film shooting is bestowed ex aequo:
THE HUNCHBACK
Director: Ahu Ozturk, Production: Pinar Aydin – Leyla Film, Türkiye
and
THE APPALLING HUMAN VOICE OF THE ANIMALS
Director: Neritan Zinxhiria, Production: Efijeni Kokedhima – Reconstructing Memories, Greece
The reasoning: “We, at Greener Screen, are thrilled to present this consultancy award to not one, but two outstanding films. Initially, this award was intended for a single project, but the exceptional dedication demonstrated by these two films made it clear that both deserved recognition. This award celebrates their motive to environmental responsibility and their dedication to pushing boundaries in pursuit of a more sustainable planet within the film industry. We are excited to collaborate with them on their sustainability journey for a greener industry one scene at a time”.
The Greener Screen Consultancy Award comes with a prize equaling to €7,000 alongside a tailored green production plan for the winning project, virtual training for the eco-manager on this plan, continuous support for the eco-manager during production alongside optional “Greener Script” consultancy sessions for the writer, director, and producer.
The ArteKino International Award with a cash prize of 6,000 euros, was bestowed to:
FOG
Director: Denis Spiridonov, Production: Katia Khazak – Aurora Films, Co-production: Vanya Rainova – Portokal, France, Bulgaria
The reasoning: “We had the chance to meet 15 inspiring projects. I would like to thank and encourage all the directors and producers here and also the Agora team who did great work. ARTE has decided to reward a project by a very promising director whose life has been impacted by recent political events in his country both as a citizen and as an artist. The main character of this first feature film is caught in this reality and faces very tough choices but will decide to stand by his principles till the end. We were impressed by the quality of the script and by the sensitivity and determination of the author who is accompanied by an excellent producer”.
The Finos Film 3,000-euro award was granted to a Greek project.
The reasoning of the jury: “The award goes to the project that touched us with its emotional depth and the clarity of the vision using her character’s gaze to reveal what is behind the curtain”.
WAKE (AGRYPNIA)
Director: Thelyia Petraki, Production: Kostas Tagalakis – Out of the Box Films, Co-production: Iraklis Mavroidis, Nikos Smpiliris – Boo Productions, Greece
The Producer’s Network Accreditation to next year’s Cannes Marché du Film was awarded to:
Producer Ares Sporta for the project
Director: Kaltrina Krasniqi, Production: Ares Shporta – Vera Films, Co-production: Dream Factory Macedonia, Code Blue Production, Kosovo*, North Macedonia, Montenegro
The reasoning: “The award goes to the project that explores class and gender inequalities perpetrated by women”.
The Mediterranean Film Institute Award – Script 2 Film Workshop Scholarship was awarded to the film:
THE PASSPORT
Director: Rakan Mayasi, Production: May Odeh, Zorana Musikic – Mayana Films, Co-production: Abdallah Al Ramahi, Palestine, Germany, Jordan
The reasoning of the jury: A ghost is haunting Europe, laughing in the face of darkness.
The MIDPOINT CONSULTING AWARD was bestowed to:
THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TRUSTING LIFE
Director: Ahmad Ghossein, Production: Georges Schoucair – Abbout Productions, Co-production: Twenty Twenty Vision Filmproduktion, DUOfilm, Lebanon
The reasoning: “The award goes to the project where the constant series of disasters plaguing a country turns the mechanism of survival into a big laugh”.
The EAVE THESSALONIKI Award – Marketing Scholarship was granted to:
Konstantinos Koukoulis for African Grey
The reasoning: “The cooperation between Crossroads Co-production Forum and EAVE to offer a scholarship for the EAVE 2025 Marketing Workshop is meant to provide an opportunity for a deep dive into film marketing and international exposure for an upcoming producer. This emerging producer’s strong motivation, energy and determination, has convinced us that he will make the most out of this opportunity for international exposure albeit operating from the fringes of the Greek periphery as he is based on the wonderful island of Lesvos…”
ONASSIS FILM AWARD
The Onassis Film Award – with a cash-prize of 10,000 euros – was granted to a Greek project participating in the Agora’s Crossroads Co-production Forum section for this year.
The reasoning: “The Onassis Film Award goes to a project that redefines a beloved genre and promises a satisfying cinematic story with a surprising protagonist. A project which shows that sometimes ideas for films can be found as easily as knocking on our neighbor’s door.”
The award goes to the film:
AFRICAN GREY
Director: Yorgos Gousis, Production: Konstantinos Koukoulis – Plankton, Greece
AGORA WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARDS
Authorwave Post-Production Award – Creative Services
The reasoning: “The unique style, rebellious characters and important story convincingly reflected the uncompromising character displayed by the film and its team.”
The Authorwave post-production Creative Services award goes to:
BEARCAVE
Directors/Scriptwriters: Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis, Production: Emily Sky Hickin – PUCCI Productions, Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis, Arsinoi Pilou, Thanasis Michalopoulos – Pameligo Collective, Greece, United Kingdom
119 Marvila Studios Award – Sound mixing services
The reasoning: “This project is a moving portrayal of modern-day Turkey through the lense of a family drama that tackles universal current affairs with tenderness and humor.”
The 119 Marvilla Studio Award goes to:
LIFELIKE
Director: Ali Vatansever, Production: Selin Vatansever Tezcan, Oya Özden Özdemir – Terminal Film, Aytun Aktan Bahçeci – Aktan Görsel Sanatlar, Co-production: Antigoni Rota – Foss Productions, Turkey, Greece
The ERT Agora Works in Progress Award with a cash prize of 2,000 eurosis given to a Greek project.
The reasoning: “The presentation and clips we saw convinced us that this film can offer romance, suspense, quirky humor and, above all, a playful glimpse behind the scenes of the traditional martial arts world.”
The ERT Award of 2,000 euros goes to:
PATTY IS SUCH A GIRLY NAME
Director: Giorgos Georgopoulos, Producer: Stefanos Koutsardakis – Chaotic Good Productions, Co-production: Christos V. Konstantakopoulos – Faliro House Productions, Fenia Cossovitsa – Blonde Productions, Greece
