Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival Unveils Nominees for Key Competition Categories
Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival Reveals 2026 Competitors
The 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece has officially announced the films competing in two prominent categories: The Newcomers and Film Forward Competition. Both sections promise substantial financial rewards for the standout productions.
In the Newcomers Competition, filmmakers will vie for two honors: the Golden Alexander “Dimitri Eipides” and the Silver Alexander Award. This year, 14 films—each over 50 minutes—by emerging talents have been selected. The Golden Alexander award comes with a cash prize of €10,000, while the Silver Alexander carries €4,000.
The Film Forward Competition, emphasizing innovative and boundary-pushing works, features ten films in contention. Awards in this section include the Film Forward Golden Alexander, offering €6,000, and the Film Forward Silver Alexander with a €3,000 prize.
The festival will take place from March 5–15 in the vibrant port city of Thessaloniki.
Newcomers Competition Filmmakers and Their Stories
Among this year’s hopefuls in the Newcomers Competition are:
At No Cost by Mary Bouli (Greece, 2026, 79’): This film tells the story of Danae, a bar worker in Athens dreaming of becoming a ballet dancer. Struggling financially, she decides to donate eggs, believing it to be a painless solution, only to discover the complexities involved.
EXILE(S), Tales From an Island by Yorgos Iliopoulos (Greece, 2026, 119’): Set against the backdrop of Imbros, the film explores the cultural shifts and challenges faced by its inhabitants a century after the Treaty of Lausanne.
Tiny Gods by Panos Deligiannis (Greece, 2026, 82’): The documentary captures the oscillation between personal introversion and external realities through the life of artist Kleio Gizeli.
Hex by Maja Holand (Norway, 2026, 86’): This narrative follows three young women captivated by Norway’s black metal culture as they form a band and grapple with their identities and societal expectations.
In Cod We Trust by Guro Saniola Bjerk (Norway-Finland, 2026, 84’): An observational portrayal of Båtsfjord, a fishing village, weaving together the lives of its resourceful inhabitants amidst the demands of nature.
Other films in the Newcomers section include Inner Emigrants, Just Look Up, Motel Paradise, One in a Million, Replica, Sentient, The Smuggler, Tirrenica, and We Are Stardust. Each film presents unique narratives that delve into contemporary societal issues.
Film Forward Competition: Challenging Conventions
The Film Forward Competition lineup features an equally diverse array of storytelling, highlighting ten unique films, such as:
Dear Future by Christiana Cheiranagnostaki (Greece-Switzerland, 2026, 79’): A contemplative piece exploring dormant memories and artefacts within an Arctic archive.
Horse and Rider by Panayotis Evangelidis (Greece, 2026, 78’): This tender narrative captures three days of connection between two strangers in a Thessaloniki hotel amid a heatwave.
Stories of a Lie by Olia Verriopoulou (Greece-France, 2025, 75’): An intimate exploration of the impact of medical secrecy as a filmmaker confronts familial truths.
A Song Without Home by Rati Tsiteladze (Georgia-USA-Denmark, 2026, 75’): This documentary follows a trans woman seeking freedom while confronting her troubled past in a politically hostile environment.
Mommy’s Boys by Jesper Dalgaard (Denmark, 2025, 103’): This docudrama delves into the complexities of family dynamics following the death of a manipulative mother.
The other films competing in the Film Forward section include Level, Phosphene, The Culprits, The Magic City – Birmingham According to Sun Ra, and Trine on Fire.
As the festival approaches, audiences can look forward to a rich collection of narratives that challenge perspectives and foster discussion on important global issues.
