The “Meet the Neighbors+” competition section includes first or second films from the 36 countries of South-Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East. At the same time, in 2023, the section’s Golden Alexander was renamed into “Golden Alexander - Michel Demopoulos”, honoring the memory of the former Festival director (1991-2005) who led the institution to gain an international scope.
The films of the Meet the Neighbors+ are eligible for the following awards:
The Official Selection films are eligible for prizes awarded by Independent Juries.
The members of the jury are:
Manal Awad, actress; Maryna Er Gorbach, filmmaker; and Vassilis Sourapas, distributor.
Manal Awad
Manal Awad graduated as an actress from the Institution Superiour D’Art Dramatiuqe, Tunisia, and holds a Master’s Degree in Theater Directing from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London. Manal is currently an actress in the cinema and TV industry. She is also a theater actress and director. Manal acted in various films, such as Huda’s Salon and The Idol, with the Palestinian director Hani Abu Assad. Gaza Mon Amour, and Dégradé by Arab & Tarazan Nasser, The Worthy by Ali Mustafa, Pomegranates and Myrrh by Najwa Najjar, and many other short movies. Manal participated in a satirical TV comedy series, Watan A Watar, which won many awards, and directed various theatre plays, such as 603 and Dementia. Manal is mostly famous as a comedian, as she performed many stand-up comedy shows in the Middle East region.
Manal Awad graduated as an actress from the Institution Superiour D’Art Dramatiuqe, Tunisia, and holds a Master’s Degree in Theater Directing from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London. Manal is currently an actress in the cinema and TV industry. She is also a theater actress and director. Manal acted in various films, such as Huda’s Salon and The Idol, with the Palestinian director Hani Abu Assad. Gaza Mon Amour, and Dégradé by Arab & Tarazan Nasser, The Worthy by Ali Mustafa, Pomegranates and Myrrh by Najwa Najjar, and many other short movies. Manal participated in a satirical TV comedy series, Watan A Watar, which won many awards, and directed various theatre plays, such as 603 and Dementia. Manal is mostly famous as a comedian, as she performed many stand-up comedy shows in the Middle East region.
Maryna Er Gorbach
Maryna Er Gorbach is a Ukrainian award-winning film director and screenwriter. After studying at Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theater, Cinema & Television University in Ukraine, she graduated from the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing in Poland Since 2017, Maryna Er Gorbach has been a member of the European Film Academy. Her latest movie Klondike was awarded at Sundance IFF, Berlinale IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, and many other prestigious festivals. Klondike presented Ukraine at the Academy Awards, 2023.
Maryna Er Gorbach is a Ukrainian award-winning film director and screenwriter. After studying at Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theater, Cinema & Television University in Ukraine, she graduated from the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing in Poland Since 2017, Maryna Er Gorbach has been a member of the European Film Academy. Her latest movie Klondike was awarded at Sundance IFF, Berlinale IFF, Thessaloniki IFF, and many other prestigious festivals. Klondike presented Ukraine at the Academy Awards, 2023.
Vassilis Sourrapas
Vassilis Sourrapas, born in 1968, holds a BA in Film Production from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Additionally, he has majored in Marketing Administration at the American College of Greece and took film production courses in different aspects of production at the New School (N.Y.C), Film and Video Arts (N.Y.C), and at the Rockport International Film and Video Workshop. Prior to forming the distribution company Filmtrade, he worked in a number of film productions both in N.Y.C at Finecut Productions and later in Greece at Stefi and Filmiki where he directed commercial spots for Greek T.V. In 1999, with French partners, he founded Filmtrade, initially as a T.V sales company. Filmtrade quickly evolved into a film distribution company known for its specialized, niche film releases. With Filmtrade, Vassilis has, since 2002, released about 200 films theatrically in the territory of Greece. Released films include Untouchables, Salt of the earth, Searching for Sugarman, Secret in their Eyes, Son of Saul, Gomorra, For Sama, and others. Today Filmtrade releases eight-ten films theatrically per year and also represents several companies for their TV sales in Greece. Vassilis is a member of the executive committee of the Greek Association of Films Distributors (EDIKTE) and a member of the European Association of Films Distributors (Europa Distributors).
Vassilis Sourrapas, born in 1968, holds a BA in Film Production from Hunter College of the City University of New York. Additionally, he has majored in Marketing Administration at the American College of Greece and took film production courses in different aspects of production at the New School (N.Y.C), Film and Video Arts (N.Y.C), and at the Rockport International Film and Video Workshop. Prior to forming the distribution company Filmtrade, he worked in a number of film productions both in N.Y.C at Finecut Productions and later in Greece at Stefi and Filmiki where he directed commercial spots for Greek T.V. In 1999, with French partners, he founded Filmtrade, initially as a T.V sales company. Filmtrade quickly evolved into a film distribution company known for its specialized, niche film releases. With Filmtrade, Vassilis has, since 2002, released about 200 films theatrically in the territory of Greece. Released films include Untouchables, Salt of the earth, Searching for Sugarman, Secret in their Eyes, Son of Saul, Gomorra, For Sama, and others. Today Filmtrade releases eight-ten films theatrically per year and also represents several companies for their TV sales in Greece. Vassilis is a member of the executive committee of the Greek Association of Films Distributors (EDIKTE) and a member of the European Association of Films Distributors (Europa Distributors).
