The Greek Film Festival of Berlin
Berlin, like L.A. might have a different film festival every day of the year. Many of them are held at classic world renowned Kino Babylon, built in 1929 in the Neue Schlichkeit style of the time. Like L.A.’s Egyptian, it also shows classics like ‘Metropolis’, ‘Dr. Caligari’ with a live orchestra in the very place they premiered in their time.
The Greek Film Festival of Berlin is especially appealing. It is a busy, mingling, overwhelming, exciting five days. The huge success of the festival this year proves that the cinema is strong and alive!
They reached 3000 admissions this year, a record for the festival and all the screenings were crowded. The mingling crowd outside before and after the screening and the dark cinema hall and the togetherness of watching films is powerful, unique and irreplaceable. That is they chose to declare the bloody BIG screen as their motto this year
AWARDS
The winner of the Emerging Greeks Award, which is accompanied by the amount of 1,000 euros and sponsored by the Greek Film Centre, was the film Animal by Sofia Exarchou: “The film combines an artistic cinematographic proposition with a political narrative diving in the underbelly of capitalism; a fiction rooted in reality, which does not let you look away”.
A Special Mention was awarded to the film Medium by Christina Ioakeimidi: “The Jury has decided to give a special mention to a promising voice coming out of Greek cinema, a film that shines through its mise-en-scène, a gentle and respectful portrayal of intimacy”.
The winner of the Documentary Award, which is accompanied by the amount of 500 euros and sponsored by Musou Music Group, was the documentary film Grief — Those Who Remain by Myrto Patsalidou and Maria Louka: “Fascism must be stopped. Addressing this most pressing sociopolitical issue of our times through the fates of three young people, the filmmakers show the absurdity of hate and give a voice to the parents who don’t accept grieving in silence”.
The Emerging Greeks & Documentary Award Jury consisted of Marie-Pierre Macia (producer, film expert), Malik Berkati (FIPRESCI critic, political scientist) and Christopher Zitterbart (producer).
The winner of the Short Film Award, which is accompanied by the amount of 500 euros and sponsored by Illuseum Berlin, was the short film Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou: “The characters of the film are champions of unity in a world overshadowed by conflict. Their unwavering commitment to peace inspires us to dream of a borderless world filled with love and understanding, navigating with unwavering love. The award goes to a film, which is unfortunately always timely, but filled with hope for the future”.
