As a cinephile who has traversed the vast landscapes of cinematic artistry for many years, I find myself utterly captivated by the rich and diverse array of narratives that these films promise to unfurl.
At the Thessaloniki Film Festival, they unveiled their International Competition category, featuring 12 movies from promising filmmakers worldwide. Among these films are “Julie Keeps Quiet,” Belgium’s pick for the Oscars, and “Under the Volcano,” Poland’s submission.
Additionally chosen are “Arcadia,” a film directed by Yorgos Zois and awarded Best Director at Sarajevo; “Happy Holidays,” scripted by Scandar Copti who won Best Screenplay in Venice Horizons; “On Falling,” directed by Laura Carreira and winning Best Director at San Sebastian; and “Pierce,” directed by Nelicia Low, who received the Best Director award at Karlovy Vary.
The panel includes filmmakers Sara Driver and Denis Côté, along with producer Konstantinos Kontovrakis.
The main award is called the Golden Alexander, given for the best feature film. Winners receive a cash prize of 10,000 euros. Additionally, there’s the Silver Alexander for outstanding direction, which comes with a 5,000 euro cash prize. Other categories include awards for best actor and actress, as well as best screenplay and best artistic achievement. The jury has the option to grant up to two special mentions too.
Here are the films competing:
“Arcadia” (Directed by Yorgos Zois, Co-production between Greece and Bulgaria)
“Meat,” directed by Dimitris Nakos (Greece)
In ‘She Loved Blossoms More,’ directed by Yannis Veslemes, three brothers construct an unconventional time-travel device to resurrect their deceased mother. However, when their mentally unstable father interferes, the experiment leads to chaos, and they find themselves in a mind-bending, psychedelic landscape where past and present merge. This film offers a darkly comic yet profound examination of grief.
“Edge of Night,” directed by Türker Süer, Germany-Turkey
Season’s Greetings,” directed by Scandar Copti, from Palestine, Germany, France, Italy, and Qatar.
“Julie Holds Her Peace,” directed by Leonardo Van Dijl, Belgium-Sweden
“On Falling,” directed by Laura Carreira (U.K.-Portugal)
In the film “Pierce,” directed by Nelicia Low, I find myself as Zijie, a young fencer yearning to reconcile with my long-lost elder sibling, Zihan. After seven years behind bars for allegedly murdering an opponent in a fencing match, Zihan resurfaces. Despite his questionable past, I trust him and decide in secret to aid him, going against my mother’s persistent attempts to sever our family ties with Zihan. As a result, Zihan takes me under his wing, teaching me the art of fencing, which significantly enhances my skills, ultimately earning me a spot at the National Championships.
“September Says” (Directed by Ariane Labed) – A haunting tale from Ireland, the U.K., and Germany
As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase the synopsis like this: “In ‘To a Land Unknown,’ directed by Mahdi Fleifel, my friends Chatila and Reda dream of escaping Athens with forged passports. However, when Reda succumbs to his perilous drug habit, losing all their saved money, Chatila comes up with an audacious scheme. They decide to pretend to be smugglers, taking hostages in a desperate attempt to escape their dismal circumstances before it’s too late, hoping to give both of us a chance at a new life.
“Under the Volcano” (Director: Damian Kocur, Poland)
I recently watched ‘Went Up the Hill,’ directed by Samuel Van Grinsven, a joint production between New Zealand and Australia. As an orphaned child, I found myself in remote New Zealand for my estranged mother Elizabeth’s funeral. Upon arrival, I met her widow, Jill, who harbored her own unanswered questions. In the nights that followed, Elizabeth somehow reappeared, taking control of both Jack and Jill to communicate with each other.
The movie is a psychological drama, drawn from director Samuel Van Grinsven’s recollections of his childhood on New Zealand’s South Island. It is a contemporary tale of haunting, delving into the limits of sorrow as we grapple with the act of letting go.
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2024-10-10 13:17