OPENING CEREMONY
Saturday evening marked the opening ceremony of the 45th Thessaloniki Film Festival in a festive and glamorous atmosphere at the packed OLYMPION theatre with the attendance of Deputy Minister of Culture, Petros Tatoulis. Official festival guests as well as a crowd of cinemagoers filled the theatre for the opening ceremony of this significant -for Thessaloniki as well as the whole of Greece- cultural institution. “Thessaloniki isn’t only the city of Greek cinema. It is the city of the new cinema that lives and breathes throughout the world. After a long period of introspection, cinema is flourishing once again. The history of cinema has become more accessible to the audience. The evolution of the DVD format as well as a host of new technologies have brought forth a breath of fresh air in cinema which relates rather well with the younger generation”, said the Director of the Thessaloniki Film Festival Michel Demopoulos.
“The Thessaloniki Film Festival has reached a point of maturity. It has made a name for itself internationally, renewed and reinforced its audience and constitutes a firm framework for new cinema. The Festival’s constant concern and restless character are traits of its dynamism”, added Mr. Demopoulos.
Corrective interventions with reverence
City counsellor, Member of the Board of Directors of the Thessaloniki Film Festival and Spokesman for the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Adonis Gyftopoulos commented on the stern, modest and discreet way that the new administration of the Ministry of Culture handled the Festival as an institution, providing the festival’s administration with the grounds for its continuance, re-organization and self-government. Development and historical changes led to the transformation of the Thessaloniki Film Festival into an international one according to Mr. Gyftopoulos. Thessaloniki contests for being the capital of Greek cinema and will continue to do so. This is made possible by the yearly presentation of the film industry’s production during the Festival and the State Awards presented following it.
“A helping hand” by the Ministry of Culture
Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Petros Tatoulis claimed being honoured by being among some of the most ingenious and inspired professionals of our nation, who have the privilege of contesting, examining and boldly documenting social concerns, inspired by our historical and cultural heritage in order to produce essential culture through the magic of their art. “Respecting the independence and self-sufficiency of the Thessaloniki Film Festival’s organisation, the Ministry of Culture provides assistance and a protective shelter to every healthy enterprise and endeavour, in order to promote a fertile framework of self-confidence and assurance for film-makers as well as the audience”, concluded Mr. Tatoulis and declared the official opening of the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
The opening ceremony concluded with the screening of the film “Mar Adentro”.
