The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival will take place from March 6th to March 16th, 2025, both in physical venues and online. The festival will screen a total of 261 documentaries, including 72 world premieres, 40 international premieres, and 11 European premieres.
At a press conference on Monday the organizers of the festival highlighted the importance of documentary films in preserving truth and countering misinformation: “The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival takes place this year in a critical moment for our broader neighborhood, Europe, but also for the whole world,” noted the festival’s team. “Documentaries allow us to engage with reality and reassess cultural values such as democracy, freedom, and tolerance.”
The festival will open with About a Hero, directed by Piotr Winiewicz, which features a script developed by artificial intelligence trained on Werner Herzog’s work. The closing film, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, directed by Shoshannah Stern, explores the career and contributions of Marlee Matlin, the first deaf actor to win an Academy Award.
A key program at this year’s festival is AI, an Inevitable Intelligence, which explores the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and storytelling. The program includes documentaries, a visual installation by artist Lauren Lee McCarthy, and a masterclass on AI in artistic creation.
Another notable section, Geography of the Gaze: Off-Plan Greece (1950-2000), presents 19 Greek documentaries that examine the country’s social, political, and cultural history.
French documentary filmmaker Nicolas Philibert will receive the honorary Golden Alexander award, and a tribute will highlight the work of Lauren Greenfield, whose documentaries critique hyperconsumerism and social inequality.
The international competition features 10 films competing for the Golden Alexander and Silver Alexander awards. Additional sections include Newcomers, which showcases emerging directors, >>Film Forward, which highlights experimental documentary styles, and Immersive: All Around Cinema, which focuses on interactive and immersive storytelling.
The festival continues its Podcast Competition, featuring 10 entries competing for the Best Podcast Award. A total of 12 additional podcasts will be featured in the Nexus Section. Additionally, a special bilingual publication will explore themes related to artificial intelligence and its impact on contemporary storytelling.
More information on the program, tickets, and online screenings can be found at www.filmfestival.gr. Ticket presales begin on March 4th.
