November 6-15, 2015
OPENING CEREMONY
The curtain rose on the 56th Thessaloniki International Film Festival on Friday, November 6, 2015 at the packed Olympion theatre. The ceremony, presented by actor Antinoos Albanis and directed by Panagiotis Evangelidis, was followed by the screening of Sebastian Schipper's Victoria. The ceremony began with a theatrical act dedicated to silent cinema, presented by a group of students of the Drama School of the National Theatre of Northern Greece, under the direction of their teacher Yiannis Kolovos.
The opening of the 56th edition was greeted by the director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival Dimitri Eipides. "The curtain of the 56th Festival rises tonight, bringing here at the Olympion and Pavlos Zannas theatres, as well as the theaters at the city’s Port, the best films of international independent cinema," Mr. Eipides said in his welcome speech, and added: "The Festival is a great celebration, a meeting between directors and spectators that expands outside the theatres in the city of Thessaloniki, becoming part of our experience. We are pleased that this year the festival will have at its disposal the Warehouse 1 at the Port throughout the year, bringing the independent cinema even closer to the city’s audience. During this year’s edition, we will present 200 films from 53 countries from around the world, 200 different cinematic expressions, which in such difficult times renew the medium and openly express what concerns us all, regardless of sex or race. It’s worth for the spectators to discover these films in the International Competition, the Greek Films Section, the Open Horizons, the Special Screenings, the Balkan Survey and Tributes".
Mr. Eipides presented the tributes of this year's edition noting: "This year the festival honors cinematographer Nikos Kavoukidis, whose career in the Greek cinema, television and theater spans six decades. We also celebrate 70 years of Greek animation films and present an anthology of animation films from the 40s until the present day. In addition, we welcome two distinguished artists, hosting a tribute to their work: The visionary French director Arnaud Desplechin and the Romanian auteur Mircea Daneliuc. The festival also presents the tribute ‘Focus on New Austrian Cinema’ with films which highlight contemporary issues in a straightforward manner”.
Mr. Eipides also made a special reference to the major refugees crisis "which has become of enormous urgency over recent months," and expressed the festival's support towards the important initiative “For a Thousand Lives: Be Human,” signed by more than 5,500 artists and institutions. The three main pillars of this initiative, as TIFF’s director explained, are as follows: “The European Union must offer legal ways for people fleeing war and terror to seek protection in the EU. The European nations must act in solidarity. The Dublin Convention has led to precarious situations for refugees and unjust burdens on the EU’s border countries. An equitable relocation of refugees among the E.U. states is a first step, but the system must take into account the asylum seeker’s individual circumstances. The European countries must create living conditions for refugees that embrace personal freedom, physical safety without restriction, and offer access to work and education”. According to Mr. Eipides "such initiatives are important and need to be supported by all of us".
Finally, Mr. Eipides welcomed the International Jury and the FIPRESCI Jury and wished them success in their difficult task. He also thanked "the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the European Program MEDIA, ERT and the Hellenic Parliament TV, the National Theatre of Northern Greece and all our sponsors who in difficult times continue to support us," as he noted.
Minister of Culture and Sports Aristides Baltas, sent his greetings to the 56th TIFF, noting his apologies for not being able to attend the event on this occasion. In his speech, read to the audience of Olympion by the director Kyriaki Malama, program coordinator of ET3 and member of TIFF’s Board of directors, Mr. Baltas wished success to the Festival and stressed: "Throughout its 55 years of existence – a vibrant course with tensions and contradictions, with aesthetic and political conflicts - the Festival has become a reference point for the country's cultural life and is tied inextricably to the city of Thessaloniki. In this light, apart from the once more rich international competition section and the panorama of independent films from around the world, the Balkan section is particularly noteworthy". A special reference was made by Mr. Baltas to the domestic film production, noting: "In addition, the festival is of course hosting the Greek film productions, which have become more and more important in recent years, winning international awards. This success is owned to a broader dynamic that remains hidden on some level: it is a creative wave of young people in the arts and letters that lay the foundations for a true cultural renaissance in the country. On the one hand, young filmmakers are bounded within the unfavorable conditions of the financial crisis. On the other, they have to face the challenge that the cultural creativity and critical confrontation with the recent history and current reality are a vital matter for this country, and also the challenge that, as demonstrated by many Greek films of the recent years, they could actually address an international audience in the context of an increased interest for Greece". Mr. Baltas also added that "unlike other forms of artistic creation, film production cannot exist without financial resources" and also noted: "The reduction of funds of the Ministry of Culture, and hence the state funding for cinema creates an uncomfortable reality, which should be confronted with focused measures. First of all, we commit to restore immediately the injustice that has occurred with the removal from cinema admissions of the tax directed at supporting Greek cinema: an equal amount will be dedicated to supporting the Greek production. Also, required measures are in effect so that the television channels finally contribute to the indicated percentage of their advertising revenue. I wish you success in the organization of the Festival, the screenings and parallel events, and also to all films in the competition section".
The presenter of the ceremony, Antinoos Albanis, briefly commented: "In spite of the difficult times, the Festival, in its 56th edition, continues to look for films from around the world, especially in a period when nobody can stay uninvolved in issues such as the economic crisis and the refugees’ issue. Our festival brings together faces, smiles, concerns and stories from all over the world. It builds bridges, gives consolation, moves and informs the audience. Despite the difficulties of today, there is a bloom of Greek cinema, almost without any resources, but with a creative force that always arises from confrontation and the will to sustain values, aesthetic, ideas and attitudes which are currently being tested”.
The film Victoria by German director Sebastian Schipper, which opened the 56th TIFF is one continuous long take of 144 minutes. Just before the screening, Eike Frederik Schulz, who co-wrote the script with S. Schipper and Olivia Neergaard-Holm, expressed his delight in participating in the event and added: "I remember how we made the film in Berlin a year ago and the fact that I am now here, at the Olympion theatre, was completely unexpected. I see myself here in this wonderful festival, especially on its opening night, and it seems almost crazy". The main character of the film Victoria is a Spanish girl who lives in Berlin. One night she meets a group of young men, they get to know each other, drink and flirt until dawn, but eventually things take a tragic turn.
