PRESS RELEASE
49TH TIFF LINE-UP & INTERNATIONAL JURY
With less than ten days to go before the start of the event, we have the pleasure to contact you again with the latest news from this year’s 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which kicks off Friday, November 14th.
A number of approximately two hundred and thirty films (features and shorts), including two world premieres, six international premieres and three European ones, and representing 55 countries, compose this year’s festival program. A complete list of this year’s line up can be found at the downloadable file. Nearly one thousand guests are expected to be present, including the creative teams from the films presented in the various sections of the event, as well as 90 foreign film critics and journalists plus their local counterparts.
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)
Yesim Ustaoglu, Director (Turkey)
Lisa Stantic, Producer (Argentina)
Emile Dequenne, Actress (Belgium)
David Robinson, Film critic (UK) and
Dionisis Savopoulos, Composer (Greece)
FIPRESCI JURY
The five-member FIPRESCI Jury called to judge films in the International Competition and the Greek Films 2008 sections is composed of:
Guenther Jekubzik, President (Germany)
Margit Tonson (Estonia)
Olga Markova (Bulgaria)
Andrzej Bokuwiecki (Poland)
Nikos Kourmoulis (Greece)
BALKAN FUND JURY
The five-member Balkan Fund Jury called to award four projects in the 2008 Balkan Fund script workshop is composed of:
Richard Kwietniowski, Screenwriter/director (Poland/UK)
Milcho Manchevski, Screenwriter/director (FYROM)
Simon Perry, Producer and Chief executive of the Irish Film Board (Ireland)
Razvan Radulescu, Screenwriter (Romania)
Christina Kallas, Screenwriter/producer (Greece/Germany)
THE PROGRAM
We have sent you various press releases during the past months informing you about the sections, retrospectives, spotlights and special events which form, together with the Official sections (International Competition, Out of Competition, Special Screenings) the program of this year’s festival (Jean – Pierre and Luc Dardenne Tribute, Ousmane Sembene Retrospective, Terence Davies Retrospective, Division And Unity: Cinema In The Middle East, Experimental Forum, Focus: Commune 2008, Balkan Survey: Tribute to Contemporary Turkish Cinema & Romanian Shorts, Greek Tributes: Generation Next and Manos Zakharias). The International Competition section, programmed by Festival Director Despina Mouzaki, is composed of 14 first or second films by new and emerging directors. The official programme also features three films presented Out of Competition: Lake Tahoe by Fernando Eimbcke (Mexico, 2008), Cordero de Dios by Lucia Cedron (Argentina, 2008) and Frozen River by Courtney Hunt (USA, 2008). The Special Screenings section features seven films: Linha de Passe by Walter Salles and Daniela Tomas (Brazil, 2008), Cafe de los Maestros by Miguel Kohan (Argentina, 2008), Achilles and the Tortoise by Takeshi Kitano (Japan, 2008), Rachel Getting Married by Jonathan Demme (USA, 2008), W. by Oliver Stone (USA, 2008), New Town Killers by Richard Jobson (UK, 2008) and Ashes of Time Redux by Wong Kar Wai (Hong Kong/China, 2008).
Below you will find some additional information on the 49th TIFF event.
GUESTS’ INFO
In addition to the guests previously confirmed, the 49th Thessaloniki Film Festival announces the following:
Oliver Stone will attend the 49th TIFF to present his new film, W. Stone will receive an honorary Golden Alexander for his work and will conduct a Masterclass on the 18th of November at 12.00. Starring Josh Brolin as President George W. Bush, W, is another one in Stone’s “American president films”, following JFK and Nixon. In addition, director and musician Emir Kusturica will attend the Festival in order to present a Masterclass and perform a live concert with the No Smoking Band. Finally, Arta Dobroshi, the 28-year old actress from Kosovo who received glowing reviews for the leading role in Lorna's Silence by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, will attend the Festival on the occasion of the Dardennes Tribute and the screening of the film.
Jean – Pierre and Luc Dardenne: Arrival 14/11 - Departure 16/11 - Masterclass 15/11
Haris Zambarloukos (Director of Photography, Mamma Mia): Arrival 14/11 - Departure 24/11 - Masterclass 16/11
Diablo Cody (Screenwriter, Academy Award winner for Juno): Arrival 14/11 - Departure 24/11 - Masterclass 17/11
Takeshi Kitano: Arrival 16/11 - Departure 20/11 - Press Conference 19/11 - Masterclass 19/11
Arta Dobroshi: Arrival 16/11 - Departure 19/11
Oliver Stone: Arrival 17/11 - Departure 20/11 - Press Conference 18/11 - Masterclass 18/11
Emir Kusturica: Arrival 17/11 - Departure 20/11 - Masterclass 19/11
Manos Zakharias: Arrival 17/11 - Departure 23/11 - Masterclass 21/11
Terence Davies: Arrival 18/11 - Departure 20/11 - Masterclass 20/11
Gustavo Santaolalla: Arrival 20/11 - Departure 24/11 - Masterclass 21/11
Theo Angelopoulos: Arrival 22/11 - Departure 25/11 - Press Conference 22/11 (with Willem Dafoe)
Willem Dafoe: Arrival 21/11 - Departure 24/11 - Press Conference 22/11 (with Theo Angelopoulos) - Masterclass 22/11
Richard Jobson (Director, New Town Killers): Arrival 21/11 - Departure 24/11 - Masterclass 22/11
Guillermo Navarro (Director of Photography, Academy Award winner for Pan’s Labyrinth): Arrival 22/11 - Departure 24/11 - Masterclass 23/11
JUST TALKING
Held every day from 16.00 to 17.00, at the old Pump Station situated at the Festival Pier, Just Talking is an open discussion in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. The event, which will be held in English, will allow Greek and international directors to meet each other and exchange views on their work and experiences. For the event, discussion groups will be created, made up of directors, journalists and other film professionals. The audience of accredited festival attendees can choose to either simply listen or participate while enjoying some wine and coffee. The Just Talking coordinator/moderator is Elena Christopoulou at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Should you need more information or have any comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.
REGIONAL SCREENINGS
November 22nd to December 2nd
The Regional Screenings are the Festival’s way of communicating with the various cities of Greece, bringing the latest foreign and domestic films that form part of the Festival program to regional audiences. The detailed screening program will be announced shortly.
The 49th Thessaloniki International Film Festival Regional Screenings this year will travel to several Greek cities such as Alexandroupolis, Kavala, Serres, Kozani, Ioannina, Kastoria, Edessa and Grevena.
* NOTE TO THE PRESS:
As previously announced, Dust of Time, the new Theo Angelopoulos film, will be screened at the Olympion theatre on 22/11, at 23:00. In addition, a PRESS SCREENING of the film will be held on the same day, 22/11, at 09:00, at the Olympion theatre and a PRESS CONFERENCE will take place at 15:00 in Warehouse C, right after the Willem Dafoe Masterclass (22/11 at 11:30, John Cassavetes Theatre).
