Thessaloniki Int’l Comp: Pol Pot Dancing by Enrique Sánchez Lansch
It’s a strange detail in history not widely known. The Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, responsible for killing around a quarter of his own people during the period of the Khmer Rouge, spent part of his childhood at the Cambodian royal court. He was brought up there by his foster mother, Chea Samy, a celebrated dancer who had married Pol’s older brother. Director Lansch reveals all to BDE.
Thessaloniki Int’l Documentary Fest: Yorgos Krassakopoulos, Head of Programming
The 26th edition of the Greek doc fest commences March 7 with They Shot the Piano Player co-directed by Fernando Trueba, who will also be presented with the Festival’s honorary Golden Alexander. A total of 250 documentaries will be screened through to March 17, of which 112 are world, international or European premieres. “What we mostly look for is that spark that lights up when you’re watching a film that hooks you and won’t let you go till the end credits,” Yorgos Krassakopoulos tells BDE of his modus operandi.
Thessaloniki Doc Fest 2024 announces Agora projects, new awards
Twelve Projects announced for Thessaloniki Pitching Forum (plus 3 new prizes including the €10,000 IEFTA Award for Best Documentary in Development), 11 Agora Docs in Progress, as well as five Agora Lab projects at all stages from Greece on which documentary specialists will offer guidance. In the festival’s Meet the Future initiative the focus shifts to rising talents hailing from the Czech Republic.
Thessaloniki award to Fernando Trueba; Greek docs at TiDF
The renowned Spanish filmmaker will attend the opening ceremony of 26th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (March 7-17) in order to present his They Shot the Piano Player (2023, pictured) and receive the fest's honorary Golden Alexander for his overall contribution to cinema and culture. Organisers also announce that 66 full-length and short documentaries from Greece will be screened during the upcoming edition.
26th Thessaloniki Int’l Doc Fest Competition films
The leading Greek docfest has announced the films in its three competition sections; International Competition, Newcomers competition and >>Film Forward competition. Competing documentaries are enjoying their world, international, or European premiere in the Festival, while the International Competition Golden Alexander winner will secure its place in the Oscars’ shortlist.
Thessaloniki Doc Festival Agora announces major new prize; call for submissions
The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Industry hub, Agora, which next runs March 8-16 2024, has announced a partnership with IEFTA Foundation which will see the presentation of a new €10,000 award to a project participating in Thessaloniki Pitching Forum. Deadlines of 5 and 12 January respectively for submissions for Thessaloniki Pitching Forum and Agora Docs in Progress.
