The opening ceremony of the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival was held on Thursday, March 6th, amidst a warm atmosphere at the packed Olympion theater. This year’s official opening ceremony took on a special vibe as six children, members of the Greek National Robotics Team, who recently participated in the Robotics Olympiad held in South Korea and won eight awards, served as hosts. The Secretary General of Contemporary Culture, Eleni Doundoulaki, the Vice Governor of the Region of Thessaloniki and Deputy Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Kostas Gioutikas, as well as the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis honored the event with their presence.
The Festival’s Artistic Director, Orestis Andreadakis, took the floor first, welcoming the audience at the 27th TIDF. “Madame Secretary General of Contemporary Culture, Mr. Deputy Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Mr. Mayor, dear friends of the Festival. As you may know, we have a new president on our Board of Directors, a man with ties to the city, an exceptional actor, Akis Sakellariou. I would like to officially welcome him to our Festival,” he initially mentioned.
“The main tribute of this year’s festival is Artificial Intelligence. Our future. As such, this evening we decided to bring this future here, at the Olympion stage. No, the ceremony will not be presented by AI, but by the members of the Greek National Robotics team, who competed about a month ago in the Robotics Olympiad in South Korea, and returned with eight medals! A total of 14 members of the team from Athens and Northern Greece are here with us, along with their teachers, and the President of the Hellenic Robotic Sports Federation, Mr. Emmanouil Tselepis. First of all, I would like to invite six of the members of the National team on. I want their names to be heard loud and clear, and afterwards you can give them a warm round of applause. Please welcome Appolon Tselepis, Katerina Orliaki, Anastasis Xanthoulis from Serres, and Angelos Telcha, Isavella Vogiatzi, and Nikolas Leimonis from Athens on stage.”
Immediately afterwards, a two-and-a-half-minute film, created by the Greek National Robotics Team was screened. Mr. Andreadakis disclosed that “it took the children 17 minutes to create the video using AI, 2 minutes to export it to a computer, 5 hours to write the script, and 9 days to make the AI follow their guidelines and bring their artistic vision to life.” Then, he continued on, adding: “What’s happening here is something akin to magic, the fact that Artificial Intelligence provides the children with an incentive to express themselves through cinema. The children that know nothing of Hitchcock, or Tarantino, or even Dalianidis. On the other hand, with the existence of AI, I do wonder when actors and scriptwriters will be made redundant. When are we going to set limits about what we can and cannot do? That’s precisely what we will be discussing over the following ten days at our Festival – through films, masterclasses, exhibitions, and our publications. Artificial Intelligence is a fascinating tool. However, it can also turn into a terrifying and dangerous weapon, if limits are not put forth and regulations are not established. We must protect ourselves against the people and the organizations that may use it without restraint, and we must try to benefit from the advantages it offers us,” he stated.
At this point, the baton was passed to the children of the team, who introduced the next speakers. Apollon Tselepis first took the floor: “Good evening, we are very delighted that we were invited to your celebration, it is certainly something new to us, in the same manner that perhaps what we do is something new to you. Robotics is our love, and our goal is to make increasingly more people aware of how it can make our lives, art, and cinema better. Without further ado, I invite the Festival’s General Director, Elise Jalladeau, on stage.”
“Good evening, Madam Secretary General of Contemporary Culture, Mr. Deputy Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Mr. Mayor, esteemed members of parliament, dear friends. Artificial Intelligence is a great gift. But it can also bring about a dark future. When reality surpasses fiction, when dystopia is no longer confined to scripts but instead defines our lives, when the news reminds us of science fiction in a world that nothing seems real, one medium remains vital: documentary. The 261 short and feature length documentaries we are going to showcase this year, capture everything we are currently going through and beacon us to perceive the reality as it is, remind us that the truth can be relative, as well as make us appreciate once again the importance of the art of cinema,” stressed Mrs. Jalladeau.
“These last few months, the main principles of our culture - democracy, freedom, tolerance - are at risk. The cries of hatred are escalating dangerously. Dialogue gives way to cynicism and threats. Amidst all this, we, the people of culture and the arts, have a duty to stand our ground. Documentaries question the lies, reinforcing critical thinking, and reminding us that even in this darkness alternatives exist. Today, documenting reality is more than just a film – it’s an act of defiance against the absurdity we live in. That is why we would like to express our gratitude now more than ever to all of the people who support the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in this endeavor: The Ministry of Culture, and especially, Minister, Mrs. Lina Mendoni, the Deputy Minister, Mr. Iason Fotilas, and of course, the Secretary General, Eleni Doundoulaki, the Central Macedonia Region, The Municipality of Thessaloniki, all our supporters and sponsors. Thank you very much, we will see each other during the upcoming days in the theaters,” she concluded.
“Robotics was similar to a cinema ticket for us. We dreamed it up, we worked for it, and in turn, it took us on a journey – though off-screen – to South Korea. It was a wonderful experience for us, one we will never forget. It encouraged us, made our sport more popular, and even brought us here, to Thessaloniki! So, it’s time for Mr. Stelios Angeloudis, the city’s mayor to take the stage,” remarked the Greek National Robotics Team’s Isavella Vogiatzi.
“Dear Secretary General, Mr. Deputy Regional Governor, esteemed member of parliament, dear colleagues in administration, ladies and gentlemen. Dear Akis, I wish you good luck and courage for the beautiful work you are now in charge of. One of the most successful institutions presently – given that it multiplies the city’s cultural footprint and transforms it into a brilliant point of reference – comes to stir the waters once more, to enchant us, move us, fascinate us, and why not, even inspire us. This year, the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival begins more compelling, and competitive, responding to Thessaloniki’s increased demands for more extroversion, action, creativity, as well as vision. At a time when the world and more specifically, the city is undergoing a transformative process, forging a new identity, culture is one of the most important pillars upon which we can build hope for the new that is to come,” Mr. Angeloudis underscored.
Next, the Mayor of Thessaloniki added: “The Documentary Festival serves Thessaloniki’s new orientation with great dedication, giving a platform and space for expression to its children, to the young talented creators, whom the city must hold onto, bringing a finale to this artistic brain drain that deprives it of its most creative quintessence. Dear friends, we owe it to the driving force behind our tomorrow to provide a space for expression - if we really want to reverse this trend. To halt the hemorrhage that is costing our city. We must create the conditions that will enable children to trust our city again. The Municipality of Thessaloniki throughout the course of time believes in the significance of this institution and supports the Festival’s organization, encouraging each initiative which adds to the collective effort for the creative reset of the city. Along with the sustainability of a dynamic cultural ecosystem that represents a catalyst for the development of Thessaloniki and the reinforcement of its economy.”
Concluding, Stelios Angeloudis stated: “In line with this dear President, members of the Board, dear Orestis and dear Elise, I would like to let you know that for the next Film and Documentary Festival, the Municipality of Thessaloniki has decided to establish, in collaboration with you, its own prestigious award, connecting even further this relationship which is already very functional. I would also like, if you are in agreement, to make you aware of our intention to aid this beautiful festival in becoming a dynamic tourism product through its promotion by the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization, as it truly is one of the most brilliant jewels that the city should promote beyond Greece. Thessaloniki, a city rich in history, is celebrating, ready to welcome thousands of documentary aficionados from Greece and abroad. With two great documentary filmmakers as guests of honor, Nicolas Philibert and Lauren Greenfield, who, with their presence, add more brilliance and value to the event. Now 27 years old, with its own identity and prominence, the Documentary Festival is evolving beautifully, but it also has the maturity to remain restless, innovative, resolutely geared towards promoting the values of inclusion, equality, respect and diversity. Values that we must all defend at this unique time, when the fundamental principles of our civilization, such as tolerance, democracy and, why not, freedom, are being put to the test. Congratulations to the organizers, have a happy festival!” concluded Thessaloniki’s Mayor.
“As the Greek National Robotics Team, we have been trying to combine school, our education, our training, travel, and sports for a long time. Coming to the Festival for a short amount of time, watching films, learning the function of a different organization, the meaning of the documentary genre and delving into its world is a perfect break for us. Not to mention, taking a stroll around Thessaloniki! I would like to invite to the stage the Vice Governor of the Region of Thessaloniki and Deputy Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Mr. Kostas Gioutikas,” Nikolas Leimonis said.
Mr. Gioutikas, after extending his congratulations to the Greek National Robotics Team, welcomed the audience and the Festival’s guests to Thessaloniki. “The Documentary Festival is a point of reference for this city, as well as for all of us. We are truly proud that, starting from Thessaloniki, it has evolved into an institution of international prestige that continues to grow and progress. However, there’s something else that is unique about the Documentary Festival, as we perceive it. It has succeeded from its very first edition till this day, 27 years later, in being a great celebration of culture. It not only showcases the cultural product but also produces culture in itself. It is a deeply democratic institution, an institution for the exchange of ideas and freedom of expression, offering simultaneously a glimpse in today’s world, serving as an opportunity to reflect about the world we want to construct tomorrow,” he initially stated.
“For all these reasons, we actively support the Festival as an institution that promotes culture, extroversion, and innovation. Of course, the Film Office of the Thessaloniki Region participates this year as well in networking and awareness-raising activities so as to strengthen the creative forces, the human potential of our country and to continue our efforts to make the Region of Central Macedonia an international hub of audiovisual productions. As such, these days, our Thessaloniki will be an international pole of dialogue, extroversion and innovation. I would like to congratulate the administration and all of the participants of the Festival, which will once again offer us exceptional experiences. Good luck to the organizers and the contestants. Enjoy the screenings!”
The floor was then taken by Angelos Telcha from the Greek National Robotics Team. “This evening is a chance for us to learn more about the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. For example, it will host 261 films, four major tributes, exhibitions, XR screenings, and podcasts, as well as the AI installation, Lauren, Anyone Home? at the Port of Thessaloniki, that we're definitely going to see!" Subsequently, Anastasis Xanthoulis spoke about the festival spots which, as he pointed out, “are all over TikTok, resembling short films. The creator’s name is Andi Tzouma, he’s a dancer, choreographer and director, so he wandered around Thessaloniki whilst dancing, starting from the Kastra and ending up at the Olympion theater. This time, we will watch them on the big screen.”
Following the screening of the festival spots, Eleni Doundoulaki, the Secretary General of Contemporary Culture took the stage. “It is a great pleasure to be here today once more, at the heart of Thessaloniki, for the cinematic rendezvous we have each spring, at the International Documentary Festival. An institution that will soon celebrate three decades of existence, captivating the attention of the international film community. Now, a point of reference for the world of cinema, as well as a communication channel with the world around us at the same time. Dear friends, in an age when speed and access to information of all kinds exceeds the capabilities of man, allow me to remark that the documentary genre seems more relevant, more significant and perhaps more necessary than ever before. Today, filmmakers together with the audience lean increasingly more towards this genre of cinematic art, which penetrates and delves deeper, dissects and illuminates, showcases lesser known or obscure aspects of reality, giving voice to life’s protagonists, both visible and unseen,” emphasized Mrs. Doundoulaki.
“The documentary genre is a tool for understanding, questioning, as well as raising awareness. An archive of collective memory. An incentive for further reflection. Through the filmmaker’s camera lens, it observes, captures, documents, narrates, and at times alludes and indicates. It stands out as a reliable, accurate and compelling medium, which both expands and sharpens the way we comprehend reality. Ladies and gentlemen, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, with its constant evolution, its prominence, and reach, has transformed into a dynamic platform for dialogue, cultural exchange, education and extroversion. This year, in fact, it presents an exceptionally expanded and unsettling, I would say, program: featuring a major tribute to Artificial Intelligence, the Geography of the Gaze tribute that will take us on a journey to the Greek countryside, 261 short and feature length films – I should note that 71 of them are Greek – and four ambitious Competition Sections, it delivers a resounding cultural impact, enriching public discourse and artistic expression. Representing the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as the duly empowered Secretary General, I would like to warmly congratulate all of the creators participating in this year’s edition. I’d also like to extend my congratulations to the entire team of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, a regulated entity of the Ministry of Culture, and especially the ever creative and tenacious Elise Jalladeau and Orestis Andreadakis. Wrapping it up, I’d like to welcome the new President of the Board of Directors, Akis Sakellariou and the new Vice President Katerina Bei. I wish you a creative tenure,” Mrs. Doundoulaki said in closing.
Katerina Orliaki, from the Greek National Robotics Team, took on the final part of the ceremony’s presentation. “Our team is composed of children from different regions of Greece. From Athens, Serres, and many other cities of Macedonia. Robotics allows us to collaborate from afar. The same goes for cinema; people from all around the world see the same image and share the same thought. So, it’s time for cinema; let’s watch the first film of the Festival.”
Orestis Andreadakis then spoke about the opening film, Piotr Winiewicz’s About a Hero (2024), which is part of the Festival’s grand tribute to AI, after first thanking the members of the Greek National Robotics Team once more, the ones who, as he said, “tonight helped us dream. We have almost the whole team with us, and I’d like to invite them all on stage. Please welcome Rafail Koumpasaros, Kalliroi Anastasiou, Stergios Leimonis, Vasiliki Kelandria, Danai Zisopoulou, Konstantinos Kasapis, Ifigeneia Tselepi kai Orfeas Tselepis,” Mr. Andreadakis expressed, as the children of the Greek National Robotics Team received a warm round of applause from the audience.
Regarding the film, Mr. Andreadakis divulged: “The film we are about to see, the opening film of this year’s Festival, is called About a Hero, crafted by the Polish filmmaker Piotr Winiewicz. Piotr may not be here with us tonight, but he is coming to Thessaloniki tomorrow and he will be in attendance at the second screening of the film, on Sunday, at the Makedonikon theater, at 19.30 in order to discuss with the audience all the themes this film addresses. And what are these themes specifically? First and foremost, the director asked an AI program to study all of the films by his renowned German colleague, the great Werner Herzog, and write a script adopting his style of narration. In the documentary that emerged as a result of this process, the narrator’s voice belongs to Herzog, even though it was created by an AI program. With his permission, of course. But what happens if similar films are created without their protagonists’ consent? What does the future hold for us? We hope it will be a future primarily shaped by human intelligence,” Orestis Andreadakis concluded, wishing an enjoyable festival to all.
