Art as a Shield: Thessaloniki Festival Fights for Truth in Troubling Times

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With the approaching 27th edition of Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, scheduled for March 6 to 16, festival director Orestis Andreadakis expresses concerns about the abundance of challenges to truth, freedom, and democratic values. Four months have gone by since the last film festival, but it seems as though we’re inhabiting a completely different world – one that unfortunately is not an improvement. This is the sentiment shared by Andreadakis in his interview with EbMaster.

Comparing the current times to a “reverse-played historical documentary from the 1930s,” he explains how world events seem like “an educational film that failed to teach us anything.” He goes on to say, “It’s a grim reminder of the horror of fascism and totalitarianism – something it appears we have forgotten.” He concludes by stating, “It’s a record of a terrible historical truth that some are trying to reenact in the most disastrous fashion possible.

This year’s festival is taking place barely two weeks after the three-year anniversary of Russia’s war with Ukraine, and a fragile truce in Gaza that aimed to end the violent conflict seems to be under threat. In the U.S., President Donald Trump has initiated an unparalleled attack on personal freedoms and political conventions during his initial six weeks in office. On the other hand, Europe’s conservative shift was reinforced by recent elections in Germany, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gained 20% of the public vote.

As a movie enthusiast, I might say: Despite the chaos and uncertainty that surround us, I firmly believe that documentary film festivals remain crucial. They serve as a powerful reminder of the role art plays as a fortress, safeguarding our core values when truth itself seems to be losing its significance.

The craft of documentary strives to capture authenticity, which is particularly crucial in these challenging periods. It helps us discern truth from fiction, understand our current reality,” he notes. The films shown at this year’s Thessaloniki Documentary Festival “depict and reveal the experiences we face during our uncertain times.

The festival begins on March 6th, starting with “About a Hero” (depicted), a documentary by Piotr Winiewicz that uses AI assistance. This film challenges German auteur Werner Herzog, who has been critical of artificial intelligence, by creating a digital replica of one of his films. The last movie to be screened is “Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,” directed by Shoshannah Stern and fresh from a successful premiere at Sundance. This film narrates the inspiring story of Marlee Matlin, the groundbreaking actor who in 1986 became the first deaf individual to win an Oscar.

Over three primary competition categories and an array of thematic programs, a grand total of 261 documentaries will be showcased. This includes 72 world debuts, 40 international premieres, and 11 European first-views. Notably, 71 homegrown feature and short films are also part of the lineup, emphasizing Andreadakis and the programming team’s dedication to Thessaloniki Doc Fest as a platform for highlighting the Greek film industry.

Notable entries competing for the Golden Alexander award feature a set of three documentaries that previously screened at Sundance: “Coexistence, My Ass!”, a portrait of Israeli activist and humorist Noam Shuster Eliassi by Amber Fares; “Free Leonard Peltier”, directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France, focusing on the story of the Native American activist who spent nearly half a century imprisoned; and “GEN_” by Gianluca Matarrese, centering around an unorthodox doctor at a Milan fertility clinic. Additionally, Juanjo Pereira’s “Under the Flags, the Sun”, which showcases an audiovisual archive unearthed from Paraguay’s 35-year dictatorship, was initially debuted at the Berlin Film Festival.

The main competition will feature world premieres such as “Sculpted Souls,” a documentary from renowned Greek filmmaker Stavros Psillakis, which chronicles the journey of a Swiss dentist who has been selflessly treating lepers in Greece for close to three decades without charge. Additionally, there’s “Child of Dust” by Polish director Weronika Mliczewska, which delves into the story of an individual conceived during the Vietnam War as the child of an American soldier, who endeavors to reunite with his father in the United States.

Among the many exciting aspects of this festival are:

1. A viewing of Steve Pink’s film “The Last Republican,” a movie that chronicles the journey of ex-Republican politician Adam Kinzinger in his pursuit of justice against Donald Trump following the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
2. Additionally, there’s a special section focusing on the emergence of artificial intelligence. This segment includes a screening of Tilda Swinton’s first directorial project, “The Hexagonal Hive and a Mouse in a Maze.”

Nicolas Philibert, a renowned French filmmaker, is set to receive an Honorary Golden Alexander on March 8. He will then conduct a masterclass, and his illustrious career will be commemorated with a screening of his notable works like the BAFTA-nominated “To Be and To Have” and Berlin Golden Bear winner “On the Adamant.” Similarly, Lauren Greenfield, an accomplished American documentary filmmaker and versatile artist, will receive a tribute for her collection of award-winning films such as Sundance prize winner “The Queen of Versailles” and her latest project, the documentary series “Social Studies.” Greenfield’s masterclass is scheduled for March 13.

The festival’s 27th installment starts shortly after significant demonstrations on the second anniversary of the tragic Tempe railway accident that took 57 lives. These demonstrations, which saw hundreds of thousands of Greeks participating, are considered among the largest protests in Greece since the downfall of the military regime in 1974.

25 years ago during the preparation for the festival’s anniversary, a tragic incident occurred in Tempe, leading to the cancellation of the opening ceremony. This decision was made due to an extraordinary wave of sorrow and indignation sweeping across the nation. Recently, as the painful memories of that fateful day linger, demonstrations are being planned in Thessaloniki and various parts of Greece, with people demanding justice for the lives lost in the tragedy.

This year’s festival aims to fulfill the same objectives that numerous documentarians strive for: bearing witness, inciting discourse, speaking truth to authority, and offering a sense of solace and camaraderie during challenging periods.

Andreadakis remarks that Thessaloniki embodies both memory and history. It’s a city that has witnessed geopolitical strife, yet the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival stands as a beacon for dialogue, liberty, and culture. Essentially, he emphasizes that the festival is crucial because art serves as one of democracy’s strongest tools.

The Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival runs March 6 – 16.

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2025-03-06 14:54