The International Film Festival of Thessaloniki is a film festival with more than 50 years of history. The festival started in 1960 and until 1991 it was dealing only with Greek cinema. The decline that was observed during the '80s led the organization to some new decisions and in 1992 it became an international film festival gaining acknowledgment by the International Federation of Film Producers Association (FIAPF).
When does the International Film Festival of Thessaloniki take place?
The Festival takes place every year, usually around the middle of November. While it is quite a well-known event amongst filmmakers from all over the world and especially those who are at the first steps of their career.
It attracts over 70.000 Greek and foreign festival guests who are attending approximately 150 screenings. Apart from the numerous tribute sections, the festival is competitive and the International Section jury gives a number of prizes each year with the most notable this of the best feature-length film named "Golden Alexander".
What are the screening halls of the International Film Festival of Thessaloniki?
Among the main halls that host the screenings of the festival is the famous theater of Olympion in Aristotelous square where the opening and the closing ceremony are taking place. Furthermore, there is a number of halls in the port of the city which are named after legendary Greek filmmakers and actors. Those are John Cassavetes, Stavros Tornes, Frida Liappa, and Tonia Marketaki. Experimental and other films are also screened in other halls of the city.
When was founded the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival?
During March, there is another festival that takes place in the city of Thessaloniki and starting from 1999 gains more and more recognition during the years. This is the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival that is held in the same halls and is also attended by a great number of attendants who are interested in cinema and documentaries.