1-10 November 2013
CLOSING CEREMONY
The curtain fell on the 54th edition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival on Saturday, November 9 2013, with the closing ceremony at a packed Olympion Theater. Actress Stefania Goulioti presented the event.
In his welcoming speech, festival director Dimitri Eipides summarized the accomplishments of this year’s edition: “The 54th Thessaloniki International Film Festival sent a resounding message: the need for creativity and communication triumphs even in times of hardship. I am very pleased that the Festival achieved its aim: A fruitful edition, focused on independent films. Osmosis with the audience was palpable; The festival featured a total of 150 films from 54 countries, and moviegoers warmly embraced the Festival: theaters were packed, at over 90% capacity, while many screenings were sold outs. An important part of the Festival is the Agora section, which actively supports film production, attracting established professionals from around the globe. Agora, with its record number of films, the Crossroads Co-Production Forum, and the Works in Progress section also contribute in the promotion of the independent scene. This year, the Agora digital video archive included 300 films, with the participation of 100 Greek and 232 international professionals. This year, we also hosted two special tributes-homages to French filmmakers Alain Guiraudie and Claire Simone. We also met in person the legendary Jim Jarmusch, while Alexander Payne honored us in two ways: he was the president of the International Jury and entrusted us with the premiere of his latest film, Nebraska. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the filmmakers who submitted their work, and also to my collaborators and our volunteers; they all worked hard to make this Festival a success. I also thank our sponsors for their valuable help, and of course audiences for their steadfast support. Thank you all.”
Taking the floor, Thessaloniki’s mayor Yiannis Boutaris, who is also the chairman of the Festival’s board of directors, said: “We have reached the conclusion of yet another edition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Theaters were packed, screenings sold out, and audience participation was once more impressive. Thessaloniki is well aware that the Film Festival is one of its most prominent and internationally established events. The city of Thessaloniki actively supports the Festival and all other institutions that help promote the modern image of the city, while also mobilizing its creative forces. Along with the Documentary Festival, TIFF is an event beloved and supported by the City, the audience and filmmakers. It is to the credit of the Festival that it succeeds in renewing the interest and maintaining the love of audiences and filmmakers. Also considering the Agora section and the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum - Film Archive, two institutions that exist and thrive thanks to the Film Festival, it is clear that Thessaloniki is becoming a cinema center. I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to Festival director Dimitri Eipides, to all the volunteers and filmmakers who participated and of course to all film industry professionals who joined us. We are hopeful that we will meet with all of you again on the occasion of the 55th Film Festival in 2014, when Thessaloniki will be European Youth Capital”.
The presentation of the 54th TIFF awards followed. The International Jury, headed by American filmmaker of Greek descent Alexander Payne, comprised of Variety magazine film critic Scott Foundas, producer Ada Solomon, musician and composer K. Bita and Edouard Waintrop, artistic director of Quinzaine des realisateurs at the Cannes Film Festival.
The most prestigious festival award, that of Best Feature Film (Golden Alexander – Theo Angelopoulos award), was bestowed to The Golden Cage by Diego Quemada - Diez. The award was presented by Alexander Payne, who said: “On behalf of my jury colleagues, allow me to express my thanks to festival director Dimitri Eipides and to all the contributors of this year’s festival for their wonderful hospitality and the great experience they had in store for us in Thessaloniki. We watched 14 films from 11 countries and we were very satisfied with the overall quality. Seventeen years ago, I presented at this festival my first feature film and it gives me great pleasure to see how new directors have evolved in the meantime. Our role is not limited to deciding the winners, but also extends to encouraging emerging filmmakers. Mr Eipides does this with his selections, and we are here to provide even more support.”
The award was received on behalf of the filmmaker by Marina Konti, a representative of the film’s distributor Strada Films, Ms Konti said: “I think this is a case of the common good taste shared by Mr Takis Veremis, the owner of Strada Films, who selects the movies we distribute, and Mr Eipides, who chose the film for the festival’s international competition. It is a great honor to receive the award from the hands of Mr Payne. Thank you very much indeed.”
The Special Jury Award – Silver Alexander was presented by jury member Edouard Waintrop to the film Suzanne by Katell Quillevere. Mrs Konti received the award on behalf of the filmmaker, commenting: “The producers and director of the film could not join us here. We would like to thank the jury and the Thessaloniki Festival for including Suzanne, the Golden Cage, and other films distributed by our company.”
The Special Jury Award for Originality and Innovation – Bronze Alexander was presented by Ada Solomon to the film Bad Hair by Mariana Rondon. Ms Rondon said: “Thank you so much. The festival’s audience was amazing and we will never forget this experience.”
The artistic achievement award for outstanding achievement as a supporting actor was presented to Francois Damiens for his performance in the film Suzanne by Katell Quillevere. Ms Solomon presented the award to the actor, noting: “Being part of this jury was an amazing experience. There are no words to express my thanks to all the people who contributed to the festival: to Mr Eipides and my fellow members of the jury, to the audience that shared with us the pleasure of watching the movies, and of course to the directors who shared their films with us.” Marina Konti received the award on behalf of Strada Films.
The best actress award was bestowed by Mr K. Bita to Sara Forestier for her performance in Katell Quillevere’s film Suzanne. Ms Konti received the award on behalf of the actress.
The best actor award was bestowed ex aequo to Christos Stergioglou for his performance in the film The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas by Elina Psykou and Jaime Vadell for his performance in The Devil’s Liquor by Ignacio Rodriguez. Ms Psykou accepted the award on behalf of Mr Stergioglou: “Οunfortunately Christos was unable to attend due to his obligations at the theatre in Athens. If he were here, he would express his thanks to the jury, to the festival and his director,” said Ms Psykou humorously.
The best screenplay award was presented by Edouard Waintrop to Tae-Gon Kim for the film Sunshine Boys. Mr Foundas presented the best director award to Diego Quemada–Diez for the film The Golden Cage. Strada’s Ms Konti accepted the award on behalf of Mr Diez.
TIFF’s jury also bestowed a Special Mention for cinematography to Mahmoud Lotfy for the film Coming Forth by Day by Hala Lofty. The award was presented by Mr Foundas and received by Egyptian journalist Tharaa Goubail.
George Makrygiannakis, Marketing Director at Fischer, presented the Fischer audience awards. Mr Makrygiannakis noted: “The love of our company for films and the city of Thessaloniki is well-established. Several years ago, the Athenian Brewery company made a promise to support this institution, which promotes the arts and the city. Honoring that choice, we are here for a seventh consecutive year to present the audience awards. The Festival’s lineup this year was exceptional and audiences packed screenings. Congratulations are in order to the filmmakers, for the wonderful spectacle, and we owe a warm-felt thank you to the audience, which embraced the films and the institution once again, voting for its favorite films.”
The Fischer Audience Award for a film in the Greek Films section – Michael Cacoyannis Award was bestowed to One Last Joke by Vassilis Raisis. Mr Raisis received the award and said: “I have won an award before, but unlike now, in the past we were informed about the results half an hour before the official announcement. So we were prepared. Now, I really feel astonished. I want to thank the audience for its trust, my collaborators for managing to perform the impossible, working with zero funding, and to all the people working for the Festival and keeping it at such a high level. The audience award means a lot to us. There is no company behind us, and the reactions of some professionals we had contacted was that the film was good, but the audience would snub it. I am happy we proved them wrong.”
The Fischer Audience Award for a film in the Balkan Survey section was bestowed to The Priest’s Children by Vinko Bresan. A representative from Wide Management — the film’s distributor— received the award on behalf of the filmmaker, expressing her thanks for the great honor.
The Fischer Audience Award for a film in the Open Horizons section was bestowed to Papusza by Joanna Kos-Krauze & Krzysztof Krauze. Producer Lambros Ziotas received the award, noting: “On behalf of the directors, I thank you for this important award. I also wish to thank the Festival, for giving us the opportunity to present our work in Thessaloniki. Being able to present my work in my home country was also very important for me personally, since I work abroad. Art exists, art is crafted, to quote our great poet K. Varnalis, with the purpose of relieving us from life’s anxieties. We enjoyed a cinematic feast for nine days and we owe a great thank you to Thessaloniki and the festival’s organizers.”
The Fischer Audience Award for a film in the International Competition section was bestowed to The Golden Cage by Diego Quemada–Diez. Strada Films representative Marina Konti accepted the award and thanked the audience for voting a film distributed by Strada Films for a second consecutive year.
The Hellenic Parliament bestowed its 9th Human Values award to the film The Golden Cage by Diego Quemada–Diez. The awarded was presented by the television program manager of the Hellenic Parliament TV Channel Mr Panos Kouanis and was received on behalf of the filmmaker by Mrs Konti.
The FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) jury, consisting of Magda Mihailescu (jury president), Dubravka Lakic, Bojidar Manov, Boyd Van Hoeij and Dennis West, bestowed two awards: For a film in the International Competition, the FIPRESCI award went to Bad Hair by Mariana Rondon; for a film in the Greek Films 2013 section, the FIPRESCI award went to The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas by Elina Psykou.
Mr Manov, who presented the awards, said: “It is a great honor for us to be here. We would like to thank the Thessaloniki Festival for inviting us, and also for the perfect weather. I would also like to thank my fellow jurors for our excellent cooperation.”
Ms Psykou and Ms Rondon expressed their thanks for this important award.
Alexander Payne’s Nebraska was screened after the presentation of the awards.
The “Open Horizons” section, the tributes to the Contemporary Argentine Cinema, to Alain Guiraudie and Claire Simon, the Balkan Survey section, the entire Greek programme and the Agora section of the 54th Thessaloniki International Film Festival were financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund for Central Macedonia 2007-2013.
