Thessaloniki

PRESS RELEASE

11th THESSALONIKI DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL
Images of the 21st Century

March 13 – 22, 2009

The 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century, part of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, presents approximately 170 films by directors from all over the world, as well as a full parallel events program, to be announced next Monday, March 9th.

OPENING FILM

The Red Race, directed by Chao Gan (China / Germany, 2008). The
award-winning documentary, to be screened after the 11th TDF opening
ceremony on Friday the 13th of March, recounts the stories of several
Chinese children-gymnasts who (are forced to) dream of becoming famous
athletes. The 6-year-olds at the Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School
in Shanghai, trained relentlessly in the hopes they will one day be
gold medalists, provide the subjects for a sometimes harsh, yet moving
and intimate film.

FIPRESCI JURY

An international FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics)
jury will hand out a FIPRESCI award to a Greek documentary and a
FIPRESCI award to a foreign documentary.

The five-member Fipresci Jury is composed of:

Laszlo Kriston, President (Hungary)

Dubravka Lakic (Serbia)

Michael Pekler (Austria)

Jose Miguel Gaspar (Portugal) and

Dimitris Haritos (Greece)

11th TDF LINE-UP

VIEWS OF THE WORLD

• Le Paradis De Sandra/Sandra's Paradise, Marianne Roussy, France, 74’, 2008
• El Olvido/Oblivion, Heddy Honigmann, Netherlands, 93’, 2008
• Alt Er Relativt/Everything Is Relative, Mikala Krogh, Denmark, 75’, 2008
• Par Dzimteniti/Three Men And A Fish Pond, Laila Pakalnina, Maris Maskalans, Latvia, 52’, 2008
• Temoin Indesirable- Sin Tregua/Unwanted Witness, Juan Jose Lozano, Switzerland, France, 90’, 2008
• The Red Race, Chao Gan, China, 70’, 2008
• Rough Aunties/Rough Aunties, Kim Longinotto, United Kingdom, 103’, 2008
• Children Of The Pyre/Children Of The Pyre, Rajesh S. Jala, India, 74’, 2008
• Latawce/Kites, Beata Dzianowicz, Poland, 80’, 2008
• Marina Of The Zabbaleen, Engi Wassef, USA, 70’, 2008
• Kjotborg/The Corner Shop, Helga Rakel Rafnsdottir, Hulda Ros Udnadottir, Iceland, 44’, 2008
• Manhole Children, Taro Takahashi, Japan, 117’, 2008
• Min Mammas Gard/My Mother's Farm, Ilze Burkovska-Jacobsen, Norway, Latvia, 55’, 2008
• Corazon De Fabrica/Heart Of Factory, Ernesto Ardito, Virna Molina, Argentina, 129’, 2008
• Child Miners, Rodrigo Vazquez, United Kingdom, Bolivia, 44’, 2008
• Apocalipsa Dupa Soferi/Apocalypse On Wheels, Alexandru Solomon, Romania, 52’, 2008
• The Solitary Life Of Cranes, Eva Weber, United Kingdom, 27’, 2008
• Torgheh, Mohammad Hassan Damanzan, Iran, 52’, 2008
• Lilit'in Kizkardesleri/Sisters Of Lilith, Emel Celebi, Turkey, 41’, 2008
• Bells, Threads & Miracles, Marianna Economou, Greece, 65’, 2008
• On The Way To School, Orhan Eskikoy, Ozgur Dogan, Turkey, 81’, 2008
• Taxidi Sti Rahiv/Journey To Rakhiv, Takis Touliatos, Greece, 65’, 2008
• Rien A Perdre/Nothing To Lose, Jean Henri Meunier, France, 78’, 2008
• Circus School, Guo Jing, Ke Dingding, China, 103’, 2007
• Zeru Zeru Ta Fandasmata/ Zeru Zeru The Ghosts, Yorgos Avgeropoulos, Greece, 60’, 2009

HUMAN RIGHTS

• Flores De Ruanda/Flowers Of Rwanda, David Munoz, Spain, 24’, 2008
• The Day After Peace, Jeremy Gilley, United Kingdom, 81’, 2008
• Seaview, Paul Rowley, Nicky Cogan, Ireland, 82’, 2008
• Letter To Anna, Eric Bergkraut, Switzerland, 83’, 2008
• Burma Vj - Reporter I Et Lukket Land/ Burma Vj - Reporting From A
Closed Country, Anders Hosbro Ostergaard, Denmark, 85’, 2008
• A Blooming Business, Ton Van Zantvoort, Netherlands, 55’, 2009
• Enjoy Poverty, Renzo Martens, Netherlands, 90’, 2008
• Umoja, Le Village Interdit Aux Hommes/Umoja, The Village Where Men
Are Forbidden, Jean Crousillac, Jean Marc Sainclair, France, 52’, 2008
• Rich Brother, Insa Onken, Germany, 97’, 2009

HYBRID DOCS

• Slepe Lasky/ Blind Loves, Juraj Lehotsky, Slovak Republic, 77’, 2008
• Klucis. The Deconstruction Of An Artist, Peteris Krilovs, Latvia, France, Greece, 88’, 2008
• Courting Condi, Sebastian Doggart, USA, 107’, 2008
• Nedar/ Swimming, Carla Subirana, Spain, 90’, 2008
• Antoine, Laura Bari, Canada, 82’, 2008
• Bloody Mondays & Strawberry Pies, Coco Schrijber, Netherlands, 87’, 2008
• This Dust Of Words, Bill Rose, USA, 60’, 2008
• Slavar/Slaves, David Aronowitsch, Hanna, Heilborn, Sweden, 15’, 2008
• Nikos Kazantzakis Akrovatis Pano Apo To Haos/ Nikos Kazantzakis
Acrobat Above The Chaos, Lefteris Haronitis, Greece, 98’, 2008
• The Age Of Stupid, Franny Armstrong, United Kingdom, 89’, 2009
• Kamaeleonernes Strand/Chameleon Beach, Adam Schmedes, Denmark, 52’, 2008

MUSIC

• Muzyczna Partyzantka/Music Partisans, Miroslaw Dembinski, Poland, 53’, 2007
• Squeezebox!, Steve Saporito, Zach Shaffer, USA, 91’, 2008
• Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, USA, 102’, 2008
• Rip-A Remix Manifesto, Brett Gaylor, Canada, 80’, 2008
• Every Little Step, Adam Del Deo, James D. Stern, USA, 95’, 2008
• Kreuzberg 36, Angeliki Aristomenopoulou, Greece, 52’, 2008
• Celia The Queen, Joe Cardona, Mario De Varona, USA, 90’, 2008
• The Agony And Ecstasy Of Phil Spector, Vikram Jayanti, United Kingdom, 103’, 2008

PORTRAITS – HUMAN JOURNEYS

• Chris And Don, A Love Story, Guido Santi, Tina Mascara, USA, 90’, 2007
• Rene, Helena Trestikova, Czech Republic, 83’, 2008
• No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo And Vilmos, James Chressanthis, USA, 97’,2008
• The Ladies, Christina Voros, USA, 13’, 2007
• Louise Bourgeois: The Spider, The Mistress And The Tangerine, Amei Wallach, Marion Cajori, USA, 99’, 2008
• Huxley On Huxley, Mary Ann Braubach, USA,60’, 2008
• Bunu Gercekten Yapmali Miyim?/Should I Really Do It?, Ismail Necmi, Turkey, 86’ 2008
• T 4 Trouble And The Self Admiration Society, Dimitris Athiridis, Greece, 108’, 2008
• Charisma X- Iannis Xenakis, Efi Xirou, Greece, 62’, 2008
• Filo Ke Marina/Filo And Marina, Kalliopi Legaki, Greece, 74’, 2009
• Kassim The Dream Kief Davidson, USA, 87’, 2008
• Valentino, The Last Emperor, Matt Turnauer, USA, 95’, 2008
• Flying On One Engine, Joshua Weinstein, USA, India, 51’, 2007
• Masterclass, Algis Kemezys, Greece, Canada, 57’, 2008
• Drottningen Och Jag/The Queen And I, Nahid Persson Sarvestani, Sweden, 93’, 2008

RECORDINGS OF MEMORY

• Nerakhoon/The Betrayal, Ellen Kuras, Thavisouk Phrasavath, USA, 96’, 2008
• Secrecy, Peter Galison, Robb Moss, USA, 81’,2008
• Persona Non Grata, Fabio Wuytack, Belgium, 90’, 2008
• Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery, Jon Alpert, Matthew O' Neill, USA, 53’, 2008
• Kapetan Kemal, O Syndrofos/Captain Kemal, A Comrade, Fotos Lamprinos, Greece, 72’, 2008
• Allos Dromos Den Ipirhe/Trere Was No Other Way, Stavros Psilakis, Greece, 87’, 2009
• I Zoi Stous Vrahous/Among The Rocks, Alinda Dimitriou, Greece, 98’, 2009

STORIES TO TELL

• Fra Thailand Til Thy/Love On Delivery, Janus Metz, Denmark, 59’, 2008
• The Mother, Antoine Cattin, Pavel Kostomarov, Switzerland, France, Russia, 80’, 2007
• Frau Mercedes/Lady Mercedes, David Fonjallaz, Switzerland, 52’, 2007
• Des Hommes/Men, Khristine Gillard, Belgium, 70’, 2008
• Long Distance Love, Elin Jonsson, Magnus Gertten, Sweden, 88’, 2008
• Circus Rosaire, Robyn Bliley, USA, 90’, 2008
• Prodigal Sons, Kimberly Reed, USA, 86’, 2008
• Theo Angelopoulos Dreht" Der Staub Der Zeit"/Theo Angelopoulos Films "Dust Of Time", Nicos Ligouris, Germany, 47’, 2008
• Fra Thy Til Thailand/Ticket To Paradise, Janus Metz, Denmark, 58’, 2008
• Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father, Kurt Kuenne, USA, 93’, 2008
• Odini: Mikres Istories Anergias/Grief: Little Tales Of Unemployment, Yorgos Zervas, Greece, 53’, 2008
• Ethnikos Kipos/National Garden, Apostolos Karakasis, Greece, 73’, 2009
• Louomeni/Bathers, Eva Stefani, Greece, 46’, 2008

HABITAT

• At The Edge Of The World, Dan Stone, USA, 101’, 2008
• Blue Gold: World Water Wars, Sam Bozzo, USA, 90’,2008
• Su Napoli/About Naples, Robert Russo, Italy, USA, 52’, 2008
• Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action, Velcrow Ripper, Canada, 97’, 2008
• Los Jardines Colgantes De Santa Emilia/The Hanging Gardens Of Santa Emilia, Floor Kooij, Sibel Bilgin, Netherlands,60’,2008
• Taking Root: The Vision Of Wangari Maathai, Alan Dater, Lisa Merton, USA, 80’, 2008
• Kavijar Koneksn/The Caviar Connection, Dragan Nikolic, Serbia, USA, 58’, 2008
• Zhong Shu De Nan Ren/The Man Who Plants Trees,Yu-Hsien Lin, Taiwan 55’, 2008
• Blast! Paul Devlin, USA, 74’, 2008
• Another Planet: Masik Bolygo, Ferenc Moldovanyi, Hungary, 96’, 2008
• Crude, Joe Berlinger, USA, 100’, 2008
• Upstream Battle, Ben Kempas, Germany, 97’, 2008
• Apo Ton Olympo Sto Everest/From Olympus To Everest, Pavlos Tsiandos, Greece, 90’,2009
• Sos, Zoa Se Kindyno/Sos, Animals In Danger, Angelos Kovotsos, Greece, 26’, 2009

TRIBUTE: AFRICA

• Barcelone Ou La Mort/Barcelona Or Die, Idrissa Guiro, France, 51’, 2007
• The Dancing Forest, Brice Laine, United Kingdom, Togo, France, 76’, 2008
• Iron Ladies Of Liberia, Daniel Junge, Siatta Scott-Johnson, Liberia, 53’, 2007
• Victims De Nos Richesses/Victims Of Our Riches, Kal Toure, Mali, 59’, 2007
• Keiskamma - A Story Of Love, Miki Redelinghuys, South Africa, 90’, 2007
• Le Monologue De La Muette/The Silent Monologue, Charlie Van Damme, Khady Sylla, France, Belgium, Senegal, 45’, 2007
• Inyuma Y'ababikira/Behind This Convent, Gilbert Ndahayo, Rwanda, 120’, 2008
• Love, Positively, Peter Murimi, Uganda, 13’, 2008
• Forced To Flee, Peter Murimi, Pollyrenton, Democratic Republic Of Congo, 19’, 2008
• Slum Survivors, David Gough, Kenya, 42’, 2007

SPOTLIGHT: AUSTRIA

• Let's Make Money, Erwinwagenhofer, Austria, 108’, 2008
• Who's Afraid Of Kathy Acker?, Barbara Par, Austria, Germany, 84’, 2008
• 7915 Km, Nikolaus Geyrhalter, Austria, 97’, 2008
• Die Vatersucherin/Figuring Out Father, Sandra Lohr, Austria, Germany, 40’, 2008
• A Road To Mecca-The Journey Of Muhammad Adad, Georg Misch, Austria, 92’, 2008
• Back To Africa, Othmar Schmiderer, Austria, 97’, 2008
• Defamation, Yoav Shamir, Austria, 93’, 2008

SPOTLIGHT: MEXICO

• Intimidades De Shakespeare Y Victor Hugo/ Shakespeare And Victor Hugo's Intimacies, Yulene Olaizola, Mexico, 83’, 2008
• Mi Vida Dentro/ My Life Inside, Lucia Gaja, Mexico, 120’, 2007
• Nacido Sin/ Born Without, Eva Norvind, Mexico, 82’, 2007
• Los Herederos/ The Inheritors, Eugenio Polgovsky, Mexico, 90’, 2008
• Presunto Culpable/ Presumed Guilty, Roberto Hernandez, Mexico, 90’, 2009
• Ex-Voto Para Tres Animas/Ex-Voto For Three Souls, Diego Rivera Kohn, Mexico, 43’, 2008
• La Sirena Y El Buzo/The Mermaid And The Diver, Mercedes Moncada Rodriguez, Mexico, Spain, 86’, 2009

SPOTLIGHT: STEFAN SCHWIETERT

• A Tickle In The Heart, Germany, Switzerland, 84’, 1996
• El Acordeon Del Diablo/The Devil's Accordion, Germany, Switzerland, 90’, 2000
• Das Alphorn/The Alphorn Story, Switzerland, 83’, 2003
• Accordion Tribe, Austria, Switzerland, 87’, 2004
• Heimatklange/Echoes Of Home, Germany, Switzerland, 83’, 2007

FOTOS LAMPRINOS TRIBUTE

• 100 Ores Tou Mai/ 100 Hours In May, Greece, 28’, 1964
• Episkefthite Tin Ellada/ Visit Greece, Greece, 25’, 1969
• O Piraias Tou Yanni Tsarouchi/ Yannis Tsarouchis’ Piraeus, Greece, 30’, 1980
• Aris Velouchiotis - To Dilimma/ Aris Velouchiotis – The Dilemma, Greece, 112’, 1981
• Panorama Tou Aiona - 1° Episodio (1895 - 1900)/ Panorama Of The Century – 1st Episode (1895-1900), Greece, 35’, 1984
• Sergei Paradjanov, O Exoristos/ Sergei Paradjanov, The Exile, Greece, 35’, 1990
• Moscha - Noemvrios 1990. Epistrofi Sto Mellon /Moscow – November 1990. Return To The Future, Greece, 30’, 1991
• H Omorfia Tha Sosei Ton Kosmo/Beauty Will Save The World, Greece, 56’, 1992
• Glendi Genethlion I Mia Vouvi Valkaniki Istoria/Birthday Celebration Or A Silent Balkan Story, Greece, 67’, 1995
• Ischis Mou I Agapi Tou Fakou/ My Power Lies In The Love Of The Lens, Greece, 50’, 2005

SPOTLIGHT: PETER WINTONICK

• Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky And The Media, Peter Wintonick, Mark Achbar, Canada, 167’, 1992
• Pilgrimage, Peter Wintonick, Mira Burt Wintonick, Canada, 82’, 2008

GREEK PANORAMA

• Epistrofi sti Milo/Milos Revisited, Nikos Alpantakis, 80’, 2008
• Vgikame apo ta Roucha mas /The Word Naked Bike Ride Project In Thessaloniki, Eli Zerbini, 27’, 2008
• Krisi tou Kapitalismou – Ti Simeni na Zi Kanis /The Crisis Of
Capitalism -What Is The Meaning Of Life, Yorgos Keramidiotis, 59’, 2008

• Cyclown Circus, Dimitris Sfiris, 67’, 2008
• Frixos, Emmanuel Tselentakis, 63’, 2008
• Express Scopelitis – I Mana ton Nision / Express Scopelitis - Mother Of The Islands, Manolis Kazamias, 53’, 2008
• O Planeftis tou Grammou /The Charmer Of Grammos, Vangelis Efthimiou, 26’, 2009
• Arta. Ta Kalamia tou Saki. I Dalika tou Elia. O Dromos gia ti
Florina. Fasolia Gigantes / Arta. Sakis's Reeds. Elias's Lorry. The
Road To Florina. Giants Beans, Yorgos Matsikas, 29’, 2008
• To Deos tis Megalis Skias /In Awe Of The Great Shadow Manolis Dimelas, Filipos Alaveras, 21’, 2009.
• Bombing, Angelos Athanassopoulos, Dimitris Nikolopoulos, 28’, 2008
• Victoria Theodorou: Ta Kimata pou me Didaksan to Anipotakto/Victoria
Theodorou: The Waves That Taught Me To Be Unsubdued, Kostas Dandinakis,
80’, 2008
• Rithmi kai Rimes /Rhythm And Rhymes, Nikos Skaretzos, 77’ 2008
• To Oropedi tis Eglouvis Kodikos: III 293/The Eglouvi Plateau Code: Ill 293, Eleonora Fiorou, 78’, 2008
• Ta Pedia tis Chorodias/Sing Along, Lukia Rikaki, 68’, 2008
• Katrina Music, Chronis Pehlivanidis, James Brooke, 60’, 2008
• To Kentro tou Simpantos /Center Of The Universe, Iordanis Karasairidis, Yorgos Paterakis, 15’, 2007
• Schoolwave On The Rocks, Alexandros Gramatopoulos, 43’, 2008.
• To Velma tou Zoou /The Stare Of The Animal, Angelos Panagou, 16’ 2008
• Gender Pop, Constantinos Gianaris, 40’, 2008

GREEK TELEVISION

• Topos Zois – Topos Mnimis: To Elliniki Idrima sto Parisi/Place Of
Life-Place Of Memory, The Greek Foundation In Paris, Pandora Mouriki
Greece, 56’, 2009
• To Ginmasio Rizokarpasou/The Gymnasium Of Rizokarpaso, Natassa Louka, Cyprus, Greece, 60’, 2008
• Mikis Theodorakis: To Chroma tis Eleftherias/Mikis Theodorakis: The Color Of Freedom, Yiannis Katomeris, Greece,117’, 2008
• Empolemi Zoni: To Poligono /War Zone: The Polygon, Dimitris Gerardis, Greece, 70’, 2008
• Oi Kerees tis Epochis Mas - Gunnar Staalesen/The Antennas Of Our Time
- Gunnar Staalesen, Etien-Nikolaos Theotokis, Greece, 53’, 2008
• Chrissi Macedonia /Golden Macedonia, Apostolos Tsitsoulis, Greece, 60’, 2009
• Paraskinio: Andreas Embirikos, o Piitis Mesa apo tis Ikones
Tou/Backstage: Andreas Embirikos, The Poet Through His Pictures, Elias
Yiannakakis, Greece, 51’, 2008
• Paraskinio: Jules Dassin, Enas Amerikanos Skinothetis/Backstage:
Jules Dassin, An American Director, Yorgos Skevas, Greece, 51’, 2009