Generation Next, TIFF’s new program that is part of the festival’s Greek Section, was presented to the public on Tuesday, November 18th, at Tonia Marketaki theater. ‘Today we are making a leap into the future by presenting a new generation of Greek filmmakers, better known as Generation Next’, said Konstantinos Kontovrakis, Head of Greek Program.
TIFF president, Georges Corraface expressed his enthusiasm and satisfaction for the Generation Next initiative and wished the young directo...
The round-table discussion “Division and Unity: Cinema in the Middle East” took place on Tuesday, November 18th at Stavros Tornes theatre, as part of the 49th Thessaloniki’s International Film Festival spotlight on Middle Eastern cinema. According to Dr. Hassan Βadawy, professor of History and Archeology of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Middle East is a land of extremities, of faith in faithlessness, of being dogmatic about being non-dogmatic. ‘The major question for filmmakers ...
The unexpected duet of Stone and Kusturica at the No Smoking Band concert, held on Tuesday night at Warehouse C, in the context of the 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, thrilled the crowd of the event. The renowned film director went on stage and marked this unique concert.
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Director Manos Zakharias was honored at a special ceremony on Monday November 17th, in the context of the TIFF’s retrospective to his work. The ceremony took place at Tonia Marketaki theater which was filled with friends and fans of the great filmmaker. Among them were the director’s life-time partner Liolia and his daughter Lena, who both received a flower bouquet from TIFF’s president Georges Corraface as an honor for their contribution to the work of Mr. ...
American director and producer Oliver Stone gave his press conference on Tuesday, November 18th at the Warehouse C.
Talking about his latest film W., Oliver Stone recalled the period when he was studying with George Bush at Yale University in 1968. He described the president of the U.S.A. as a sociable person and member of various fraternities, and then referred to their meeting in 1998 when George Bush was the Governor of Texas. ‘I was impressed by his confidence and how well organize...
The 4th Crossroads Co-production Forum, organized by the 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), started on Monday, November 17th, in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
This year’s Industry Center is being hosted at the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography. Crossroad’s artistic director, Marie-Pierre Macia, French producer and former director of Cannes’ Directors’ Forthnight, welcomed the guests and said she is very pleased with the program’s progress, which is f...
The first ‘Just Talking’ event of this year’s Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) took place on Sunday, November 16th, at the Old Pump Station in Thessaloniki’s port.
Naoko Ogigami, director of the film ‘Megane / The glasses’ (Focus), Anna Boden, director of the film ‘Sugar’ (Independence days), Tomas Alfredson, director of the film ‘Let the right one in’ (Independence days) and the leading actor of the film ‘Terribly happy’ (Independence days) Jacob Ceder...
Greek Director Manos Zakharias, whom TIFF honors with a retrospective to his work this year, talked about his films, Greek cinema and Greek filmmakers during a press conference that took place on Monday, November 17th.
TIFF Director, Despina Mouzaki, launched the press conference saying: ‘Manos Zakharias is a deeply moral person and filmmaker. We wanted to introduce this side of the filmmaker to our audience this year, with a complete retrospective of his work. A work with Greek roots and ...
Diablo Cody’s spontaneity and humor became evident during her masterclass on Monday, November 17th at the John Kassavetes Theater. The American screenwriter and producer, who has won 18 awards – among them the Oscar for Original Screenplay and the BAFTA for Original Screenplay – for her début script for the film ’Juno’, is one of TIFF’s International Jury’s members.
‘Writing this script has been the most exciting experience for me. I enjoyed it even more than when I receiv...
On Saturday, November 15th, the acclaimed European cinematographers Luc and Jean Pierre Dardenne were honored with the Golden Alexander Award at the Olympion Theater. Luc Dardenne was present to receive the award for both of them.
‘The Dardenne brothers’ work reaches deep into the human soul and underlines the reasons why cinema is so important to us’, noted TIFF Director Despina Mouzaki. ‘We would like to thank the two filmmakers for placing a mirror in front of our eyes. A ...
Critically acclaimed cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos held a Masterclass on Sunday, November 15th, at the John Kassavetes Theatre. Haris Zambarloukos talked about the way he works with light, his collaboration with known filmmakers, as well as his relationship with modern technology. Film Journalist Yorgos Krassakopoulos was co-ordinating the masterclass.
‘Today we have with us Haris Zambarloukos, a great compatriot, a man who glorified the Aegean landscape in his work for the film Mamma...
The 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) started yesterday, with the opening ceremony being held at the Olympion Theater. This year's opening ceremony has been based on the idea of a journey throughout the history of cinema. Three large screens carried the audience in an exciting trip starting from the Lumière brothers' first images.
Konstantinos Kontovrakis, host of the opening ceremony directed by Angelos Frantzis, welcomed the audience and the 49th TIFF's honored guests...
Oliver Stone Masterclass (11/18/2008)
Political cinema and W., Oliver Stone’s latest film, monopolized interest during the masterclass delivered by the renowned director, which was held at Stavros Tornes theater on Tuesday, November 18th. Among the people attending the Masterclass were TIFF Director, Despina Mouzaki and TIFF President, Georges Corraface.
Despina Mouzaki introduced Ol...
On Saturday, 15th of November at the John Kassavetes Theater, Luc Dardenne, the awarded cinematographer, opened the series of masterclasses organized by the 49th Thessaloniki's International Film Festival (TIFF). Elise Domenach from ‘Positif' magazine was the co-ordinator of the masterclass. ‘Despite the fact that Jean Pierre and Luc Dardenne have won the Golden Phoenix in the Cannes Film Festival twice and have gained the respect of the European film community, they prefer keeping a low ...
Faithful to its annual date with cinephiles, the 49th Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greece's grandest and most prestigious event for the 7th art, opens its doors on November the 14th, 2008, bringing about the transformation of the city of Thessaloniki to a youthful hive of life and creative association.
Multi-awarded Belgian auteurs Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, heretical Japanese actor and director Takeshi Kitano, unconventional English director Terence Davies, internationally renowned and ...
For three years after being forced to resign, Nixon remained silent. But in summer 1977, the former commander-in-chief agreed to sit for one all-inclusive interview to confront the questions of his time in office and the Watergate scandal that ended his presidency. Nixon surprised everyone in selecting Frost as his televised confessor, intending to outfox the breezy British showman and rehabilitate himself in the hearts and minds of the American people. Despite Frost's consummate grasp of the po...
Back in the eighties, Randy "The Ram" Robinson was at the top of his game, but twenty five years later he finds himself trapped by the only thing he knows how to do: fight other men for money. Randy and his fellow fighters form a ragged brotherhood, propped up by a routine of gym workouts, steroids, tanning beds and choreographed mayhem in the ring. But Randy is already working the hard edge of this underground circuit; faced with one opponent who plays to the crowd's bloodlust, he g...
INTERNATIONAL JURY
The seven-member International Jury called to judge the films of the International Competition section and to award the Golden and Silver Alexanders, (Euros 37,000 and 22,000 respectively) plus a number of additional awards backed by Euros 25,000 in cash, is composed of:
Michael Ondaatje, Writer (Canada), President
Diablo Cody, Screenwriter (USA)
Yeşim Ustaoğlu, Director (Turkey)
Lisa Stantic, Producer (Argentina)
Emilie Dequenne, Actress (Belgi...
4th AGORA
November 14 - 23, 2008
49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival
The 4th Agora Film Market will take place from November 14th to 23rd, 2008, in the context of the 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The Agora is continuing last year's highly successful effort, in which 36 films from South Eastern Europe obtained distribution in 18 different world territories.
"In its three years o...
The EDN Award 2008 is presented to Institute of Documentary Film - IDF, located in Prague. They receive the award for their enthusiastic and energetic work with establishing a central organisation and professional platform for the development and promotion of Central and Eastern European documentary. The award will be presented on Friday March 14 at 19:30 (Greek Time) at an award reception at the international documentary pitching session Docs in Thessaloniki. Institute of Documentary Film is ...
Awards Ceremony held Saturday 15th at the Olympion concluded an 8 day long festival that screened over 150 films to a crowd of about 40 000, despite extreme weather conditions (strong sun that got all crowds on bar terraces...)The final ceremony concluded with a poignant screening of the documentary "as seen through these eyes", about drawings and paintings from children in the concentration camps.Party followed at the Santé BarThe folllowing prizes were delivered.THE HELLENIC RED CRO...
The city was founded around 315 BC by the King Cassander of Macedon, on or near the site of the ancient town of Therma and twenty-six other local villages. He named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great (Thessalo-nikē means the "victory of Thessalians"). It was an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Macedon. After the fall of the kingdom of Macedon in 168 BC, Thessalonica became a city of the Roman Republic. It grew to be an important trade-hub located on ...
On Thursday, March 13, at the Excelsior room of the Electra Palace Hotel, the following directors shared their experience of making their films during Just Talking: the directors Sylvain Biegeleisen (The last card), Tiffany Burns (Mr Big), Simon Brook (Generation '68), Dimitris Vernikos (The Mirror and the Knife) and Parvez Sharma (A Jihad for love). Peter Wintonick, producer, director, journalist and co-producer of the film Be like others coordinated the discussion. Opening the discussion, Pete...
A collection of photographs by the Canadian Embassy, shot during the presence of Canada in Afghanistan, in an effort to rebuild the country after a long legacy of conflict. The "Rebuilding Afghanistan" photo exhibit showcases nineteen photographs illustrating the difference Canada is making in the lives of the people of Afghanistan.The collection presents a compelling visual story of the spirit and resilience of Afghans who have overcome a long legacy of conflict. With the internationa...
Having traveled to more than 55 countries with the War Zone crew, Sotiris Danezis has shot a considerable number of still photographs during and in-between productions of the War Zone episodes. They say that silence is the loudest cry; that through silence one can say more than one can with words; that only through silence can one stop describing and start experiencing. Sotiris Danezis' exhibition of photographs entitled"One Second of Silence", at the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography...
