Amidst a warm and touching ambiance, with the filmmakers and the heroes of their films taking center stage, the awards of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival were bestowed on Sunday, November 9th, 2025, at Warehouse C. Three films were honored with the Golden Alexander of the Festival’s competition sections. The “Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos” Award was bestowed to Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani. The “Golden Alexander - Michel Dimopoulos” Award of the Meet the Neighbors+ section was given to the film The Last One for the Road by Francesco Sossai, whereas the >>Film Forward Golden Alexander was granted to the film 1001 Frames by Mehrnoush Alia.
Vasilis Terzopoulos, the Greek Film Festival’s collaborator, welcomed the audience to the awards ceremony of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, while also thanking the Ministry of Culture, the Central Macedonia Region, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the sponsors, the Festival’s administration, the staff, as well as the volunteers. “In these trying times we’re going through, and unfortunately, there’s no shortage of reasons to call them as such, the Festival’s little hive became a safe refuge, where, for eleven days, we shared the collective and invaluable experience of the movie theater. From this little hive, where we welcome not only our audience but also you, the filmmakers, our goal is to spread your films and your messages as far and wide as possible so that they can make our world a little better. That’s why we are here, and especially today, with our awards,” he initially stated.
“The Festival’s first awards were already presented on Wednesday, within the framework of the Agora, the dynamic section devoted to supporting and connecting filmmakers, and to nurturing the films of the future. This year’s Ambassador was the chef Sotiris Kontizas, who, although he didn’t cook for us, took part in all the ‘fermentations’ of the Agora, and truly engaged with industry professionals and audiences alike. We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to him,” he concluded, thus signaling the beginning of this year’s awards ceremony.
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION AWARDS
The International Competition section includes debut or sophomore films of up-and-coming filmmakers.
The jury is composed of:
Elegance Bratton (director, screenwriter, producer, and actor)
Thania Dimitrakopoulou (Head of Sales at The Match Factory)
Frederick Elmes (cinematographer)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos”, accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani
Elegance Bratton stated the following before bestowing the award: “From the very first moment we watched it, this film found a place in our hearts. In a world plagued by genocide and war, this film reminded us of what is truly important and what we are fighting for: our families and communities.”
The film’s director, Suzannah Mirghani, stepped onto the stage to receive the award: “I’d like to thank the Festival and the jury. This award means much more than you think, especially in these troubled times of war and genocide, for a film featuring actors displaced from their homes in Egypt, and seeking refuge. It is encouraging that you can still make art in such dark times and receive recognition. I’d like to thank the film’s co-producer and my mentor, Annemarie Jacir, who knows the significance and the importance of this film better than anyone. I’d also like to thank the cast and crew of Sudanese origin, who are in a state of war and seeking a way out,” she concluded.
COSMOTE TELEKOM, the Festival Major Sponsor, supports the Silver Alexander award with a cash prize of 5,000 euros. The award was bestowed to:
Beachcomber by Aristotelis Maragkos
Aristotelis Maragkos went on stage to accept his award: “Thank you very much to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which is truly the best one, and to the exceptional jury. It was a long journey for Beachcomber and I extend my sincere thanks to all the crazy artists who decided to work with me. They supported me through a difficult time, and helped me come back to the surface. We are navigating treacherous waters in today’s Greek film industry. This film is for all the creators and dreamers looking for the light. This is a film about failure, but, as you can see, also about the right to dream. Thank you,” he concluded.
The Best Actor Award was bestowed to:
Harry Melling for his performance in Pillion by Harry Lighton
The Best Actress Award was bestowed to:
Sabrina Amali for her performance in Maysoon by Nancy Biniadaki
The film’s director, Nancy Biniadaki, went on stage to receive the award on behalf of Sabrina Amali. “Thank you for this wonderful award. Unfortunately, Sabrina left Thessaloniki yesterday. But she sent me something to read to you: ‘Maysoon wasn’t alone in this journey as she carried her truth with her. Telling this story was a great responsibility. I feel proud because this film had a clear and courageous direction. I’d like to thank the crew who handled this fragile yet powerful story with such tenderness, I felt truly protected. This award means so much more than I can express. Thank you to everyone who watched this film.’ As the director, I’d like to thank Sabrina for her astounding performance, as she embodied the character I wrote and carried the whole story. She led us on this amazing rollercoaster ride, and I thank her for that.”
The Best Artistic Achievement-Direction of Photography Award was bestowed to:
DoP Giorgos Karvelas for his work in Beachcomber by Aristotelis Maragkos
Giorgos Karvelas went on stage to receive his award: “A big thank you to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival for the hospitality, and another one to all the “Beachcombers” with whom we carried this ship and brought it all the way to the movie theater.”
The Best Screenplay Award was bestowed to:
Yvonne Görlach for her work in Karla by Christina Tournatzès
Christina Tournatzès came on stage to receive the award on Yvonne Görlach’s behalf. “My heartfelt thanks. The scriptwriter is a dear friend, I’m so moved. She may not be here, but she’s in my heart. The story she chose to tell is deeply personal, Karla is a member of her family, and this story is one of the reasons she decided to become a writer. I’d also like to thank you for each and every idea you gave me with your questions, even if I didn’t manage to answer them all, as was the case with the following question posed by the audience after the film’s second screening: ‘what does the right to life mean to you?’ I’ll answer now. The right to life is something truly and exclusively yours. It is a fundamental right that must be equal for all, something you are given at birth, and something that must never be challenged or infringed upon. A society that guarantees the right to life equally for all its members is a truly progressive society. We still have a lot of work to do. Thank you,” she remarked.
Reasoning: This year’s films asked, in so many different ways, how we might keep loving one another in a world that so often tests our capacity for care. We were truly moved by the range and depth of storytelling we encountered—and we must admit, it was not easy to choose. Each film offered its own beauty, conviction, and courage. We celebrate the remarkable achievement of making a first film—a leap of faith and imagination that announces a bold new voice. And we commend the Thessaloniki International Film Festival for its fearless programming, which meets this moment with empathy, vision, and heart. These films remind us that cinema remains one of our most powerful ways to connect, to reflect, and to hope together.
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. Starting this year, the Best Director Award “Silver Alexander” is renamed into Best Director Award “Silver Alexander - City of Thessaloniki Award”, as the Municipality of Thessaloniki is funding the award, displaying its solid support to the Festival.
The jury is composed of:
Ali Abbasi (filmmaker)
Sofia Kokkali (actress)
Kirsten Niehuus (President of the Board of Directors of DFFF [German Federal Film Fund] and film funding expert)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander - Michel Demopoulos”, accompanied by a 10,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
The Last One for The Road by Francesco Sossai
Reasoning: Awarded for the poetic precision with which the movie depicts a sentimental journey through small towns and winding roads of Northern Italy, drenched in nostalgia for a ”good old world” that has ceased to exist. A celebration of life that is equal parts euphoria and melancholy.
The Best Director Award “Silver Alexander - City of Thessaloniki Award”, accompanied by a 5,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to:
Roqia by Yanis Koussim
The Mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis, came up on stage to bestow the award: “Elise and Orestis, through you we would like to express our gratitude on behalf of the city to the dozens of volunteers, filmmakers, and all those who worked tirelessly to give us an incredible week, packed with cinema and numerous films. After all, this collaboration we are starting with the Festival, for the first time in the history of the Municipality, can be summed up by the following: a Festival with more Thessaloniki, and a Thessaloniki with more Festival,” he concluded.
Reasoning: For a violent and timely examination of a traumatic chapter in Algerian history and its creative use of horror movie iconography in islamic context, the movie creates a uniquely haunting and eerie experience.
The Best Actor Award was bestowed ex aequo to:
Pierpaolo Capovilla & Sergio Romano for their performances in The Last One For The Road by Francesco Sossai
Reasoning: For their unapologetic and unstoppable force of life amidst a vanishing world.
The Best Actress Award was bestowed to:
Manuela Martelli for her performance in God Will Not Help by Hana Jušić
Reasoning: For a powerful and captivating performance as an outsider who shakes up the rules of an archetypical society with female force and enigmatic mysteriesness.
The Best Artistic Achievement was bestowed to:
God Will Not Help by Hana Jušić
Reasoning: For its creation of an enigmatic universe with detailed yet sparse cinematic language that seems historically correct but tells a unique and personal narrative.
>>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:
Constanza Macras (choreographer)
Christos Massalas (filmmaker)
Valeria Wagner (Zurich Film Festival programmer)
The Best Feature Film Award “Golden Alexander”, accompanied by a 8,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
1001 Frames by Mehrnoush Alia
The film’s director, Mehrnoush Alia, went on stage to receive her award: “I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to both the Festival and the jury. I am not at all accustomed to receiving awards. This film was created on an almost non-existent budget, essentially by a group of friends who tackled a very difficult subject. All the love we have received from Thessaloniki and its audience means a lot to us. Thank you, we deeply appreciate it,” she said.
Reasoning: Cinema as confrontation - literally, visually, symbolically. The ideal merging of an urgent subject-matter and its cinematographic execution, this work draws on the history of women across cultures and generations, told here in the first person, looking into our eyes, in a necessary reversal of the traditional cinematic gaze.
The Best Director Award “Silver Alexander”, accompanied by a 4,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to:
Before / After by Manoël Dupont
Reasoning: A comedic, existential journey playing with the tropes of contemporary travel vlogs, as it gradually reveals a heartbreaking tenderness at the core of its exploration.
The Best Artistic Achievement Award is bestowed to the film:
The Chronology of Water by Kristen Stewart
Reasoning: For its formal audacity, supported by the entirety of the artistic team; and for its complex visual depiction of trauma through a narrative which unfolds as a violent stream of consciousness you cannot escape.
A Special Mention is bestowed to the actors:
Jeremy Lamblot & Baptiste Leclère for their performances in Before / After by Manoël Dupont
Reasoning: To honour two actors who became co-creators with their director through their improvisational work and their emotional and physical investment in the process.
IMMERSIVE: ALL AROUND CINEMA AWARD
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:
Myriam Achard (Head of new media partnerships and public relations at PHI)
Maria Kouzinopoulou (journalist)
Marina Vranopoulou (art curator and founder of “Dio Horia” art gallery)
The Immersive: All around Cinema “Golden Alexander”, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the film:
A Long Goodbye by Kate Voet & Victor Maes
Reasoning: For the Golden Alexander of the Immersive: All around Cinema competition section, the jury selected a subtle work of Virtual Reality that tenderly speaks about the loss and the fragility of memory. An interactive, poetic experience that draws on the watercolor aesthetic to help us grasp the everyday life and the feelings of a woman suffering from dementia and of her family.
PODCAST COMPETITION AWARDS
Eleven Greek-speaking and one English-speaking podcasts took part in the Podcast Competition section, competing for the Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize.
The jury is composed of:
Stavroula Koulitsi (content creator-founder of The Green Post-it)
Kallia Papadakis (author-screenwriter)
Valia Tserou (sound designer)
The Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize, was bestowed to the podcast:
A Guy from Tyrnavos by Evangelos Makris & Panos Apokoritis
Reasoning: For the dramatic depth, technical perfection, and powerful emotional expression of a musical "gang" born in an attic in Thessaloniki, and went on to shape modern Greek song.
“We weren’t expecting this, many thanks. We started this project as a group, with nothing but an idea in our minds. As it turns out, wonderful things can be achieved without big productions or a large budget,” filmmakers Evangelos Makris and Panos Apokoritis stated upon accepting the award.
A Special Mention was bestowed to the podcast:
Warfetti by Nalia Ziku
Reasoning: For the imaginative dramaturgy and the original blend of material that achieves a narrative balance while defying and challenging social norms.
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:
Lorenzo dell’Agnello (Film Officer, Giornate degli Autori)
Chester Algernal Gordon (producer)
Nancy Papathanasiou (clinical psychologist and co-founder of Orlando LGBT+)
The Mermaid Award was bestowed to the film:
Plainclothes by Carmen Emmi
Reasoning: We are living through some of the darkest and most divided times in recent memory. But filmmaking — and especially queer filmmaking — remains one of the last truly radical acts of empathy. Our job is to capture hearts and minds, to take audiences on journeys that expand their understanding of the world, and to show them what it means to live, love, and dream differently. This year, our jury watched 22 films — each bold, each deeply human — but one stood out. It was unapologetically queer and fearlessly tender, immersing us in a world we didn’t know and yet instantly felt connected to. Through its extraordinary vision and craft, it reminded us why cinema still matters. We are honored to present the Mermaid Award to Plainclothes — a film that redefines visibility, belonging, and what it means to be seen.
Special Mentions were bestowed to the films:
Fantasy by Kukla
“This award means so much to us. The circumstances for queer women are very difficult. I wanted to offer a gift to those who didn’t see themselves growing up, who couldn’t relate to the protagonists of the films that once existed. I was trying to push the boundaries of what we want for our lives now and how we can think beyond what we know or the narratives we’ve been given. We wished to create something fresh, something that the audience would like to see. Thank you for the recognitions,” Chrysianna Papadaki mentioned upon receiving the award.
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: Recognizing that defining "queer" through a single award is nearly impossible, especially given the remarkable diversity of this year's selection, we are proud to present two Special Mentions to Bearcave and Fantasy, two films that celebrate powerful, unapologetic characters who fiercely challenge conventions and redefine society's boundaries.
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:
Hanami by Denise Fernandes
Reasoning: For its originality, in terms of its decolonial point of view. With a magical realist sensibility, the director portrays the life of a girl who contemplates Cabo Verde’s past, present and future in a very unique way, exploring the history of a community that has been instrumentalized by an imperialistic force for centuries.
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 PPC is the strategic partner of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The Festival supports the Greek and international filmmakers who breathe life into every shot and scene come to life through their work, as well as to the city that has been connected to culture and the 7th art.
* “Fos” is the Greek word for “Light,” whereas PPC stands for the Public Power Corporation of Greece.
The jury is composed of:
Calliope Alpitsi (elculture Managing Director)
Yorgos Nanouris (actor)
Panagiotis Timogiannakis (film critic)
The Corporate Affairs & Communications General Director of PPC S.A., Mrs. Sofia Dimtsa stated: “PPC consistently supports culture and contemporary creation, giving energy to institutions that highlight culture, collaboration and the inspiring power of art. The “FOS Award powered by PPC” embodies this exact philosophy, recognizing two emerging talents from the new generation of Greek cinema who bring stories with substance and emotion to light. For us, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival is one of the most luminous institutions of Greek culture, with which we share common values: creativity, diversity, and the conviction that the power of art can bring people together.”
The “FOS” Award for an actor making his debut in a lead or secondary role, in a Greek full-length film, was bestowed to:
Alexandros Ntavris for his performance as Lazaros in Endless Land by Vassilis Mazomenos
The “FOS” Award for an actress making his debut in a lead or secondary role, in a Greek full-length film, was bestowed to:
Chara Kyriazi for her performance as Argyro in Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: Both actors struggled successfully with their roles, both in terms of their performance and with regard to the cinema lens, achieving to cope with the frustration of “inexperience” in an effective
Upon taking the floor, the actor Yorgos Nanouris expressed: “The name of the award, the FOS [Light], is not a coincidence, seeing as we’re living in a very dark period for all of humanity, and these young actors and actresses, with their talent, their struggles, and their self-sacrifice, radiate light not only in darkened theaters, but also in the world.”
Alexandros Ntavris stepped on stage to accept his award, stating: “The film is an Endless Land, and so are my emotions. Three feelings stand out; profound emotion, gratitude, and joy. When I set out on this journey to the mountains of Epirus, I never imagined I’d come this far. Many thanks to the director Vassilis Mazomenos for his trust, the line producer Marianna Kontouli, the DoP Stelios Pissas, all of the contributors who worked with us up in the mountains, despite the harsh conditions, as well as to my fellow colleagues. We were all together in this. I also want to thank PPC, which actively supports our efforts.”
Hara Kyriazi accepted her award, mentioning: “Thank you. All this tremendous support here at the festival, and through the films, should also exist out there, not only for cinema but also for other matters.”
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.
Rouli Christopoulou, Alpha Bank’s Corporate Responsibility & Culture Manager, took the stage to bestow the award. “At Alpha Bank, we place great emphasis on everyone’s right to participate equally in the cultural life of our country. The fact that only 7,7% of people with severe disabilities in Greece have ever visited a cinema shows that access is a top social priority. Because without access, there can be no true freedom. Since 2019, we’ve been collaborating with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival within the framework of the “Cinema for All” program, contributing to the organization of universally accessible screenings for people with hearing, visual, or mobility impairments. The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award, established in 2022, highlights films and filmmakers that shed light on the importance of equal participation in the arts.”
The Alpha Bank Accessibility Award was bestowed to:
Everybody Loves Touda by Nabil Ayouch
Reasoning: This year’s awarded film Everybody Loves Touda by Nabil Ayouch unravels the story of a woman struggling to survive and express herself amidst a demanding social milieu, raising her deaf son all by herself. Through this deeply humane relationship, the film foregrounds the right of every human being for communication, dignity and artistic expression, reminding us that accessibility is not contained to art, but extends to the way we see the world.
THESSALONIKI STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (TSSO) AWARD
This year, TIFF is delighted to deepen its collaboration with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, by introducing a new distinction, the TSSO Award. The award honors a Greek or international film composer whose work, premiering in one of the Festival's competition sections, features original orchestral music. The recipient will have the unique opportunity to record the soundtrack of their next film with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra.
The jury is composed of:
David Bruce (composer)
Leo McFall (principal conductor of the TSSO)
Antonis Sousamoglou (concertmaster of the TSSO)
The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra was bestowed to:
Amine Bouhafa for the film Cotton Queen by Suzannah Mirghani
Reasoning: The jury decided to bestow the Thessaloniki State Symphony Award to Amine Bouhafa for the film Cotton Queen. The music of the film succeeds in creating a soundscape that not only unfolds the narrative of the film’s emotional world in impeccable juxtaposition with the image, but also serves autonomously as a fully-rounded music world, featuring original compositional ideas and timbres. The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra offers Mr. Amine Bouhafa the possibility to record the score of his next film with a complete symphony orchestra, covering not only the remuneration of the musicians but also the technical expenses of the recording, up to the amount of 20,000 euros.
The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra also awarded a Special Mention to:
Felix Rösch for the film On The Sea by Helen Walsh
Antonis Sousamoglou, concertmaster of the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, took to the stage to bestow the award, while first awarding a special mention to Felix Rösch for the music score of Helen Walsh’s film On The Sea. Immediately afterwards, he stated: “I am delighted and very moved that the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival join forces to further intertwine the magic of the image to the magic of sound.”
The film’s director, Suzannah Mirghani, accepted the award, remarking: “Thank you very much. It is my first time in Thessaloniki. Yesterday I thought it was merely a nice city, today I obviously think it’s the best one in the world!”
HELLENIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION (ERT) 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)
Margarita Mytilinaiou (Head of ERT’s music radios)
Tassos Rossopoulos (composer, deputy director of the ERT Third Programme 90.9).
The Best Original Music Award was bestowed to:
Marilena Orfanou & Stavros Mitropoulos for the film Patty is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos
Reasoning: We are happy to see Greek cinema evolving like a living and breathing organism; vibrating and pulsating, full of restlessness and an ample zest for experimentation, while also conversing with its times. Within this context, music does not only serve as a supplement or a gap-bridger, but articulates its proper commentary, a parallel narrative that often sheds light onto what the images insinuate. This year, among films with different angles, in many cases original music and the aesthetic approach of sound that would claim a narrative role were unfortunately absent. We would love for music to play a more active and meaningful part. However, and among several films that attained this mission, one stood out for its lucid thought and aesthetic consistency and originality. Therefore, the Best Original Music Award of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation to a Greek film celebrating its premiere at the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival is bestowed to Marilena Orfanou and Stavros Mitropoulos for their work in the film Patty is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos, as they wrote a music that meaningfully converses with the film, without trying to steal its thunder.
The award was presented by Leonidas Antonopoulos, the deputy director of the radio station KOSMOS 93.6: “The award goes to a film we chose for its distinctive approach, clarity of thought, and originality,” he said.
Nancy Kokolaki, Tanweer’s Line Producer and Head of International Projects, received the award. “I’d like to note that last year around this time, we were here at the Festival when the film was in the Festival’s Agora, and we recognized its potential immediately. So, we are delighted to be back, and that the film proves that our choice was justified.”
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:
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
The award was presented by the General Director of ERT3 Thessaloniki and a member of the Festival’s Board of Directors, Synthia Sapika. “This film, in a strange turn of events, deals with all those issues that concern us at ERT3 Thessaloniki: the emancipation of villages versus cities, of women versus men, and of the new versus the old,” she pointed out.
The film’s directors, Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna B. Papadakis, accepted the award. Taking the floor, Stergios Dinopoulos said: “We would like to talk about the villages. The entire film was shot in Tyrna, the former name for Elati in Trikala, the village where my grandparents were from. Through this process, we reconnected with the village for many months, and it eventually became a village for all of us. It’s great to see cinematic efforts being made in Greek villages. Not necessarily from the outside looking in, but also from within, especially by young filmmakers living in the countryside, of which there are many. We all have a village in Greece and most of us love it for one reason or another, so I want to give a shoutout to Tyrna and to my grandmother. In general, many grandmothers supported us there; they are the producers of this film.” Krysianna B. Papadakis added: “Thank you very much. And because we’ve all come to love Tyrna, these are elements of our country that will be lost if we were to continue to treat the environment the way we do. I don’t know if Bearcave will remain as beautiful in five years if we leave nature unprotected. As filmmakers, we are overjoyed that we were able to capture a part of our life that may not even exist in the future, and that we must maintain.”
“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-producer 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:
Milk Teeth by Mihai Mincan
Reasoning: The Hellenic Parliament TV bestows its “Human Values” award to film that, against the backdrop of a crumbling totalitarian regime, adopts an elliptical approach to explore the consequences of an unsolved disappearance of a girl that serves as a metonymy for an entire historical period. The award is bestowed to the film Milk Teeth by Mihai Mincan from Romania.
Diamantis Gkolidakis, the representative of the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Nikitas Kaklamanis, presented the award, stating: “As Mr. Kaklamanis’ representative, I must admit I’m a passionate cinephile. The Parliament has rightfully decided to place the historic Thessaloniki International Film Festival under its auspices, a festival that has not only left its mark on the city, but is also a major cultural happening for the entirety of Greece. In parallel, it has also left a lasting imprint on an international level - which makes us especially happy, as cinema is not merely an art form; it’s education, vision, and democracy, and it most certainly unites us all.”
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 of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece Award, granted to a debutant director, in a Greek production having its premiere in the official selection 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 jury of the Best Location Award is composed of:
Marios Dimopoulos (location manager)
Neoklis Mantas (Director of the Hellenic Film Commission)
Niki Saliagopoulou (location manager)
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:
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: The story of a challenging love between two young women in a remote mountain town in Greece becomes an opportunity for a multifaceted look at womanhood. Stereotypes are set aside to reveal aspects of her true image, as well as her repressed inner world. At the same time, the notion of difference is portrayed with originality and refreshing vitality, as the natural landscape — beautiful yet enigmatically dark — takes on a central role in the unfolding of the story.
The film’s directors, Krysianna B. Papadakis and Stergios Dinopoulos, accepted the award. “Thank you for this award. The Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece has supported us from our very first steps , when we didn’t even know how to fill out applications. We had just returned from the U.S., and found people who were willing to help us. Without their support, this film wouldn’t have been possible. This year at the Festival, I realized there is solidarity in the industry. The most important thing is that a community has been created. We are new filmmakers, just like the people in our team; we work hard, and we want to be able to make a living from filmmaking. We need to create an ecosystem capable of supporting this, therefore the mobilization of Greek directors is of great importance,” Stergios Dinopoulos explained. Krysianna B. Papadakis then went on to add: “Thank you Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece for this award. I would love to see the world of funding, the world of production become more accessible to people who may not be as confident as us. Less competitive, more welcoming, and of course, easier for all of us, so that we can make a living as artists. We are happy and fortunate in this case, but the issue of making a living is something everyone in our team has to face.”
The Best Location Award of the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece was bestowed to:
Petros Chytiris for the film Gorgonà by Evi Kalogiropoulou
Reasoning:For yet another year, the Hellenic Film Commission of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece bestows its Location Award to a location manager of Greek production having its premiere in the official selection (“First Run”). Serving as catalysts during the shooting of a film, location managers have a pivotal contribution to the materialization of a filmic universe, seeking the ideal locations for housing the vision of every filmmaker. In this spirit, and taking into account the artistic-technical use of location, the 2025 Location Award of the Hellenic Film Commission is granted to Petros Chytiris, location manager of the film Gorgonà by Evi Kalogiropoulou.
Petros Chytiris and the film’s production designer Stavros Liokalos accepted the award. “The Location Award is very important for us. I wish there were corresponding awards for set design and cinematography. Cinema is a team effort. It is a collective journey, which is why Greek cinema needs our support. Visibility Zero. You can find out more about the issues in Greek cinema there. All of our help is needed. I would like to thank the Festival for the organization. This award is dedicated to all our collaborators, the entire crew, and all the people who supported our film,” Petros Chytiris commented. Stavros Liokalos stressed that “Petros created with imagination and understood the story in depth. He suggested locations that gave soul to the script, and I believe he fully deserves this recognition.”
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)
Konstantinos Vassilaros (producer)
Yorgos Zois (filmmaker)
The J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award was bestowed to the film:
Patty Is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos
Reasoning: The J.F. Costopoulos Award is bestowed to the film Patty is Such a Girly Name, for its fresh and tender gaze at a contemporary coming-of-age story. Displaying humor and honesty, the film, a journey of identity seeking, unravels the course of a little girl from Ikaria to Athens, intertwining the harsh realism of the world of sports with unforced interpretations.
Nancy Kokolaki, Tanweer’s Line Producer and Head of International Projects, accepted the award. “The guys are in Tallinn. They are very grateful to everyone.”
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:
Panagiotis Charamis (filmmaker)
Barbara Dukas (Director, Head of DISFF Pitching Lab)
Christina Ioakeimidi (filmmaker)
The Finos Film Award was bestowed to the film:
Patty Is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos
Reasoning: A perfectly structured film, gifted with rich characters. Technically skillful and well-paced, a genre film that reaches out to the wide audience, a trait so very much needed by Greek cinema, especially in our times. With references to up-to-the-minute social issues and through a different point of view that was missing so far. A film of resourceful direction, with a nicely tuned use of pop music, and with a brilliant casting in both younger and older characters. Its topic is highly original, revolving around women’s martial arts sports, guiding the camera with mastery and sensitivity on the female protagonists’ lives.
Nancy Kokolaki, Tanweer’s Line Producer and Head of International Projects, accepted the award. “Congratulations to the kids, it’s a shame they’re not here. We love them.”
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:
Robert Horton
Ifigeneia Kalatzi
Gena Teodosievska
The FIPRESCI Award to the best International Competition film was bestowed to:
Karla by Christina Tournatzès
Reasoning: The FIPRESCI jury awards its International Competition prize to Karla, a powerful social drama based on a true story, of a 12-year-old girl who charges her father with sexual abuse and must face the judicial system alone. In her debut, director Christina Tournatzès confidently visualizes the story from the child's point of view, yet reminds us that the victim is sidelined by society. All of this is seamlessly expressed in the performance of Elise Krieps, capturing so much of the character's trauma and determination through her eloquent eyes.
The film’s director, Christina Tournatzès, accepted the award. “I’m left speechless, like Karla. However, I am pleased to be given another opportunity to speak because I feel that I did not say everything I wanted earlier. First and foremost, I’d like to dedicate this award to Karla, the real person behind the story. As many of you may know, the film is based on a true story, and I would like to thank Karla for her courage, for standing up to her entire family, and defending her rights. She made sure her voice was heard, despite not having the suitable words to describe all that happened to her. She never gave up. Even today, one in two children in every classroom are sexually abused, and many of these incidents occur within the household. There is stigmatization, denial, victimization. What we are trying to achieve through our film is to change this narrative and amplify the survivors’ voices. We must listen to the children, even if they do not have the right tools to make their voice heard. I’m alone up here, but this is a team effort and I wish to thank the jury for this award on your behalf. Your recognition honors us among so many excellent films, and congratulations to the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which gives voice to such brave creators and allows us to create art amidst such difficult times, because ultimately it is art that shapes society.”
The FIPRESCI Award to the best Greek film that has its premiere at the Festival was bestowed to:
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: The FIPRESCI prize goes to Bearcave, an unconventional love story staged in a rural part of Greece, a film fueled by the directness of the actors, the complexity of the central relationship, and the originality of the filmmakers' approach. Its power—and its exhilaration—lies in the evolution from old traditions to a new definition of romance and family, conveyed by the natural world, musical choices, and above all the mysterious image of the bearcave, reminding us of the power of that which lies inside, even if unseen.
The two directors received the award in a state of emotional charge. “We are so touched to be coming back to a place of comfort such as the Festival, which has been on our side for the last three years. The big shoutout is for our team, I can hear them cheering from the upper floor. This film was made by a collective of people, a family and nothing would have been the same without all of them. Thank you for taking the risk to back us with support. It’s the first movie we ever shot in Greece. It’s a hard road to walk on, with many obstacles, and the fact that you gave us your trust, and that we won this award, means it was worth it.”
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 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
The PEKK Award was bestowed to the film:
Patty Is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos
Reasoning: For the wholesome narrative of a timely coming-of-age story of adjustment and integration, of hidden secrets and fabricated disclosures, placed upon the untrodden tatami of competition and wrestling, the Greek Association of Film Critics bestows its award for the Best Film of the Greek Program of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival to the film Patty Is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos.
The award was received by Nancy Kokolaki, Tanweer’s Line Producer and Head of International Projects. “The film’s creative team is in Tallinn, for the film’s international premiere, and I take this award on their behalf, as a representative of the distribution company. Many congratulations to Giorgos Georgopoulos, and the producers Stefanos Koutsardakis, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Fenia Cossovitsa, and all cast and crew.”
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:
Elena Athanasiadou (producer, Communications & Social Media expert, WIFT GR board member) Maria Chatzigianni (filmmaker, human geographer, WIFT GR board member)
Ioanna Tsilili (filmmaker, screenwriter, WIFT GR member)
The WIFT GR Award was bestowed to the film:
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: The WIFT GR Award is presented to the film Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis and Stergios Dinopoulos for the strength with which it brings forth the female voice through a deeply introspective and poetic gaze. The direction handles silence, motherhood, and loss with sensitivity and maturity, offering an exemplary instance of the female gaze — a gaze that observes without judging and illuminates without exposing. Bearcave moved us with its quiet power — a work that gently enters the sacred depths of a woman’s soul and transforms pain into poetry. Through the intimacy of its gaze and the delicacy of its narration, the film reminds us that the female gaze in cinema remains, at once, an act of love, memory, and resistance.
The award was received by Krysianna Papadakis, who said: “I would like to thank Stergios for being here, as a co-director and co-writer of Bearcave. I also want to thank all the women of our production team for making such a great effort and devoting a lot of time. They did an incredible work and created a very beautiful ecosystem in our production. I thank you a lot for this award, as well as the Festival and WIFT for this distinction.
CREW UNITED AWARD
The Crew United consists of a 5-year free Premium Membership in the Crew United platform. was
The Crew United Award was bestowed to:
Amerissa Basta for the film Life in a Beat
Reasoning: For the strength displayed by the film’s characters, in a splendid sample of social realism coming from a highly promising female director.
The film’s director Amerissa Basta received the award, accompanied by the film’s protagonist Elina Tsiormpatzi. “I thank you a lot. It’s a huge honor. I’m with Elina, as she’s the soul of the film, and on top of that she’s from Thessaloniki,” mentioned Amerissa Basta.
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:
Vlassis Alexoudis
Anna Baltzi
Vassilis Seralidis
Lefkothea Vavouraki
Ifigenia Nefeli Zisimatou
The Best Film Award of the Youth Jury was bestowed to:
Patty Is Such a Girly Name by Giorgos Georgopoulos
Reasoning: The masterful camerawork, the multilayered student-teacher relationship and the special chemistry of the characters compose an exquisite portrayal of the contemporary Greek sports landscape.
“A big hurrah for the young people, for the audience of Patty, we are so proud of the film,” mentioned Nancy Kokolaki, Tanweer’s Line Producer and Head of International Projects, as she received the award.
The Special Youth Jury Award was bestowed to:
Bearcave by Krysianna B. Papadakis & Stergios Dinopoulos
Reasoning: Through a sublime cinematography that evokes a painting and a human-centered narrative of a queer story set in the Greek boondocks, Bearcave stood out as a fresh glance at woman empowerment and emancipation.
“I started to hang around with Stergios because we work both as teachers. For this reason, this award means so much. We wanted to make this film for the young and our younger selves. We thank you a lot,” said Krysianna Papadakis. “It’s a film for young people, it gets them engaged. The most touching thing in the screenings was that so many young people reached out to so, asking passionate questions about the film, on all the issues touched upon by the film concerning life in the boondocks, and how one can live freely there, and all over the world. That’s the most important award we could receive. Thank you so much,” said Stergios Dinopoulos.
FISCHER AUDIENCE AWARDS
Fischer, the official sponsor of the Festival’s Audience Awards for a number of years, 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.
Yannis Katsougris, the Head of Sponsorships & Events at Athenian Brewery S.A., took to the stage to present the Audience Awards of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. “Fischer is the most cinephile beer in Greece, and it couldn’t be missing from the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, one of the country’s most important cultural institutions. For us at the Athenian Brewery, which produces Fischer here in Thessaloniki, the Festival represents the most enduring sponsorship in our company’s history. It is a relationship based on respect, consistency, and a shared love of culture. Personally, I have the pleasure of being in Thessaloniki every year and of experiencing firsthand the vitality and passion of this city for cinema. The Audience Awards stand out because, for filmmakers, they are more like a heartfelt applause from the audience, rather than a medal evaluating their work. This year, 22,079 spectators participated in the vote, demonstrating this power and vibrancy of this institution. We warmly thank the organizers and all the filmmakers who share the magic of cinema with us. And now, with great pleasure, we move on to the presentation of the Fischer Audience Awards.”
Fischer Audience Award - International Competition:
Karla by Christina Tournatzès
The film’s director Christina Tournatzès mentioned: “Thanks so much for this award. I thank the Festival for giving voice and offering encouragement to so many films and so many filmmakers. This Audience Award is such an honor for me. In all honesty, it’s the best award one can get. Thank you so much!”
Fischer Audience Award - Meet the Neighbors+:
Life in a Beat by Amerissa Basta
Film director Amerissa Basta said while receiving the award: “Thank you so much! It’s a film made out of truth and love, that’s how it found its way to the audience. We felt it inside the theaters as well. It’s an important award for us and the entire team. I thank you so much.”
Fischer Audience Award - >>Film Forward:
1001 Frames by Mehrnoush Alia
“Thank you so much! It’s a wonderful Festival! I would like to thank its people and Greece. I can’t thank you enough for the support you gave me. I would also like to thank the cast and the crew of the film. This award is dedicated to all those who resist, and especially the women of Iran who refuse to give up, still fighting for freedom and equality,” said Mehrnoush Alia.
Fischer Audience Award - Official Selection:
All That's Left of You by Cherien Dabis
The film’s producer Thanassis Karathanos stepped on stage to receive the award. “I would like to thank the Festival. We are happy and proud to receive this award. As filmmakers, we always try to create films that relate to the audience, and whenever this effort is recognized, our joy is even greater.”
Fischer Audience Award “Michael Cacoyannis” - Greek Film Festival:
Life in a Beat by Amerissa Basta
The film’s director Amerissa Basta mentioned: “I thank you again so much. I thank every member of my team, my producers and co-producers, I also thank the Festival for embracing our film not only in this year’s edition, but right from the start, when it was just a project submitted to Agora’s Crossroads, but also last year as part of the Agora Works in Progress. The Festival has always been on our side, and many thanks are needed.”
THE AGORA AWARDS
Amidst a festive and heartfelt ambiance, the Agora of the 66th Thessaloniki Film Festival bestowed its awards at a special event held on Wednesday, November 5th, at Warehouse C.
CROSSROADS CO-PRODUCTION FORUM AWARDS
The Crossroads Co-production Forum Jury, composed of Frank Hoeve, Producer at BALDR Film (The Netherlands), Uljana Kim, Producer at Studio Uljana Kim (Lithuania) and Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos, Producer & Chief Operating Officer at Faliro House (Greece), as well as the Arte Kino International Award Juror, and Mathilde Hersant, Head of Finance at ARTE France Cinéma (France), took the floor to bestow the awards.
Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award - Post-production (image and sound) was bestowed to:
THE LEAVES HANG TREMBLING
Director: Stefan Djordjević, Production: Dragana Jovović - Non-Aligned Films, Serbia
The reasoning of the jury: “Courageous, fierce yet deeply empathetic, the film is profoundly moving as it puts children and students at its heart. For its unique approach to a deeply personal story that resonates with urgent global relevance, we give the Two Thirty-Five post-production services award to THE LEAVES HANG TREMBLING.”
The 8,000-euro award for script development by the CNC-Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée was bestowed by Jean-Luc Lavaud, French Consul in Thessaloniki, to the film:
THE UNMOVING HANGS
Director: Víctor Diago, Production: Andrés Mellinas - Diacrònic, Coproduction: Boogaloo, Spain in collaboration with the Mediterranean Film Institute
The reasoning of the jury: “A project defined by strong, undeniable directorial vision, realized by a committed and talented team. It is a genre-fluid story that explores men living on the margins of society, lifting up their experiences in a compelling and original way. The CNC Award (Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée) goes to THE UNMOVING HANDS.”
The ArteKino International Award with a cash prize of 6,000 euros, was bestowed to:
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ION G.
Director: Andreea Cristina Bortun, Production: Gabi Suciu - Atelier de Film, Romania in collaboration with Sofia Meetings
The reasoning of the jury: “ArteKino aims to support emergent European cinema through the ArteKino International award and the ArteKino Festival. I would like to thank all the producers and directors we met with the jury as well as the AGORA team who did a great job. ARTE has decided to reward a young director, whose project deals with exile, inequality and politics, but with light and love in its treatment. The ArteKino International award goes to THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ION G. by Andreea Cristina Bortun, produced by Gabi Suciu.”
The award of Finos Film, of 3,000 euros, is granted to a Greek project.
The Award was bestowed by Stathis Kamvasinos, Head of Communication & Representative of Finos Film, to the film:
PIRATELAND
Director: Stavros Petropoulos, Production: Leonidas Konstantarakos - Alaska Films, Co-production: Stephane Marschal - Yukunkun Productions, Greece, France
The reasoning of the jury: “We would like to award the Greek project that stood out for its exceptional team effort. Building on the success and energy of its previous film, it promises a feature version with strong international appeal. The Finos Film Award goes to PIRATELAND.”
The Producer’s Network Accreditation to next year’s Cannes Marché du Film was awarded to:
Producer Fahriye Ismayilova for the project
GOODBYE FOR NOW
Director: Kasım Ördek, Production: Fahriye Ismayilova - Parda Film Production, Co-production: Jules Grange - Kidam Production, Turkey, France
The reasoning of the jury: “We are truly impressed by the energy, dedication, and unwavering resolve of the producer. With a clear vision and fierce commitment, the producer is ready to bring the project onto the global stage. We give the Producer’s Network - Marché du Film Award to FAHRIYE ISMAYILOVA, the producer of GOODBYE FOR NOW.”
The MIDPOINT’s Consulting Award was bestowed to:
THE DICTATOR’S DREAM
Director: Erenik Beqiri, Production: Dritan Huqi - On Film Production, Albania
The reasoning of the jury: “We were impressed by the project’s political relevance and bold, original vision. A culturally specific story with universal resonance, it skillfully blends satire, absurdity, and tragedy to explore power. The MIDPOINT consulting award goes to THE DICTATOR’S DREAM.”
INDEPENDENT AWARDS
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 Onassis Film Award was bestowed by Vassilis Panagiotakopoulos, Head of Productions at the Onassis Foundation, to the film:
THE TIDE HEARS THEM BUT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE
Director: Yiannis Veslemes, Production: Nicholas Alavanos - FILMIKI, Greece
The reasoning of the jury: "The Onassis Film Award is presented to a project that stands out for its boldness and authenticity, seeking a balance between the political and the metaphysical. With a clear directorial vision, it addresses one of the darkest political periods in Greece in order to speak about timeless themes and universal questions surrounding death and immortality. The award is presented to the film THE TIDE HEARS THEM BUT THEY NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE by Yannis Veslemes, produced by Filmiki.”
The jury of the Onassis Film Award, under the direction of the Artistic Director of the Onassis Foundation, Afroditi Panagiotakou, is composed of:
Dimitris Theodoropoulos, Executive Director of the Onassis Foundation
Vasso Vasilatou, Theatrologist
Elizampetta Ilia Georgiadou, Screenwriter
Vasilis Panayiotakopoulos, Producer
Christos Sarris, Filmmaker
The Greener Screen Award offering consultation on sustainability practices before and during the film shooting was bestowed by the Chief Content Officer of Greener Screen, Bassam Alasad, to the film:
A GIRL NAMED ZEUS
Director: Nikos Dayandas, Production: Konstantinos Koukoulis - ΠLANKTON, Greece
Reasoning: “Greener Screen recognises this film for its deep sense of place, its poetic reflection on heritage, and its creators’ sincere commitment to environmental values and sustainable practice. A story that harmonises rebellion and tradition, embodying the regenerative spirit at the heart of truly green cinema. The award is presented to: A GIRL NAMED ZEUS.”
The Sofia Meetings Award, which gives the chance to the winning project to take part in the upcoming event of Sofia Meetings, held in March 2026, was awarded by Mira Staleva, Head of the Sofia Meetings, to the film:
ROBBING BEIRUT
Director: Katia Jarjoura, Production: Michel Zana - Blue Train Films, Co-production: Elisa Pirir - Staer Film, Jana Wehbe - The Attic, France, Norway, Lebanon
Reasoning: “For its timely and deeply human story of courage and bravery, ROBBING BEIRUT stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of dignity and solidarity — values our society needs now more than ever.”
The Mediterranean Film Institute “George Kalogeropoulos” Award - Script 2 Film Workshop Scholarship was awarded by Leda Dialyna, Coordinator of the MFI, to the film:
LA FORMA ANIMAL
Director: Isa Luengo, Sofia Esteve, Production: Laura Rubirola – Nocturna Pictures, Carlotta Schiavon, Eva Murgui – Vayolet Films, Spain
Reasoning: “The award goes to a project that imaginatively blends history, folklore, and personal narrative - exploring otherness, transformation, and political memory. For its insightful reworking of historical events through myth and fable, we proudly give the MFI SCRIPT 2 FILM WORKSHOP Award to LA FORMA ANIMAL.”
The EAVE THESSALONIKI Award - Marketing Scholarship was bestowed by EAVE project manager Sarah Van Den Hoogen to the film:
Gabi Suciu for The Life and Times of Ion G.
Reasoning: “We are very happy for AGORA to give the EAVE Marketing Workshop scholarship to a producer that shows very clear motivation to develop her marketing skills and we feel like it is the right moment in her career to participate. She very much embodies the "EAVE spirit" and we are excited to have a Romanian participant at the workshop in 2026.”
AGORA WORKS IN PROGRESS AWARDS
The jury of the Agora Works in Progress, composed of Dorian Magagnin – Acquisitions & Festivals Manager at Cercamon (UA), Danae Spathara – producer at Heretic (Greece), Barbara Wurm – Head at Berlinale Forum (Germany), took the floor to bestow the following awards:
119 Marvila Studios Award - Sound mixing services
The 119 Marvilla Studio Award was bestowed by sound editor Roland Vajs and the company’s owner Sandra Piers to the film:
TONIGHT IS FOREVER
Director: Fernando Souza, Production: Quentin Laurent - Les Films de l'Oeil Sauvage, Co-production: Lucas Senecaut- L'Oeil Vif Films, Mina Moteki-Kowatanda Films, Fernando Souza - Dichosos los Ojos, France, Japan, Spain
The reasoning of the jury: “We felt connected with the emotional layers of this character in his pursuit of love. We were caught by the silence echoing loneliness. We were stunned by the strong cinematic language and the subtle atmosphere that this film conveys. The 119 Marvila Studios Award goes to TONIGHT IS FOREVER directed by Fernando Souza.”
Authorwave Post-Production Award - Creative Services
The Authorwave post-production Creative Services award was bestowed by Liza Chrysochou, Authorwave’s Chief Operating Officer, to the film:
PROMISED SPACES
Director: Ivan Marković, Production: Jasmina Sijercić-Bocalupo Films, Co-production: Zsofi Lili Kovacs - Fiskultura Films, Jelena Radenković - Big Time Production, Daniel Mattes- Anti-Archive, France, Germany, Serbia, Cambodia
The reasoning of the jury: “We were very impressed by the way this film reflects the social strata of society through a strong visual conception, mis-en-scene and close observation of the urban architecture. The people might share the same frame, but they remain disconnected. The Authorwave Post-production Award goes to PROMISED SPACES directed by Ivan Marković.”
The ERT Agora Works in Progress Award with a cash prize of 2,000 euros is given to a Greek project.
The ERT Award of 2,000 was bestowed by Synthia Sapika, General Director of ERT3 and member of the Festival’s Board of Directors, to the film:
WAYS TO GET RID OF SOME FREEDOM
Director: Chrisanthos Margonis, Production: Eleni Kossyfidou-Blackbird Productions, Co-production: Marinos Charalambous - Boycott Films, Greece, Cyprus
The reasoning of the jury: “The film grabbed us immediately and managed to keep our attention all throughout – by its overwhelming energy, freshness, directness and the riveting performances. The always unpredictable story made us want to join these lovers on their bizarre road trip. The ERT AGORA Works in Progress Award goes to WAYS TO GET RID OF SOME FREEDOM directed by Chrisanthos Margonis.”
AGORA SERIES TALENTS AWARD
Within the framework of the newly established Agora Series Talents, addresses to series’ screenwriters, the Crew United Award was bestowed by Venia Vergou and Iris Assimakopoulou of the Crew United to:
Katerina Papanastasatou
The reasoning of the jury: “We grant the Award to Katerina Papanastasatou, for the series project Elena, Unhinged that stands out for its sharp humor, strong voice, and its honest take on the struggles of a generation trying to survive and stay true to itself.
The winner receives a 5-year Premium membership subscription on Crew United, the leading online networking platform.
SEE CINEMA NETWORK AWARDS
On Friday 7 November 2025, SEE Cinema Network unveiled a total funding of €72,000 for its 2025 Funding Round candidates, during its 38th General Assembly in Thessaloniki, coinciding with the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
Each awarded project will receive 9,000€ in funding for its development purposes.
The selected projects are the following:
ALBANIA
COLD SUN
Director: Gentian Koçi
Delegate Producer: Artlab Film Productions
Albania / Greece / Romania / France
BULGARIA
D’ARTAGNYANA
Director: Valeri Milev
Delegate Producer: Agitprop
Bulgaria / Romania
CYPRUS
EXCAVATORS
Director: Argyro Nicolaou
Delegate Producer: Caretta Films Ltd.
Cyprus / Greece / Serbia
GREECE
THE HERMIT
Director: Nicolas Kolovos
Delegate Producer: Homemade Films
Greece / Bulgaria / Sweden
KOSOVO
LUCKY US
Director: Anita Morina
Delegate Producer: Buka Production
Kosovo / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Croatia
MONTENEGRO
TEACHERS’ UPRISING ON A NUDIST BEACH
Director: Siniša Cvetić
Delegate Producer: Artikulacija Film
Montenegro / Serbia / Bulgaria / Croatia / Italy/ Slovenia
NORTH MACEDONIA
THE POT, THE LID AND THE NURSE
Director: Vardan Tozija
Delegate Producer: Minimal Collective
North Macedonia / Bulgaria / Croatia / Slovenia
ROMANIA
BELIEVERS
Director: Tudor Giurgiu
Delegate Producer: Libra Films
Romania / Bulgaria / Hungary / Germany
In a commitment to transparency and in line with European statistical recording standards, SEE Cinema Network will also announce gender percentages for main contributors — namely, directors, producers and scriptwriters. This year, female participation stands at an impressive 43% of the total confirmed contributors.
Our Network congratulates all the recipients and wishes good luck and many more exciting achievements for each supported project.
