Seven Greek-speaking and three English-speaking podcasts are lining up at the Podcast Competition section of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, competing for the Best Podcast Award, accompanied by a 2,000-euro cash prize.
A Story Told by the Mountains
Podcasters: MASH (Christos Kapenis & Katerina Anastasiou). Παραγωγή: MASH (Christos Kapenis & Katerina Anastasiou). Script: Yorgis Partalidis, Christos Kapenis, Katerina Anastasiou. Sound engineering-Original music: MASH. Sound editing: Katerina Anastasiou. Narration: Yorgis Partalidis, Katerina Anastasiou (an extract from the newscast of BEST TV is heard). Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 22΄
Every day during sunset, mountains tell each other a story of two scientists and two mountains that fell in love. A tale of fiction, with a poetic nature, inspired by the myth of two mountains that wept and a river born from their tears.
Friends in Liminal Spaces
Podcaster: Anastasia Sotiropoulos. Script-Sound engineering-Sound editing-Narration: Anastasia Sotiropoulos. Language: English. USA, 2024, 30΄
In this story about connection outside the bounds of physical space, time, and life experience, an unlikely friendship buds during uncertain times.
Melaina Melaina
Podcaster: Stella N. Christou. Script-Sound engineering-Sound editing-Original music-Narration: Stella N. Christou. Language: Greek. Cyprus-Greece, 2024, 30΄
Passing from Melaina Demeter’s myth to a song of songs, in Askas, Cyprus, three widows born in the 1930s, and a nun, are acting in a false life full of hardships. Through the narrations, which are passing over the female model; each woman of the area acts as a non-gender woman or anti—gynaika.
Music on the Move
Podcaster: Savannah Fortis. Production: Savannah Fortis. Script-Sound engineering-Sound editing-Narration: Savannah Fortis. Original music: (MOTM theme song) Daphne Farazi. Language: English. USA-Greece, 2024, 30΄
Music on the Move is an experimental podcast that uses sound and music to understand the world around us. In this episode, we stumble upon a Georgian mountain village where everyone sings to re-enforce their identity.
Outcasts - It’s OK to be goth in Veria
Podcaster: Christos Georgoudakis. Production: istorima. Script: Christos Georgoudakis. Sound engineering-Sound editing: Spyros Lymperopoulos. Narration: Katerina Koutsampasopoulou. Sound design: Giorgos Ramantanis. Cover design: Efrosini Drakouli. Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 29΄
The first episode of Outcasts explores Katerina’s search for a safe haven while battling eating disorders and conservatism. Growing up in rural Greece, she gradually loses her childhood confidence facing obstacles at every turn she makes. Unexpectedly, she will find refuge just a few miles from home.
Rainbow Seniors
Podcaster: Iliana Danezi. Production: Laika Productions. Script: Iliana Danezi. Sound engineering: Yannis Christodoulatos. Sound editing: Aris Agathos. Artwork: Olga Mavromati. Sound design: Dimitris Miyakis. Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 23΄
The “Elders of Iris” known as “Rainbow Seniors” are an Association - an antidote to the social isolation, loneliness and difficulties experienced by LGBTQ+ middle-aged and older people. Its members tell the story of its creation and what they are trying to achieve through their participation in it.
Scripted/Unscripted
Podcasters: Hind Anabtawi, Nadia Tabbara. Production: Creative Media Solutions, Hind Anabtawi. Script-Narration: Nadia Tabbara. Sound engineering: Mohamed Aser. Sound editing: Hind Anabtawi, Zeyad Gabr. Language: English. United Arab Emirates-Jordan-Lebanon, 2024, 24΄
In this episode of Scripted/Unscripted, Nadia confronts the question “what's the point?” amid personal and global turmoil. She reflects on how writing serves as a tool for emotional expression, resistance, and connection, highlighting its power to humanize the dehumanized and find purpose even during the darkest moments.
Sonodeze
Podcasters: Tasos Theofilatos, Irene Ioannou Papaneofytou. Script: Irene Ioannou Papaneofytou. Sound editing-Original music: Tasos Theofilatos. Vocals-Singing: Nefeli Benou, Maria Gkioni. Violin: Alexis Voutouris. Narration: Dimitra Karagiorgou. Performers: Penelope Markopoulou, Tasos Theofilatos. Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 30΄
Sonodeze is the endless summer. It is a dive into memory lane of a girl who seeks to connect with her roots and come of age without ceasing to see the world as a magical place where anything can happen. As long as you are not afraid to be a part of it all.
The Childhood Years (that) I Didn’t Live
Podcaster: Maya Filippopoulou. Production: istorima. Script-Sound editing: Maya Filippopoulou. Sound engineering: Dimitris Papadakis, Thanasis Gkikas, Enes Ahmet Kehaya. Narration: Rinio Missiou. Research-Interview: Dimitris Kolovos, Fenia Chala. Sound design: Iasonas Theofanou. Music: Epidemic Sound. Photo: Giorgos Kapsalis. Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 28΄
During the years of the Civil War, the father of a little girl joined the rebels and her mother was sent to exile. She stayed behind alone with her brother and grew up “like a stray”. The childhood (not) lived by Renio Missiou is a gripping story of survival in a time of extreme hatred and violence.
The Lazy Club
Podcasters: Marilou Vomvolou, Kostas Vomvolos, Flora Fousteri. Production: Lotus Eaters. Script-Sound engineering-Narration: Marilou Vomvolou. Sound editing-Original music: Kostas Vomvolos. Cover design: Flora Fousteri. Language: Greek. Greece, 2024, 22΄
The coming-of-age story of a girl in a future era where people are divided into “upgraded” and “non-upgraded”, intertwined with interview excerpts from members of a touring troupe, raising questions about social imperatives, marginalization, and freedom. The interviews were conducted during a tour in Kos, Lemnos and Florina (July 2024).
