Discovering new talents and voices that shift our gaze remains at the core of the Festival. This year, at the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (2-12 November 2023), movies from all over the world, screened at TIFF’s competition sections, International Competition, Meet the Neighbors+, >>Film Forward and Immersive, incite us to embark on exciting and deeply humane film journeys.
International Competition
The International Competition section showcases 11 debut or sophomore films by upcoming film directors from all over the world, among which three Greek films.
The International Competition Jury is composed of:
Dieter Kosslick (film critic, journalist, researcher, director of the Berlinale Film Festival from 2001 to 2019)
Diana Elbaum (producer)
Elina Psykou (film director and screenwriter)
The movies of the International Competition section have their eyes set on the following awards:
- Golden Alexander “Theo Angelopoulos” - Best Feature Film, accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize.
- Silver Alexander - Best Direction Award, accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize, sponsored by COSMOTE TV.
- Best Actor & Actress Awards.
- Best Sceenplay or Best Artistic Achievement Award.
In addition, the jury can opt to bestow up to two special mentions.
Let’s take a glance at the International Competition films:
Animal
Sophia Exarchou
Greece, Austria, Austria, Romania, Cyprus, Bulgaria, 2023, 116΄
Under the hot Greek sun, the animateurs at an all-inclusive island resort prepare for the busy tourist season. Kalia is the group leader. As summer intensifies and the work pressure builds up, their nights become violent and Kalia’s struggle is revealed in the darkness. But when the spotlights turn on again, the show must go on.
Medium
Christina Ioakeimidi
Greece - Bulgaria, 2023, 100΄
16-year-old Eleftheria, a stranger in a strange world, meets mysterious neighbor Angelos who invites her into his fascinating grown up world. Roaming the streets of the scorching hot August city on his bike, she will embark on a journey to discover herself through the ferocity of first love.
The Last Taxi Driver
Stergios Paschos
Greece, 2023, 114΄
Thomas works as a taxi driver by night and lives with his wife and his teenage son, Tassos. When one of his customers commits suicide Thomas is prompted to confront everything he’s kept buried inside for too long and realize the shortcomings of his life. When he meets Eleni, his client’s lost daughter, he sees in her a way out of his weary life.
Fingernails
Christos Nikou
USA, 2023, 113΄
Set in an uncanny future — or perhaps a slightly alternate present where cellphone technology is nowhere to be found — Anna and her partner Ryan have achieved every couple’s dream: they are in possession of a document certifying their true love. Their comfortable if somewhat mundane life, however, leaves Anna questioning their successful love test, administered by placing their extracted fingernails into a cutting-edge machine. Anna soon begins working for the Love Institute under the tutelage of Duncan (Luke Wilson), which, in addition to determining a couples’ status via the mysterious test, trains them to deepen bonds. There, she’s paired with the experienced — and devastatingly charming — Amir to take couples at various stages of relationships through a series of love-building activities before the big test. As the new colleagues work to ameliorate the connections of clients, Anna begins to wonder if perhaps Amir is her one true love and if trusting her own feelings is a more reliable metric than what is determined by a machine.
Grace
Ilya Povolotsky
Russia, 2023, 119΄
Far from the world: that's how the teenage protagonist lives, traveling with her father to the other side of Russia, running away from the country they once called home, seeking freedom. They live in their truck, which serves not only as a living capsule filled with memories and emotions but also as a roaming cinema that offers unique images to the audience in exchange for a small income. Their journey is both literal and metaphorical, almost metaphysical. It’s a journey into a ghost world, in a place they no longer recognize. An escape trajectory from the inhospitable reality, filmed in a timeless, poetic manner reminiscent of Tarkovsky's cinema. Ilya Povolotsky's debut in fiction (many will remember his documentary Froth, which was screened at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival) is a wholly independent film that doesn't succumb to any norms and proves that a radically different cinema is possible - even in today's Russia.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person
Ariane Louis-Seize
Canada, 2023, 90΄
Sasha faces a serious problem. She's a teenage vampire who can't bring herself to kill. When her family, tired of sharing her blood (or rather, the blood of others), gives her an ultimatum, Sasha's fate hangs in the balance. Thankfully, she encounters Paul, a solitary young man with suicidal tendencies who also struggles with taking the big plunge. Whoever said there isn't someone for everyone? And yes, you can be certain that this is the most unconventional encounter with vampires you've ever witnessed—a film where its heart beats loudly, but only to its unique rhythm. It uncovers beauty in darkness, humor in the macabre, and romance in the most unexpected of places. If Wes Anderson and Tim Burton were to create a cinematic lovechild, it might bear a striking resemblance to Ariane Louis-Seize's delightful film. As the title itself implies, it fearlessly embraces contrasts and rejects the mundane.
In Camera
Naqqash Khalid
United Kingdom, 2023, 96΄
The boundaries between the "real" and the imaginary become blurred, intertwined, and redefined in this British debut that traces the path of a young actor determined to take center stage in his own life. Tired of awkward auditions, repeated rejections, and playing dead bodies in TV series, Aiden decides it's time to take on a new role, away from the cameras, wanting to construct the narrative of his life himself. And probably without being prepared for the consequences. In a world where even our own self-image may often seem like a construct, In Camera unfolds as a moral and intellectual puzzle about the fragmented nature of modern existence and even reality itself. A sardonic and often humorous, existential quasi-thriller about the roles we are called upon to play and the fluid, disorienting nature of the here and now.
Sweet Dreams
Ena Sendijarević
Netherlands-Indonesia-Sweden, 2023, 98΄
The demise of European colonialism has never been captured in a more vibrant and aesthetically exuberant manner than in this delightfully cynical film. When the proprietor of a sugar cane plantation on an Indonesian island falls to his death after a late-night visit to his housekeeper, mistress, and mother of his illegitimate child, his family is faced with unprecedented trials, including a workers’ revolt and a society and place that had never truly embraced their presence. As is often the case when a delicate equilibrium is disturbed, the true nature of people, their primal instincts, and the battle for dominance will take center stage, yielding unforeseen consequences. Examining history with a clearly skewed and meta perspective, Sweet Dreams unravels the toxic nature of an unethical exploitation system with intelligence and style, in this ironic and penetrating social thriller, becoming a bizarre yet exceptional cinematic gem.
The Feeling that the Time for Doing Something has Passed
Joanna Arnow
USA, 2023, 87΄
If you’ve ever had the sense that your daily life could be the script of a story penned by someone who's uncertain about the delicate boundary between the hilariously absurd and the infuriatingly exasperating, then this film is tailor-made for you. Meet Anne, the central character, a skilled juggler trying to balance an uninteresting job, unfulfilling relationships, and a captivating sense of social and familial awkwardness. Along the way, she effortlessly becomes your new best friend! This sharp, brilliantly witty comedy, infused with a biting edge and elements of BDSM, serves as a roadmap for the tumultuous journey of adulthood. It's also a guide for millennials and anyone who has ever felt like they didn't quite belong. Joanna Arnow fearlessly takes on multiple roles as the film's writer, director, and star, injecting her work with a passionate perspective that vividly highlights the uncomfortable, illogical, and surreal aspects of our social construct. The result? The funniest film of the year.
The Lost Boys
Zeno Graton
Belgium-France, 85'
Is it possible to discover freedom within prison walls? Seventeen-year-old Joe is preparing to leave the detention center where he has spent the past few years, but the arrival of William, a new inmate, will reshape his concept of what freedom truly means. Zeno Graton’s electrifying and self-assured debut captures a love of rare strength and sensitivity while also examining prevailing notions of masculinity, sexuality, and power structures through a different lens. With lyricism, beauty, and the power of profound emotional truth, The Lost Boys is born at the intersection of Jean Genet’s Un chant d’amour and the recent The Great Freedom, where deeply societal cinema gains the right to romance, hope, and poetry that can flourish like a flower even in the cracks of the harshest walls.
Touched
Claudia Rorarius
Germany, 2023, 135΄
Each body is different, but each body has the right to be touched, kissed, desired, satisfied, and loved. Marie, a nurse working at a rehabilitation center, and Alex, a young paraplegic man receiving treatment there, make the decision to challenge every taboo and prejudice in their fight for this right. The care that Marie provides him with will soon evolve into an intimate connection, and their relationship will transition from simple sexual desire to something more profound. However, their attraction will face challenges as both struggle to feel at ease in a relationship that defies societal norms, and the confusion between love and humiliation will push both of them to their limits. Stavros Zafeiris and Isold Halldórudóttir deliver fearless and stirring performances as the central characters, while Claudia Rorarius crafts a provocative and profoundly tender film around them, a film that defies all expectations and remains true to its own emotional authenticity.
Meet the Neighbors+
The enhanced Meet the Neighbors+ competition section is upgraded with new awards and increased cash prizes.
The section consists of debut or sophomore films of upcoming film directors that intend to offer us a deeper understanding on life, the human condition and the state of things in our wider geographical region or cast a glance at the world “beyond our neighborhood” though a unique and innovative artistic prism. The section includes 11 films, among which two Greek films.
The Meet the Neighbors+ jury is composed of:
Xenia Kaldara (President of the BoD and General Director of the Michalis Kakoyannis Foundation, founder and Director of the production company TEOXENIA)
Cedric Succivalli (festival programmer, film critic)
Nahuel Pérez Biscayart (actor)
The awards and the cash prizes of the section are upgraded and brought to the same level as the Competition.
In particular, the Golden Alexander renamed to “Golden Alexander - Michel Dimopoulos”, in honor of Michel Dimopoulos’ memory, who expanded the Festival’s horizons and made its international orientation a reality, is accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize (equaled with the Golden Alexander awarded at the International Competition), while the Silver Alexander - Best Direction Award is accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize. The section is also enriched with the Best Actor Award, the Best Actress Award and the Best Screenplay Award or Best Artistic Achievement Award. In addition, the jury, composed of top-notch figures of the film industry from Greece and all over the world, can opt to award up to two special mentions.
Let’s take a glance at the Meet the Neighbors+ competition section films:
Guest Star
Vasilis Christofilakis
Greece, 2023, 90΄
Living in the shadow of his dead but famous parents, Loukianos Asvestopoulos accepts an offer from a powerhouse TV Network to become the main late night talk show host. Things get more challenging when Loukianos is forced to fake a romance with Jenna, a mysterious pop singer in decline with problems of her own.
Murderess
Eva Nathena
Greece, 2023, 97΄
Based on the titular classic masterpiece by Alexandros Papadiamantis, Murderess unfolds in an isolated Greek island, circa 1900. Hadoula, a young woman residing in the island, has learnt how to survive in this male-dominated patriarchal society, following in the footsteps of her mother, by devaluing and disdaining her own gender identity. However, deep inside her, Hadoula is ready to fight back and openly rebel.
Àma Gloria
Marie Amachoukeli
France, 2022, 84΄
Overflowing with tenderness that can break your heart, yet soaked in the truth of experiences that feel lived, visceral, and real, Àma Gloria attempts to explore the material from which the bonds of love are made and finds it complex, intricate, harsh, and ever so fragile. Six-year-old Cleo holds a deep affection for her nanny, Gloria, beyond anything else. When Gloria returns to her homeland, Cleo pays her a visit for one last transformative summer they will share together. It's not certain you can talk about a 'coming-of-age' movie when the heroine is only six years old, but here you experience an almost literal emotional odyssey, full of depth and power, without a single saccharine moment, only dense, compelling truth. Which is made all the greater by the stirring performance of the young lead, Louise Mauroy-Panzani.
Day of the Tiger
Andrei Tănase
Romania, France, Greece, 2023, 80΄
A roaming tiger terrorizing a small town becomes the catalyst for exploring the wilds of human desire, the jungle of love, the desert of loss, and sorrow in this imaginative, haunting debut that unveils a new talent in the rich reservoir of Romanian cinema. Vera, the veterinarian at the local zoo, will recognize something of her in the animal everyone is chasing, kindling a sense of compassion she believed she didn't possess. At the same time, long-hidden truths from her past and the challenges in her marriage break free, upending her life. Going beyond the conventions of familiar realism, Andrei Tănase unfolds a film that is simultaneously a study of characters and an exploration of an entire society. It captures a deeper truth while flirting with paradoxes, in an unexpected and poignant way.
Excursion
Una Gunjak
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Croatia, Serbia, France, Norway, 2023, 93΄
If once teenage sexuality was an unexplored secret, in the days of social media and relentless sharing, it's something experienced almost publicly and often distorted. In Sarajevo, a high school girl, caught in a game of truth or dare, fabricates a lie about having had sex with her boyfriend. Trapped in this web of deceit, she is forced to invent a pregnancy with unforeseen consequences. Artfully capturing the nuances of patriarchy, tradition, sexuality, societal pressure, expectations, and reality, Una Gunjak crafts a subtle yet profoundly charged film. If cinema is a window into different worlds or the inner landscapes of others, when it operates effectively, it turns you inward, compelling you to contemplate your beliefs, viewpoints, and moral values. And Excursion does this masterfully.
Inshallah A Boy
Amjad Al Rasheed
Jordan, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, 2022, 113΄
When Nawal's husband suddenly passes away without leaving a will, the young woman and her little daughter are confronted with a bleak fate. Under Jordanian law, in the absence of a son to inherit from the father, all property goes to the brother. Her only means to avoid losing her home and even the custody of her daughter is to give birth to a son. Inshallah. Amjad Al Rasheed's film marks the first-ever Jordanian movie screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and upon watching it, you'll understand why. It's an extraordinary example of social cinema that brims with intensity and inner turmoil, delving profoundly into the complex ethical, social, and ideological layers of a nation still tightly bound by unyielding and harsh traditions.
Notes on a Summer
Diego Llorente
Spain, 2023, 83'
Marta's life in Madrid balances between her academic career and her relationship with Leo. However, during her summer vacation at her family's home, she will encounter her old flame again, and things will turn upside down. An amazing sentimental film that authentically conveys the feeling of summer carefreeness, the sweet irresponsibility of youth (which delights in delaying the transition to the world of steadfast responsibilities), and the feeling of not fully belonging to the world of adults just yet. Among other things, Notes on a Summer is also a bittersweet portrayal of how the principle of pleasure clashes with the principle of reality when we are called upon to mature. Subtly melancholic, sensually captivating, simple yet unpretentious, this cinematic summer will be unforgettable.
The Vanishing Soldier
Dani Rosenberg
Israel, 2023, 98΄
The shadow or the war, the constant sense of threat, the psychological burden carried by an entire population: All the above are present in the sophomore feature by Dani Rosenberg, following the excellent The Death of Cinema and My Father Too, a film that keeps you on the edge of your seat while never losing its grip on the gravity of the situation. Amid a relentless battle in the occupied territories, an 18-year-old Israeli soldier abandons his unit and returns to Tel Aviv in search of his girlfriend. However, his superiors are convinced that he has been captured as a hostage. This sudden quest for freedom takes a complex and multi-faceted turn. Vanishing Soldier, much like life itself, intricately weaves tragedy with humor throughout 24 frantic hours, where terror gradually gives way to hope, and romance emerges from a nightmare.
We Have Never Been Modern
Matěj Chlupáček
Czech Republic, Slovakia, 2023, 117΄
A period piece that is unexpectedly contemporary, a suspenseful film that simultaneously waves a queer and feminist flag, We Have Never Been Modern exceeds every expectation with its unique directorial approach. Set in 1937 in a town in Eastern Europe - built on the outskirts of a factory and aspiring to become a model of a modern metropolis - the film follows the wife of the director who is confronted with a mystery that no one wants to solve: The lifeless body of an intersex infant is discovered buried in a mound of sand, compelling everyone to confront their own self-judgment and biases. Drawing its title from the book by French anthropologist Bruno Latour, who challenges whether progress alone can sever the ties that bind modern humans to their primitive nature, Matěj Chlupáček’s film reintroduces these questions to today's audience in a genuinely cinematic manner, underscoring their relevance in the present time even more so than in the era the film portrays.
Where the Wind Blows
Marco Righi
Italy, 2023, 108΄
In a small town in the mountains of Italy, a young man experiences his own personal religious revelation and finds his flock in the form of a humble farmer who reignites the flame of his wavering faith. Filled with religious references but preaching its own “heretical” gospel, Marco Righi's film, above all, places its faith in humanity and in the almost mystical power of introspective cinema, one that is penetrating and willing to question deep and universally human concepts. Calm and tranquil, much like a soothing evening breeze or the distant chime of a bell on a mountainside, this film carries a profoundly humanistic message, and speaks to our relationship with things unseen and personal. Without attempting to indoctrinate anyone into anything, it aims to let your mind and soul wander through ideas and possibilities freely, much like the gentle breeze of the wind.
Without Air
Katalin Moldovai
Hungary, 2023,105΄
Following a script that could have come straight from the headlines of the most sensational Greek media outlets just a few months ago (and their account of Shower Boys), Without Air takes us down the deepest corridors of a modern-day Hungarian high school. Here, a young ambitious teacher suggests that her students watch Agnieszka Holland’s film Total Eclipse, a fierce biography dealing with the passionate relationship between Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine, as a means to gain a deeper understanding of the poètes maudits’ poetry. However, when one student's father stumbles upon a segment of the film, he accuses the school of promoting homosexuality, leading to a scandal. While Hungary may have transformed into one of the most conservative and regressive countries in Europe recently, this brave, thoughtful, and captivating film underlines clearly that no social environment is immune to hatred and obscurantism.
>>Film Forward
The beloved competition section >>Film Forward hosts 11 films, among which two Greek films, from bold film directors who question the conventions of filmmaking.
The >>Film Forward jury is composed of:
Köken Ergun (film director and video artist)
Ana Grgić (filmmaker, writer and academic)
Nikos Pastras (film director)
The section’s movies are competing for the Golden Alexander >>Film Forward - Best Feature Film Award, accompanied with an 8,000-euro cash prize, and the Silver Alexander - Best Direction Award, accompanied by a 4,000-euro cash prize. In addition, the jury can opt to award up to two special mentions.
Let’s take a glance at the >>Film Forward competition section films:
Embryo Larva Butterfly
Kyros Papavassiliou
Cyprus,Greece, 2023, 61΄
In a world where time changes arbitrarily, Penelope and Isidore's relationship is tested as their individual and shared memories of the past, present and future are constantly changing.
Little Things That Went Wrong
Haris Vafiadis
Greece, 2023, 96΄
Fanis, after the glory as a TV celebrity, has gone downhill for good. All he needs now, is a divine sign to make it again. Pavlos has built the perfect world for himself. Yet, what keeps him away from his career and the ideal family life is reality. Their lives get tangled together now that Muffin the dog is dead.
All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt
Raven Jackson
USA, 2022, 97΄
Tender caresses and enveloping embraces are portals into the life of Mack, a black woman in Mississippi. Winding through the anticipation, love, and heartbreak she experiences from childhood to adulthood, the expressionist journey is an ode to connection — with loved ones and with place. Raven Jackson’s striking debut is an assured vision, unafraid to immerse us in moments of grief and longing, or within the thickness of things left unsaid. Her camera is patient and loving, capturing the beauty of Black bodies and life. Rural quietness is filled with the transportive sounds of crickets, frogs, and water in its many forms. Jackson's nontraditional narrative borrows from the language of memory. Dialogue is restrained, and performances are subtle and powerful. Jackson employs the power of touch to communicate what evades spoken language. It’s an embodied experience that honors the sumptuousness of life and leaves you feeling the rain on your skin.
Camping du Lac
Eléonore Saintagnan
Belgium, France, 2023, 69΄
“I’d like to tell you about an odd thing that happened”: That's how the best stories begin, and that's exactly how the film by Eléonore Saintagnan sets off – a film that is as fun and playful as it is enigmatic and mysterious. In this film, Eleonore travels to the sea, but when her car breaks down, she finds herself a guest at a campsite next to a lake where, according to rumors, a mythical beast resides. Eléonore will stay there and attempt to uncover the secret life of the lake and the people surrounding it, inviting the mysteries of everyday existence to invade her life. Maintaining both the role of the protagonist and the director, Saintagnan creates a film about the joy of storytelling, how people construct narratives, and how these stories, in turn, shape our world. Her movie warmly embraces the element of surprise, in order to become one of the most delightful cinematic revelations of the year.
Foremost by Night
Victor Iriarte
Spain, Portugal, France, 2023, 110΄
Approaching cinema as an experimental playground solely aimed at effectively narrating a story, Víctor Iriarte’s unruly, electrifying debut doesn’t hesitate to radically shift the film’s tone from time to time, fearlessly transitioning from melodrama to film noir, and from heist film to political thriller. The tale of a mother’s quest to find her son, abducted at birth during the Franco era, serves as the starting point for a thrilling cinematic journey. When Vera meets Cora and her adopted son, the 18-year-old Egoz, the lives of all three will be forever altered. While the film's characters may stem from the creator's imagination, their story is based on a shocking reality: Between 1940 and 1990, in Spain, nearly 300,000 children were stolen from their mothers at birth and given to other families.
Hello Dankness
Soda Jerk
Australia, 2022, 70΄
Every image conveys meaning, but that meaning can change depending on how you present the image. This truth is most impressively demonstrated by the directorial duo of Soda Jerk, who ingeniously splice together over 500 clips from films, TV series, advertisements, and news segments to craft a distinctive narrative of recent American history, spanning from the 2016 elections that ushered in Trump’s presidency to the present day. Horror films and comedies, along with familiar characters you know, take on new meaning in this movie that tells the story of a neighborhood populated by heroes from films you’ve come to love. The result is an enjoyably surreal, anarchic collage that touches on themes that are absolutely relevant, from deep fakes and fake news to the deeper political nature of images and their profound power. As demonstrated in a perfectly guiltless yet profoundly alarming manner in the film, Hello Dankness, it is abundantly clear that whoever controls the images also dictates their meaning.
Melk
Stefanie Kolk
The Netherlands, 2023, 96΄
What does the maternal potion taste like? What’s the lifespan of sorrow? What is the expiration date of sadness? Robin will lose her baby during delivery, but her breast will start producing milk a few days later. Unable to throw it away, she will seek ways to donate it, which proves to be more difficult than anticipated. Bottles of milk are starting to pile up in her freezer, making her life and her relations with people more and more complicated. In her frugal yet impressively robust debut, Stephanie Kolk is building a stripped-down and low-key drama of climaxed tension on the most complex hues of maternity and the darkest caves of pain. Though a singular cinematic language and touching upon issues that we usually find it hard to talk about, Melk is a highly promising debut from a filmmaker bound to stand out.
Remembering Every Night
Yui Kiyohara
Japan, 2022, 116΄
What mysteries might unfold from a day in the everyday lives of three women in Tama New Town, the sprawling Tokyo suburb that has strayed far from its ambitious 1960s plan to alleviate the city's housing problem? Yui Kiyohara responds with an ethereal film that navigates the boundaries of cinematic fiction. It captures the pulse of distinct individual trajectories, seemingly disconnected and only tangentially related, to surgically unveil the invisible thread connecting the urban landscape with its human geography. Special mention goes to the organic editing, inherently open to how female individuality chooses to navigate its own context. It is utterly dedicated to capturing the diverse rhythms that only an urban case study like this can genuinely discern
Samsara
Lois Patiño
Spain, 2023, 113΄
A transcendental film, Samsara is not merely something you watch; it’s an experience that touches you deeply and transports you to a dimension beyond familiar sensations. It commences in Laos at a Buddhist temple, where dozens of young disciples apprentice alongside wise monks. One of them crosses the river daily to read a text to a woman who serves as a psychopomp. When her time comes to depart this life, her spirit embarks on the path of reincarnation. Transitioning from Laos to Zanzibar and evolving from images to their absence (at some point, the film invites you to close your eyes), the viewer is called to surrender to tranquility and spirituality on a journey that unveils intellectual, aesthetic, and cinematic pleasures, aiming to reshape our perception of cinema itself.
The Human Surge 3
Eduardo Williams
Argentina, Portugal, Brazil, Brazil, Netherlands, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Peru, 2023, 121΄
For the intrepid explorer of what lies between the visible and the invisible, Eduardo Williams, the boundaries of both the planet and cinema cease to exist. Similarly to The Human Surge (and in case you're wondering, no, there is no The Human Surge 2), Eduardo Williams traverses the world, capturing groups of people interacting through their bodies, souls, or screens. He presents a queer poetic exploration of place and time, senses and emotions, the fluid essence of existence, and the translucent networks that link us within the vast realm of the planet and the boundless webs we weave around it. Shot with a 350-degree camera, the film transforms into an immersive experience, requiring no additional equipment beyond its enchanting imagery and compelling ideas.
Vourdalak
Adrien Beau
France, 2023, 91΄
Genre cinema lends itself to fruitful experimentation and Vourdalak is a prime example, offering ample opportunities for it along with dark, profound chills and a delightful Gothic atmosphere. A father returns from the war to his children (now as a vourdalak), dead yet alive, while simultaneously, an envoy of the King of France arrives at their secluded forest home. Profoundly atmospheric and endlessly unsettling, The Vourdalak is a genuinely unique horror film plunges into the origins of cinema to give birth to something drastically new. Shot in 16mm, with the father-vourdalak as a menacing, foreboding marionette and Ariane Labed embodying an eerily beautiful and enigmatic daughter, the film is as paradoxical as it is magnetic. A debut that reveals the tremendous talent of a filmmaker (with a background in the arts and production design), capable of crafting a world filled with shadows, nuances, and depth using the simplest yet unexpected materials.
Immersive
The groundbreaking Immersive competition section embraces films that make use of the latest technologies, proving that this new medium paves new ways for the cinematic art and experience.
The Immersive competition section of the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival includes 8 new films that invite us on a journey from the Netherlands and France all the way to Brazil, the USA and Japan. From imaginary worlds to imaginary friends, and from the power of music to the inspiration triggered by diversity, the section’s films offer an exciting viewing experience, transcending film genres and immersing the audience into the universe of each film.
The Immersive jury is composed of:
Panos Giannikopoulos (exhibition curator and art historian)
Pedro Harres (content creator, Golden Alexander 2022 winner)
Thelyia Petraki (film director, screenwriter and anthropologist)
The Golden Alexander for the Best Immersive Film is accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize.
Let’s take a glance at the Immersive competition section films:
Finally Me
Marcio Sal
Brazil, 2023, 17’
Mr. Saul is an aging musician burdened with a lifetime of rejection and shame, forcing him to hide his innermost secrets. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant spirit of Brazilian Carnival, he rides a transformative journey of self-acceptance through the power of music.
Human Violins
Ioanna Mischie
Romania-France, 2023, 19’
During the Holocaust, many Jews were allowed to choose only one object before being brought to the camps and some of them chose their violin. Some of the violins saved lives, while others accelerated the pain and terror caused by the guards. We follow the fictionalized story of Alma, a 15-year-old violin lover inhabiting a world of terror. Through music, she can liberate herself. The interactive playable architecture allows the user to transform the claustrophobic wires into instruments and advance the story. There is a progression of philosophy from a dark outer world to a bright inner world, from a vast scale of pain to sublime liberation, from noise to music, from listening to music creation.
My name is 090
Siyeon Kim
South Korea, 2023, 15’
In the year 2047, the robot dog O-90 equipped with artificial intelligence wanders the alleys, having been abandoned. For many years, O-90 has wandered the city, seeking out recharging cables that allow him to steal energy. One rainy night, the AI pet dog O-90 wakes up with his charge running low. He heads to the city to recharge himself before daybreak. He passes through a long tunnel, thinking as usual that this could be his last day wandering the city. O-90’s data was not erased, so he continues to remember his friend. A robot such as O-90 studies and comes to desire memories, a heart and emotions.
Shadowtime
Sister Sylvester, Deniz Tortum
The Netherlands-USA-Türkiye, 2023, 18’
Shinigama
Yoshiya Okoyama
Japan, 2023, 20’
You are in two worlds at the same time. Your body is in the other world, but your heart is in this one. This is an interactive, virtual reality animation of the “Shinigami” routine, one of the signature acts of Japan’s traditional performance art known as “rakugo.” The viewer can freely walk around the virtual world, and can experience different aspects to the story depending on the choices made.
The Descent
Tatiana Collet Apraxine
UK-France, 2022, 14’
A journey into the mythical Underworld exploring themes of grief and loss. It offers a reflection on how grief is one of the most powerful, painful, universal experiences of being human. It immerses the viewer on a mystical journey through ancient realms and weaves a rich sonic tapestry of voices together with striking visuals.
The Imaginary Friend
Steye Hallema
The Netherlands-Belgium, 2023, 25’
Become an Imaginary Friend! A grieving child struggles to separate reality from fantasy. He creates YOU – his (imaginary) friend– to fight the monsters in his mind. Although you have fun together, he starts to grow disconnected from his surroundings... Are you helping, or just making things worse?
They Dream In My Bones
Faye Formisano
France, 2021, 18’
A transfixing meditation and a stirring experiential proposition that explores what fabric might bind the physical and metaphysical, and how to extract dreams from an unknown skeleton. This fictional tale tells the story of Roderick Norman, a researcher in onirogenetics and opens up the intersection of the physical and the dreamworld.
