The seventh edition of The Changing Face of Europe, a section in Toronto’s Hot Docs Film Festival, explores the cultural, economic and political forces shaping contemporary Europe.
From an investigation of a right-wing group in Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning’s “Norwegian Democrazy” to the fight for bodily freedom in Elina Psykou’s “Stray Bodies,” this year’s selection broaches a series of urgent — and, at many times, highly-sensitive — sociopolitical topics at the forefront of European society from filmmakers who may not always get the support they need within the international festival landscape.
“The section is very important because it allows us to get films from filmmakers who we wouldn’t normally get films from,” Hot Docs festival programming director Heather Haynes tells Variety. “It helps create an exchange and communication between what’s happening in Europe and what we are doing at Hot Docs.”
The Changing Face of Europe,...
From an investigation of a right-wing group in Fabien Greenberg and Bård Kjøge Rønning’s “Norwegian Democrazy” to the fight for bodily freedom in Elina Psykou’s “Stray Bodies,” this year’s selection broaches a series of urgent — and, at many times, highly-sensitive — sociopolitical topics at the forefront of European society from filmmakers who may not always get the support they need within the international festival landscape.
“The section is very important because it allows us to get films from filmmakers who we wouldn’t normally get films from,” Hot Docs festival programming director Heather Haynes tells Variety. “It helps create an exchange and communication between what’s happening in Europe and what we are doing at Hot Docs.”
The Changing Face of Europe,...
- 4/26/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival is coming off a successful — and at times turbulent — 26th edition, wrapping “amidst an explosive ambiance with episodes of violence and intolerance.”
In a post-festival report, TiDF says 66,000 spectators and visitors participated in the event this year, an increase of 16 percent over 2023. The festival ran from March 7-17 in Greece’s second largest city, nestled in a gulf of the Aegean Sea.
“This year’s TiDF hosted a great number of premieres, exciting talks and special events, and welcomed the internationally acclaimed artist Dimitris Papaioannou,” the festival noted in its report. “Moreover, it bestowed honorary Golden Alexanders to the Academy Award-winning Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba and the Greek film director, screenwriter, author and translator Panayotis Evangelidis.”
TiDF hosted more than 300 in-person screenings at several venues, as well as showcasing 133 documentaries through the festival’s online platform. The concurrent Agora film market played host to the...
In a post-festival report, TiDF says 66,000 spectators and visitors participated in the event this year, an increase of 16 percent over 2023. The festival ran from March 7-17 in Greece’s second largest city, nestled in a gulf of the Aegean Sea.
“This year’s TiDF hosted a great number of premieres, exciting talks and special events, and welcomed the internationally acclaimed artist Dimitris Papaioannou,” the festival noted in its report. “Moreover, it bestowed honorary Golden Alexanders to the Academy Award-winning Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba and the Greek film director, screenwriter, author and translator Panayotis Evangelidis.”
TiDF hosted more than 300 in-person screenings at several venues, as well as showcasing 133 documentaries through the festival’s online platform. The concurrent Agora film market played host to the...
- 3/29/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
European Film Promotion has unveiled the seventh edition of the Changing Face of Europe, a section that runs as part of Toronto documentary festival Hot Docs, which runs April 25 – May 5.
The section features nine European documentaries, selected by the Hot Docs programming team, that “illustrate and examine a new and contemporary Europe from a cultural, social, geo-political and economic perspective.”
In addition to attending the screenings and the festival’s industry program, the directors and producers of the films will be part of on-site and online events organized by Efp, including networking sessions and one-on-one meetings with distributors, buyers and festival programmers from North America.
“Kelly – Someone Else’s Dream” follows Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru. She was just 13 years old when she won a gold medal at the 2016 Winter X Games in Aspen. After breaking numerous other records, she broke her silence and accused her father and coach of abuse.
The section features nine European documentaries, selected by the Hot Docs programming team, that “illustrate and examine a new and contemporary Europe from a cultural, social, geo-political and economic perspective.”
In addition to attending the screenings and the festival’s industry program, the directors and producers of the films will be part of on-site and online events organized by Efp, including networking sessions and one-on-one meetings with distributors, buyers and festival programmers from North America.
“Kelly – Someone Else’s Dream” follows Estonian freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru. She was just 13 years old when she won a gold medal at the 2016 Winter X Games in Aspen. After breaking numerous other records, she broke her silence and accused her father and coach of abuse.
- 3/27/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
One of the world’s leading forums for nonfiction work, this year the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival became a lightning rod for extremist rage. As widely reported, the opening night world premiere of Greek filmmaker Elina Psykou’s Stray Bodies happened under the watch of riot police amid a temporary ban on public protests after the film’s controversial poster — an image of a topless pregnant woman nailed to a cross —set off right-wing and religious figures and generated a volley of threats. The film also premiered in the wake of a massive public protest in support of a transgender couple that […]
The post Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival 2024: European Disunion first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival 2024: European Disunion first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 3/26/2024
- by Steve Dollar
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
One of the world’s leading forums for nonfiction work, this year the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival became a lightning rod for extremist rage. As widely reported, the opening night world premiere of Greek filmmaker Elina Psykou’s Stray Bodies happened under the watch of riot police amid a temporary ban on public protests after the film’s controversial poster — an image of a topless pregnant woman nailed to a cross —set off right-wing and religious figures and generated a volley of threats. The film also premiered in the wake of a massive public protest in support of a transgender couple that […]
The post Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival 2024: European Disunion first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival 2024: European Disunion first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 3/26/2024
- by Steve Dollar
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Lesvia Photo: Courtesy of Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival
The personal and the political stood front and centre at Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival during its 26th edition.
Earlier this year Greece became the first Christian-Orthodox country to legalise same-sex marriage and the festival celebrated Lgbqt+ cinema with tribute Citizen Queer. The showcase featured more than 25 films and there was also a strong Lgbqt+ showing across the festival’s other sections.
It was all the more appalling then, when a transgender couple were attacked by a mob of young thugs near the Olympion Cinema in Aristotelous Square on the festival’s first weekend, leading to more than 20 arrests. That, in turn, led to thousands protesting in the same square the next night to speak out against homophobia, transphobia and fascism.
The turbulent week continued as riot police were deployed on Tuesday night after the poster for Elina Psykou’s Stray Bodies sparked controversy.
The personal and the political stood front and centre at Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival during its 26th edition.
Earlier this year Greece became the first Christian-Orthodox country to legalise same-sex marriage and the festival celebrated Lgbqt+ cinema with tribute Citizen Queer. The showcase featured more than 25 films and there was also a strong Lgbqt+ showing across the festival’s other sections.
It was all the more appalling then, when a transgender couple were attacked by a mob of young thugs near the Olympion Cinema in Aristotelous Square on the festival’s first weekend, leading to more than 20 arrests. That, in turn, led to thousands protesting in the same square the next night to speak out against homophobia, transphobia and fascism.
The turbulent week continued as riot police were deployed on Tuesday night after the poster for Elina Psykou’s Stray Bodies sparked controversy.
- 3/18/2024
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
My Stolen Planet by Farahnaz Sharifi won the €12,000 Golden Alexander prize of the international competition of the 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (Tidf), which closed on March 17.
The intimate family portrait is a Germany-Iran co-production and made its world premiere in the Berlinale’s Panorama programme last month.
At Tidf, it also won the Fipresci award and a place in the pre-selection shortlist for the best documentary Osar. France’s Cat&Docs is handling international sales.
Lidia Duda’s Forest, won the €5,000 international competition special jury prize, the Silver Alexander. The Poland-Czech Republic co-production, also about a family, this...
The intimate family portrait is a Germany-Iran co-production and made its world premiere in the Berlinale’s Panorama programme last month.
At Tidf, it also won the Fipresci award and a place in the pre-selection shortlist for the best documentary Osar. France’s Cat&Docs is handling international sales.
Lidia Duda’s Forest, won the €5,000 international competition special jury prize, the Silver Alexander. The Poland-Czech Republic co-production, also about a family, this...
- 3/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Iranian filmmaker Farahnaz Sharifi’s My Stolen Planet won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival today, automatically qualifying the film for Oscar consideration.
The film, which held its world premiere at the Berlinale last month, combines the director’s memories with fragments of 8mm film recorded by others to examine the vitality of Iran before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Golden Alexander win comes with a €12,000 prize.
Jurors called My Stolen Planet, “A well-crafted and moving first-person essay that brilliantly confirms that every political reality has a subreality and that resistance comes in many forms, not least among them in the private realm.” My Stolen Planet also won the the Fipresci Award as the Best Documentary of the International Competition. [Scroll for full list of winners]
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival awards ceremony.
Forest, directed by Lidia Duda, claimed the Silver Alexander and a €5,000 prize. Jurors described that film as, “An observational portrait...
The film, which held its world premiere at the Berlinale last month, combines the director’s memories with fragments of 8mm film recorded by others to examine the vitality of Iran before the Islamic Revolution of 1979. The Golden Alexander win comes with a €12,000 prize.
Jurors called My Stolen Planet, “A well-crafted and moving first-person essay that brilliantly confirms that every political reality has a subreality and that resistance comes in many forms, not least among them in the private realm.” My Stolen Planet also won the the Fipresci Award as the Best Documentary of the International Competition. [Scroll for full list of winners]
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival awards ceremony.
Forest, directed by Lidia Duda, claimed the Silver Alexander and a €5,000 prize. Jurors described that film as, “An observational portrait...
- 3/17/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Iranian filmmaker Farahnaz Sharifi’s “My Stolen Planet,” an intimate family portrait of life during Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival on Sunday, bringing a close to an emotional and politically charged week in Greece’s second city.
Using both the director’s personal archives and 8mm recordings of strangers’ lives, the film — which world premiered in the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama strand — uses an essayistic style to present the joy and vitality of life in Tehran in the 1970s, in contrast with the oppression imposed on the Iranian people by the country’s hardline regime.
The jury praised “My Stolen Planet” as “a well-crafted and moving first-person essay that brilliantly confirms that every political reality has a sub-reality and that resistance comes in many forms, not least among them in the private realm.”
In a pre-recorded video, Sharifi heralded the award...
Using both the director’s personal archives and 8mm recordings of strangers’ lives, the film — which world premiered in the Berlin Film Festival’s Panorama strand — uses an essayistic style to present the joy and vitality of life in Tehran in the 1970s, in contrast with the oppression imposed on the Iranian people by the country’s hardline regime.
The jury praised “My Stolen Planet” as “a well-crafted and moving first-person essay that brilliantly confirms that every political reality has a sub-reality and that resistance comes in many forms, not least among them in the private realm.”
In a pre-recorded video, Sharifi heralded the award...
- 3/17/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Palestinian director Hana Elias’ “If These Stones Could Talk,” which follows a Palestinian man’s return to his homeland to restore his family’s ancestral garden, and Argentine filmmaker María Silvia Esteve’s “Mailin,” about a woman’s painful struggle to overcome her childhood trauma, took the top prizes at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival’s industry award ceremony Wednesday night.
During an emotionally charged conclusion to the festival’s Agora strand, in which several filmmakers voiced their strident support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire to the more than five-month-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, a tearful Elias took the stage alongside producer Asmahan Bkerat to receive the top prize in the Agora’s pitching forum, a €10,000 cash prize from the International Emerging Film Talents Assn. (Iefta).
“This film’s been happening for a long time, and there’s no hope right now. But we’re so grateful for this award,...
During an emotionally charged conclusion to the festival’s Agora strand, in which several filmmakers voiced their strident support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire to the more than five-month-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, a tearful Elias took the stage alongside producer Asmahan Bkerat to receive the top prize in the Agora’s pitching forum, a €10,000 cash prize from the International Emerging Film Talents Assn. (Iefta).
“This film’s been happening for a long time, and there’s no hope right now. But we’re so grateful for this award,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Riot police were deployed Tuesday night in Thessaloniki and protests across the city were banned ahead of the premiere of Greek filmmaker Elina Psykou’s “Stray Bodies.”
Far-right groups had previously announced plans to disrupt the opening night of the documentary, whose poster features a bare-breasted pregnant woman nailed to a cross and had been deemed “blasphemous” by church officials and right-wing political leaders.
The day’s events followed a fortnight of roiling controversy over the Tribeca-winning director’s documentary debut, which follows the lengths that women in Europe must go to access medical procedures that are outlawed in their own countries.
Appearing in front of a full house before the premiere at Thessaloniki’s historic Olympion theater, an emotional Psykou was greeted with rousing, sustained applause. “Thank you. You’re fantastic. I love you,” the director told the audience. “I’m very happy to have my world premiere at the Thessaloniki film festival.
Far-right groups had previously announced plans to disrupt the opening night of the documentary, whose poster features a bare-breasted pregnant woman nailed to a cross and had been deemed “blasphemous” by church officials and right-wing political leaders.
The day’s events followed a fortnight of roiling controversy over the Tribeca-winning director’s documentary debut, which follows the lengths that women in Europe must go to access medical procedures that are outlawed in their own countries.
Appearing in front of a full house before the premiere at Thessaloniki’s historic Olympion theater, an emotional Psykou was greeted with rousing, sustained applause. “Thank you. You’re fantastic. I love you,” the director told the audience. “I’m very happy to have my world premiere at the Thessaloniki film festival.
- 3/12/2024
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.