elc team
The press conference concluded with the Festival’s Artistic Director, Orestis Andreadakis, reading verses from the Ode to Georgios Karaiskakis in memory of Dionysis Savvopoulos.
On Thursday, October 23, the press conference for the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival took place simultaneously in Thessaloniki and Athens. The full program of this year’s edition was announced – presented in detail below – and the event concluded with verses from the Ode to Georgios Karaiskakis read by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Orestis Andreadakis, in memory of the iconic Greek songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos:
The screen sinks, the crowd stirs,
Images pour out all at once.
Where are you going, young hero, fair as a myth,
Swimming straight toward death?
And all the antennas of a stricken earth,
Loudspeakers and wireless calls from everywhere,
Gently lull you to sleep as you ascend
To the kings of heaven above.
Where are you going, young hero, the processions begin,
And your slaves scream at the altar.
The crowds are howling, the bells are ringing,
And your hymn shakes the temple.
Who am I truly, and where am I going,
With a thousand images in my mind?
The spotlights blind me and I go,
And I kneel and kiss your blood.
The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival will take place from Thursday, October 30 to Sunday, November 9, 2025, both in physical venues and online. A total of 278 feature and short films will be screened at the Olympion and Pavlos Zannas theaters, at the Port cinemas – Frida Liappa, Tonia Marketaki, John Cassavetes, and Stavros Tornes – as well as at the Macedonikon cinema.
In parallel, 86 films will also be available online through the Festival’s digital platform online.filmfestival.gr. The Festival joins the nationwide “Cinema Celebration,” and on Thursday, October 30, all screenings will be priced at just €2.
Major Guests in Thessaloniki – Exciting Masterclasses
Thessaloniki will welcome leading figures from Greek and international cinema who will offer open masterclasses to the public:
❖ The daring and multi-awarded global film and theatre star Isabelle Huppert. The Festival will honor the French icon with a tribute of 15 films from her illustrious career.
❖ Giorgos Tsemberopoulos, to whom the Festival dedicates a special tribute and awards an Honorary Golden Alexander.
❖ The acclaimed cinematographer Frederick Elmes, long-time collaborator of Jim Jarmusch and David Lynch.
❖ The celebrated Italian screenwriter and director Saverio Costanzo.
❖ Distinguished casting directors Lucinda Syson, Tanja Grunwald, and Ingvild Kolset Hoga, David Ciesielski, head of the Filmmakers Europe platform, the award-winning costume designer Catherine George, the writer and screenwriter Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and stunt professionals Sotiris Kraniotis and Chris Radanov.
❖ Finally, beloved chef Sotiris Kontizas, who will serve this year as the Ambassador of the Agora.
Posters & Festival Spots
The official posters for the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival are designed by acclaimed Greek visual artist Stefanos Rokos, who created two original paintings especially for this year’s edition. These artworks also inspired the Festival’s two short animation spots, co-created by Stefanos Rokos and Fokion Xenos, an award-winning filmmaker and animation director. The music was composed by Jim Sclavunos, the renowned Greek-American musician and long-time collaborator of legendary artists such as Nick Cave, Grinderman, Sonic Youth, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks (with Lydia Lunch), and The Cramps, while he has been a permanent member of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds since 1994.
Opening & Closing Films
The Festival will open on Thursday, October 30, with Father Mother Sister Brother, the new film by celebrated American filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, which won the Golden Lion at the recent 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The screening will take place in the presence of Indya Moore, a leading cast member of the film who was included in TIME magazine’s 2019 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
The Festival will close on Sunday, November 9, with the screening of KOTA by György Pálfi, an unexpected Greek co-production that had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Major Tribute: “Plot Twist, Beyond the Sixth Sense”
This year’s edition presents a special tribute dedicated to the plot twist, exploring this invaluable storytelling device through a fresh and subversive lens. Under the title Plot Twist, Beyond the Sixth Sense, the program moves beyond the obvious and famous cinematic reversals to showcase rare and lesser-seen films that challenge narrative expectations in unexpected ways.
The selection of films was curated by Myriam Ben Salah, guest curator of the program, acclaimed art curator and Director of The Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, who will also curate France’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale in May 2026.
The tribute features 14 rare and under-screened films spanning from 1976 to 2025, accompanied by a special bilingual publication including essays and analyses by film theorists, sociologists, and journalists.
Exhibition
As part of the Plot Twist tribute, the Festival presents the exhibition “Plot Twist (the science fiction change)”, running until November 16. The exhibition marks the official opening of the 9th Biennale, with its vernissage taking place on Friday, October 31, at MOMus–Experimental Center for the Arts. The opening night will be followed by a grand party at Pavilions 2 & 3 of the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF).
Tribute and Honorary Golden Alexander to Giorgos Tsemberopoulos
The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival will present an Honorary Golden Alexander to acclaimed filmmaker Giorgos Tsemberopoulos for his outstanding contribution to cinema. One of Greece’s most beloved directors, Tsemberopoulos has created films that have achieved great success in theaters and have left a lasting mark on Greek film culture.
A major tribute to his body of work will include screenings of all his feature films, as well as four rare and little-known short films, along with Black + White by Thanasis Rentzis and Nikos Zervos, in which Tsemberopoulos stars.
Additionally, the director will give a masterclass, sharing insights into his creative process and artistic approach.
Finally, the Festival’s special edition of First Shot (Πρώτο Πλάνο) magazine will be dedicated to Giorgos Tsemberopoulos, featuring rare photographs, an in-depth interview, and original texts exploring his life and cinematic legacy.
Tribute Event to the Actors of the 1960s
In collaboration with Finos Film, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival will pay tribute to iconic actors who starred in some of the most defining moments of Greek cinema during the 1960s. These legendary figures will be honored for their lifelong contribution to film and Greek culture in a special ceremony on Monday, November 3, held as part of the 66th edition.
At the same time, the Festival is preparing a recorded tribute, in which many of these beloved actors will share memories, stories, and reflections from their remarkable journeys in cinema.
Tribute: Fragilities
A deeply political program exploring the boundaries that define the vulnerability of human nature, Fragilities / Ευθραυστότητες is one of the major thematic tributes of this year’s Festival. It forms part of the renewed and expanded “Survey Expanded” section of Meet the Neighbors+, which focuses on films from the broader regional landscape.
The tribute features 11 films that challenge systems of dominance and delve into pressing issues of our time – including war, displacement from ancestral lands, life under occupation, censorship, and the intrusions of authoritarian regimes.
Tribute to Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani
The Festival shines a spotlight on one of Europe’s most daring and distinctive filmmaking duos — Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani — through a special tribute to their multifaceted and unconventional body of work.
Audiences will have the opportunity to experience their entire filmography, from their early experimental short films to their most recent feature, and to meet the two filmmakers in person, as they will be present in Thessaloniki for the event.
Spotlight on Marcel Pagnol
The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival dedicates its Spotlight to one of the most prominent and multifaceted figures of 20th-century French culture, Marcel Pagnol.
A film director, playwright, and (largely autobiographical) novelist, Pagnol achieved remarkable recognition and success across all three art forms, embodying the very essence of the auteur — a creator whose vision defines every aspect of his work.
Greek Film Festival Section
At the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 32 feature-length and 30 short Greek films will be presented.
– 29 films will have their premiere screenings in the sections Official First Screening and Beyond Borders.
– A special screening will feature the Festival’s original cinematic relay project inspired by Sophocles’ Electra, titled Electra7. The film is directed by seven distinguished filmmakers: Alexandros Voulgaris, Sofia Exarchou, Neritan Zinxhiria, Christina Ioakeimidis, Babis Makridis, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, and Elina Psykou. Electra7 is a production of the Athens Epidaurus Festival, in collaboration with the Hellenic Film Academy, and generously sponsored by PPC (Public Power Corporation).
– Screenings will also include the award-winning short films from the 48th Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF).
– Greek films will compete for a range of independent awards, celebrating creativity, innovation, and the dynamic evolution of Greek cinema.
Series Special Screenings
Once again, the Festival includes series screenings as part of its official program, highlighting new international and regional TV productions. This year’s Series Special Screenings section features episodes from seven series, including two Greek productions:
➢ Rififi, directed by Sotiris Tsafoulias, a new COSMOTE TV production.
➢ Avrio (Tomorrow), directed by Giorgos Gikapeppas, a co-production by ERT and ERTFLIX.GR.
International Program
The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival hosts four international competition sections, each accompanied by significant cash awards:
International Competition
Twelve films, including three Greek entries, will compete for:
- Golden Alexander “Theodoros Angelopoulos”, with a €10,000 prize.
- Silver Alexander – Best Director Award, supported by COSMOTE TELEKOM with a €5,000 prize.
- Best Actor and Best Actress Awards.
- Screenplay or Artistic Achievement Award.
Meet the Neighbors+
Twelve films — including three Greek productions — compete for:
- Golden Alexander “Michel Demopoulos”, accompanied by a €10,000 prize.
- Silver Alexander – Best Director Award, with a €5,000 prize.
- Best Actor, Best Actress, and Screenplay or Artistic Achievement Awards.
>>Film Forward
This section includes 12 films, among them three Greek, competing for:
- Golden Alexander, with a €8,000 prize.
- Silver Alexander – Special Jury Prize, with a €4,000 prize.
Mermaid Award
Awarded to an outstanding film with LGBTQ+ themes, accompanied by a €3,000 prize.
Immersive Competition
Featuring 8 films, this section explores VR and immersive storytelling. Entries compete for the Golden Alexander of the Immersive Section, with a €2,000 prize.
Out of competition, the installation Drinking Brecht by multimedia artist Sister Sylvester will also be presented.
Additional Sections
- Open Horizons: Showcasing the most dynamic and cutting-edge world cinema.
- Special Screenings: Encounters with beloved filmmakers and exceptional cinematic voices.
- ’Round Midnight: The Festival’s iconic late-night section returns with a new home — the Tonia Marketaki Theater — for midnight rendezvous with cult and genre cinema lovers.
- NextGen: A section amplifying young voices through free morning screenings for schools at the Stavros Tornes Theater, as well as in Stavroupoli and Sykees, in collaboration with the local municipalities.
- Under the Kids / Teens Love Cinema initiative, NextGen weekend screenings will offer free admission for children and teenagers under 18, while adult tickets will be priced at €3.
- Smart7 Alliance: Continuing its collaboration with six other European film festivals, Thessaloniki will host the Smart7 Competition, where seven films compete for the Smart7 Award, accompanied by a €5,000 prize.
Collaborations with International Organizations
This year, the Festival strengthens its network of international partnerships with key institutions in the audiovisual sector. Among them:
– European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), a leading organization specializing in professional training, project development, and producer networking in the audiovisual industry.
– MIDPOINT Institute, a renowned hub for screenwriting and development programs.
– The International Casting Directors Association (ICDA), which will present the prestigious Semiramis Award for Best Casting as part of this year’s Festival.
In addition, Thessaloniki will host the Board Meeting of the European Film Academy, ahead of the European Film Awards, which will take place in Greece in 2027.
Agora
❖ This year’s Agora Ambassador is the multi-award-winning chef Sotiris Kontizas.
❖ The Agora Series, the Festival’s forum dedicated to TV series production in Greece, Southeastern Europe, and the Mediterranean, returns with a rich two-day program.
- This year introduces the Agora Series Talents, a pilot initiative supporting both emerging and established screenwriters working in series production in Greece.
❖ Industry professionals will have the opportunity to engage in innovative activities and forward-looking initiatives designed to support the next generation of filmmakers.
- A major new addition is the FOCUS Sessions, where four selected projects will receive hands-on consulting on how to best present their films in international markets.
❖ Projects participating in the Agora will compete for important awards, offering cash prizes and in-kind production services.
The Agora is made possible with the valuable support of the Creative Europe–MEDIA program.
Podcast Section
A total of eleven Greek-language and one English-language podcasts are participating in the Festival’s Podcast Competition, while another 28 podcasts are featured in the Nexus Section. The podcasts in competition will vie for the Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a €2,000 cash prize.
Accessibility
For the fourth consecutive year, the Alpha Bank Accessibility Award will be presented. This €3,000 prize honors either a personality or a film that highlights the importance of unhindered access to the arts.
The audience of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival will also have the opportunity to enjoy two landmark films of contemporary Greek cinema, Ante Geia (1991) and Yparcho (2024), in fully accessible screenings for all viewers. Both films are screened as part of the major tribute to Giorgos Tsemberopoulos, one of Greece’s most acclaimed filmmakers.
Towards a More Sustainable Festival
Building on the experience of the Evia Film Project, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival has established its own environmental policy and action plan, available on its website (www.filmfestival.gr).
As part of this initiative, the Festival implements specific sustainability actions during each edition, encouraging guests and audiences to participate actively.
One of the key goals for the 66th Festival is the drastic reduction of single-use plastic water bottles.
Special Publications
The Festival presents two special editions:
● A bilingual publication accompanying the tribute Plot Twist, Beyond the Sixth Sense.
● The innovative “A-Catalogue”, focusing on the tributes Fragilities and the filmmaking duo Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani, featuring an exclusive interview with Dennis Lim, Artistic Director of the New York Film Festival.
Acknowledgments & Support
The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the European Regional Development Fund (ESPA – Central Macedonia 2021–2027), and the Creative Europe MEDIA program.
Valuable support is also provided by the Ministry of Tourism, ERT (Official Media Sponsor), COSMOTE TELEKOM (Major Sponsor), PPC (Public Power Corporation) (Strategic Partner), Alpha Bank (Accessibility Sponsor), Fischer (Audience Awards Sponsor), Aegean Airlines (Official Air Carrier), and Jameson.
The Festival’s initiatives are implemented with the support of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan “Greece 2.0”, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Ticket Presales
Ticket presales for the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival will begin on Tuesday, October 28.
🎬 Enjoy the screenings!
#TIFF66
