18th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival –
Images of the 21st Century
11-20 March 2016
Opening Ceremony
Images of the 21st Century
11-20 March 2016
Opening Ceremony
The 18th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival - Images of the 21st Century kicked off on Friday, March 11th 2016, at the packed Olympion Theater. The opening was followed by the screening of Landfill Harmony – A Symphony of the Human Spirit by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley, a film following a youth orchestra in a Paraguayan shantytown that plays instruments made entirely out of garbage and becomes popular worldwide.
The ceremony was hosted by journalist Maria Koufopoulou, who referred to a short revisit she personally did to the history of TDF through a research in the archives of ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation). “In a press conference in 1999, Michel Dimopoulos, the director of the Thessaloniki International Film festival at the time, was introducing Dimitris Eipides, the mastermind behind the ‘New Horizons’ program, who then proceeded in presenting the details about the 1st Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Mr. Eipides highlighted the crucial importance of the institution especially for Greek filmmakers, adding that the festival would be a further incentive to make more movies, as well as a screening site and place to meet fellow filmmakers from other countries. He personally insisted on the importance of the documentary as an alternative source of information and awareness for everybody” Mrs. Koufopoulou added. She also noted that: “At the 7th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival in 2005, a tribute titled ‘Immigration – Refugees’ was held and there was a screening of Tarifa Traffic – Death in the Straits of Gibraltar by Joakim Demmer, a film circled around the Spanish city of Tarifa, where refugees from North Africa arrived in rafts. Documentary filmmakers stay alert for these signs before we do and the director of the Documentary Festival gave them the opportunity to express their views. Ten years after and counting, another tribute dedicated to the refugee crisis is held this year”.
Afterwards, Achilleas Kyriakidis, vice president of the Board of Directors of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, welcomed the audience on behalf of the Board’s director and stated that the Documentary Festival is “becoming an adult this year, as it completes its 18th year of existence”. Mr. Kyriakidis continued to observe that: “Contrary to people, this institution didn’t need to wait until its 18th birthday to have a strong vote and saying on cultural affairs, to gain its driving license for this particular film genre, to fruitfully complete its draft in the genre, to marry or sign a cohabitation agreement bill with creativity, ethos and aesthetic quality”. Mr. Kyriakidis especially stressed Dimitris Eipides’ contribution to the institution, stating that “behind all these, the man who conceived, created and nurtured this festival, surrounding it with the best values, a true father, has the right to pride himself on his accomplishment and accordingly handles us the right to be proud for him. With deep respect and the unconditional appreciation from all members of the Board, I invite Dimitris Eipides to blow out the candles for the Festival’s 18th year”.
Right after, Dimitris Eipides, director of the Thessaloniki Film Festival and founder-director of the Documentary Festival, proceeded to the stage of Olympion Theater and welcomed the audience, the representatives of the country’s political leadership and institutions to the 18th edition of the Festival, pointing out: “Welcome to the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, which turns 18 this year. I am especially proud for this, as this Festival is my child! It was born in a period when the documentary genre in Greece remained in obscurity, but it managed to achieve recognition here and abroad. It is my desire to support it in such ways it will grow more and more». Referring to this year’s edition, Mr. Eipides highlighted that: “This year, we present 186 movies from 47 different countries, including 73 Greek movies, a record number which proves that the Greek documentary is in a steady rise. We are hosting a tribute to the refugee crisis, an issue more urgent that ever, in our country, in Europe and all over the world. Also, it is our pleasure to honor here in Thessaloniki two very special artists with two tributes: the Danish Jon Bang Carlsen and the Irish Mark Cousins”. Mr. Eipides also noted: “This year we expect more than 210 professionals from the cinema world. Many of them will participate in the always-active Doc Market of the Festival, a hub for the movies of tomorrow and where important agreements are promoted through a network of actions and with the cooperation of the European Documentary Network (EDN). Mr. Eipides especially emphasized this year’s Festival’s collaboration with the Arsis Organization, adding that: “We collect first-aid items for refugees and we are inviting people to donate. Even the slightest aid is extremely valuable”.
Mr. Eipides then invited the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Mr. Yiannis Boutaris, to declare the opening of the Festival. Mr. Boutaris spoke very warmly of Mr. Eipides, saying that: ‘’I had the pleasure and honor to meet him many years ago and I had the joy of working with him when I was president of the Board of Directors of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the Documentary Festival for a short period of time. I feel gratitude towards Mr Eipides because I learned a lot from him and especially how to appreciate documentary as a film genre that is more real and closer to our lives. The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival is in a steady rise. Dimitirs Eipides gave birth to a child that is today becoming an adult and no matter how emotional a separation can be, I am sure that he is happy to see his child spread its wings”.
Following a proposal by Mr. Boutaris and as a token of gratitude for Mr Eipides’ presence and contribution to the city of Thessaloniki, the TIFF and TDF director was unanimously declared honorary citizen of the Thessaloniki municipality. Explaining the reasons behind the decision, the mayor of Thessaloniki referred to “Mr Eipides’ contribution to the city of Thessaloniki, a city he made prominent and worldwide known initially under his direction of the TIFF’s ‘New Horizons’ program and then as director of the Documentary Film Festival”. The medal will be bestowed to Mr. Eipidis at the next meeting of the city council in the City Hall of Thessaloniki.
Next, right before the screening of the documentary Landfill Harmony – A Symphony of the Human Spirit, the film’s producer Juliana Penaranda-Loftus thanked the organisers of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival through a video message and asked the audience to help and spread the message of this special orchestra.
