Amnesty International Award for a film on Human Rights : The award goes to : « PETITION » Zhao Liag France/China. 2009. 124'There are many reasons why theAmnesty International Award, is of great importance to the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century. First of all, because it brings in contact two institutions that share a strong sensitization andsimilar goals. Furthermore, they both operate on a complementary level, with the Festival promoting and screenin...

Amnesty International Award for a film on Human Rights :The award goes to : « PETITION »Zhao Liag France/China. 2009. 124'There are many reasons why the Amnesty International Award, is of great importance to the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century. First of all, because it brings in contact two institutions that share a strong sensitization and similar goals. Furthermore, they both operate on a complementary level, with the Festival promoting and screening films by d...

 Suisse de nationalité, cet homme de 38 ans, père de quatre enfants, au large sourire, est avant tout un journaliste et tiens à le rester pour pouvoir initier ses documentaires. Il a couvert l'actualité en ex Union Soviétique et au Moyen Orientpour plusieurs médias francophones, dirigé le bureau de l'agence de presse américaine Bloomberg à Téhéran de 2005 à 2007. Pour son premier documentaire, il nous emmène là où personne n'a jamais été autorisé à aller, sur la plus grande p...

  Suisse de nationalité, cet homme de 38 ans, père de quatre enfants, au large sourire, est avant tout un journaliste et tiens à le rester pour pouvoir initier ses documentaires. Il a couvert l'actualité en ex Union Soviétique et au Moyen Orientpour plusieurs médias francophones, dirigé le bureau de l'agence de presse américaine Bloomberg à Téhéran de 2005 à 2007. Pour son premier documentaire, il nous emmène là où personne n'a jamais été autorisé à aller, sur la plus...

  On Friday, March 19, the European Documentary Network (EDN) held its ‘Award Ceremony', during the 12th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century. Until now, the EDN honoured European personalities and organisations which made a great contribution to documentary film industry.  This year, however, the Award was given to the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers' Association (IRDFA). Hanne Skjodt, director of EDN, spoke on behalf of her organisation, referring to th...

On Friday, March 19, the European Documentary Network (EDN) held its ‘Award Ceremony', during the 12th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century. Until now, the EDN honoured European personalities and organisations which made a great contribution to documentary film industry.  This year, however, the Award was given to the Iranian Documentary Filmmakers' Association (IRDFA).Hanne Skjodt, director of EDN, spoke on behalf of her organisation, referring to the decision to w...

What's new in the market this year? The big difference this year is that all the documentaries are digitalised now, so all the buyers but also the press and the guests can see the documentary films anytime they want in individual rooms. Priority given to the buyers of course! There are 479 documentaries available in the market, both from the festival's selection and other documentary films from major production companies, with more than 60 interested buyers.  This year, 20 new buyers from Europ...

What's new in the market this year? The big difference this year is that all the documentaries are digitalised now, so all the buyers but also the press and the guests can see the documentary films anytime they want in individual rooms. Priority given to the buyers of course! There are 479 documentaries available in the market, both from the festival's selection and other documentary films from major production companies, with more than 60 interested buyers.  This year, 20 new buyers ...

 Six weeks is the period in which mothers in Poland must decide whether or not they want to give up their parental rights.  Six weeks from when the baby is born up until the final decision.  The doubts, the moments of grief, the ‘I have no other choice', hesitancies, the rules that only allow the biological mother to contact the child after 10 years, the discussions with the psychologist, and lastly the child's point of view. This very short documentary, only 18 minutes, follows a story...

   Six mois à la CAFDA. Non, ce n'est pas une peine de prison ! La CAFDA c'est le centre de coordination pour l'accueil des familles demandeuses d'asile en France et  six mois, c'est le temps passé par les réalisateurs à suivre plus particulièrement deux assistantes sociales en charge de recevoir et d'aider ces familles, débarquant de tous les coins du monde et ne parlant ni un mot de français, ni deux d'anglais. Caroline et Colette sont confrontées tous les jours a  à ces arri...

   Foreign documentary films over 45mn: 1. A MOTHER'S COURAGE: TALKING BACK TO AUTISM (Former title: The Sunshine Boy) (Iceland, 2009) Fridrik Thor Fridriksson 2. MONICA AND DAVID (USA, 2009) Alexandra Codina 3. DREAMLAND (Iceland, 2009) Thorfinnur Gudnason, Andri Snaer Magnason   Foreign documentary films under 45mn: 1. ODYSSEAS (Greece, 2010) Vahagn Karapetyan 2. SIX WEEKS (Poland, 2009) Marcin Janos Krawczyk 3. THE LAST TRUCK ...

  Tonight's screening at Olympion’s theatre French Movie from Claires Bories et Pascal Chagnard : The Arrivals. This movie will be released in France April the 7th. The story of two women, social workers in charge to deal with the foreigners , new arrivals in France without any papers. How to deal with this situation, how can they help…     Catherine Esway    ...

  Le miraculé, c’est un haïtien de 22 ans qui est resté onze jours bloqué dans un trou sans lumière sous les ruines de la boutique dans laquelle il travaillait ce 21 janvier lors du tremblement de terre. Il a fait la « une » de la presse internationale, mais c’est en partie grâce à des bénévoles grecs,  que ce jeune homme a pu être sauvé. C’est l’incroyable histoire que nous raconte ce film, celle d’une équipe de civils, qui s’est mise en route, grâce ...

  Le miraculé, c’est un haïtien de 22 ans qui est resté onze jours bloqué dans un trou sans lumière sous les ruines de la boutique dans laquelle il travaillait ce 21 janvier lors du tremblement de terre. Il a fait la « une » de la presse internationale, mais c’est en partie grâce à des bénévoles grecs,  que ce jeune homme a pu être sauvé. C’est l’incroyable histoire que nous raconte ce film, celle d’une équipe de civils, qui s’est mise en route, grâce �...

     Just Talking is a side event organized by the 12th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Images of the 21st Century, which brings together film-makers and documentary professionals from different parts of the world. This event invites its guests to an open, relaxed discussion, giving documentary professionals the opportunity to know one another on a personal level, to exchange views, and share experiences.  The sessions are held in a friendly and informal environment and revo...

 Dimitris Gerardis, Director, Greece, WAR ZONE: THE MIRACLE, 2010/80mn (Stories to Tell)      Marc Wolfensberger, Director, Switzerland, OIL ROCKS – CITY ABOVE THE SEA, 2009/54mn (Habitat)     Pierre-Oliver Francois, Director, France, A BARREL FULL OF DREAMS, 2009/93mn (View of the World)     Selana Vronti, Director, Greece, ZORRO THE CAT, 2010/53mn (Portraits: Human Journeys)    Catherine Esway, assisted by Julianna Photopoulos ...

How can short documentaries be produced and packaged in a compelling way? What are the challenges and advantages when working with international co-productions of short documentaries? Will the digital future bring a bigger need for short formats?  These are some of the issues explored in this master class focusing on the German -Czech co-production Breathless. This project consists of five short creative documentaries on the theme Breathless - Dominance of the Moment.  During the masterc...