The competition programs of DISFF 46

46th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
4 – 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
PRESS CONFERENCE – THURSDAY, JULY 13

During the press conference that just concluded at the Greek Film Archive Foundation, an event honoured by the presence of General Secretary of Modern Culture Eleni Doundoulaki, the artistic director of the Drama International Short Film Festival Yannis Sakaridis along with Yorgos Demertzis, President of the Festival, announced the competition programmes (NATIONAL, STUDENT NATIONAL, STUDENT INTERNATIONAL, and GREEN) of the 46th Drama International Short Film Festival, which will be held between the 4th and 10th of September, 2023. They also introduced the Festival’s new visual identity, as well as the newly-established Short Film Hub segment, which will further strengthen the Festival’s longstanding partnership with the Greek Film Centre.

The 46th Drama International Short Film Festival will project a total of 76 Greek film across all its competition programmes, all of which will premiere on a national and, in most cases, an international level.

This year, the Festival is moving on to the next level; as it was announced a few days ago, the films receiving the top distinction in both the National and International Competition programmes will be automatically securing the coveted “ticket” to participate in the Oscars® Academy Awards. This connection with the Academy Awards® will give the Drama International Short Film Festival the push it needs to fulfil its role in the best way possible.

In the press conference, the first one to speak was Margarita Alexomanolaki, Head of the Directorate of Performing Arts and Cinema of the Ministry of Culture, representing the Ministry of Culture. “We are happy to see the institution grow. The Ministry of Culture has always been an ardent supporter of the celebration of short films. This year we are supporting the Festival of Drama through the Recovery Fund in order to ensure stability for the Festival, with funds exceeding €800,000. Thus the festival can guarantee better planning and outreach, without the insecurity of obtaining funding from the regular Ministry budget. By joining the Recovery Fund this year, the Drama Festival increased its budget and secured stable funding until the end of 2025. But even after 2025, the Ministry will remain a supporter of the institution” she mentioned.

As Yannis Sakaridis mentioned, “festivals are a classic fixture in the field of cinema, offering a platform where new talent can surface, artistic ideas can be exchanged, and creative diversity can be encouraged. Furthermore, festivals never stop! Just one week after the end of last year’s Drama International Short Film Festival, we presented the films of the National Competition programme, and we welcomed Paweł Pawlikowski in a Cinematherapy Session at the Greek Film Archive Foundation. The long journey of the award-winning films of the National Competition programme began at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, from where they “travelled” on to many cities of both Greece and abroad”.

This year “we have the honour to welcome director and actress Elena Mavridou to our team, who will take over the new KIDDO programme, which will host films created for and by children; additionally, Yanna Sarri has taken over the creation of the Short Film Hub programme, which aspires to form ties between talented directors, screenwriters, and directors and the domestic film industry. Led by Denise Nikolakou, our Cinematherapy programme visited the schools of Drama for a second year in a row, while it also travelled to two top Greek cinema festivals in Berlin and Los Angeles, with which our organisation has now started collaborating. The Festival’s team watched and assessed more than 3,000 films, and is now inviting you to join it in discovering new voices, journeying in subversive worlds, and delving deeply into the Art of cinema. I am both happy and proud to be able to welcome you to the 46th Drama International Short Film Festival!”

Taking the floor, President of the Festival Yorgos Demertzis noted:

“2023 is a milestone year for the Festival, as it brings many new and important developments: Just a few days ago, the American Film Academy announced our success in achieving this top distinction. Two tickets to participate in the Oscars ceremony will be given to the winning films of the National and International Competition programmes of the Drama Festival.

This distinction did not happen in a vacuum; together with Yannis Sakaridis and the Festival’s team, we acted in a coordinated, systematic, and persistent manner, in order to eliminate past obstacles and rebuild previously lost bridges of communication both in Greece and abroad. With my full support and under the guidance of our inspired artistic director, the targeted, creative, and outgoing growth pattern of the Festival in the past few years which aimed to benefit the creators of short films greatly contributed to this success.

I will continue by talking about the beginning of this special year, when the Undergraduate Department of Film Studies of the Hellenic Open University started operating, offering directing workshops in our city. This was a long-held dream, and the mayor of our city greatly contributed in its realisation. As its main inspirer, the Drama Film Festival will develop collaborative programmes and actions with the School, in order to maximise the benefits for aspiring filmmakers.

Commenting on the “important, definitive, unimpeded, and -for the first time- steady collaboration with the Ministry of Culture”, Yorgos Demertzis noted that said collaboration, which has been in place since 2020, has brought:

“Uninterrupted funding for the Festival, via a three-year planning contract which was renewed a few months ago, providing safety and resources for us to continue our work.

The utilisation of the former Andrikakis military camp, through “the creation and operation of a creative hub for audiovisual arts in Drama”, which transformed it into a reference point of the Drama Film Festival. Aided by the Recovery Fund and with funding of up to 7 million Euro by the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Administrative Region, this plan is in development and will operate in combination with the cultural and developmental master plan for the growth of Drama, which aspires to contribute to the economy and growth model of the wider region.

The modernisation of the infrastructure of the Drama Municipal Music School and the Olympia Cinema, both venues where the Festival takes place, with funding of up to 1.5 million Euro by the Recovery Fund.

Furthermore, and with the aid of the Ministry of Culture, the educational “Cinematherapy” programmes were implemented for the past three years, which were met with great success in Drama and will continue to be held.

The artistic director and the team of the Festival have wrapped up the preparations for the 46th event of the Drama International Short Film Festival with love, maturity, sincerity and passion. Fresh, innovative choices and new co-operations with important bodies and people of the field of cinema both in Greece and abroad compose this year’s Festival, aiming to strengthen the connection between the film industry, young talent, and film students from both Greece and abroad, in an effort to ultimately upgrade the festival’s image and offering.

We are very thankful to the Ministry of Culture, the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Administrative Region, the Drama Municipality, the Greek Film Centre, the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME), the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the Onassis Stegi Foundation, RAYCAP, Cyclops, Finos Film, COSMOTE TV, and all bodies of cinematic creation, both Greek and foreign, for their support, love, and excellent co-operation in the task of promoting short films and their creators.  

We wish our Festival the best of luck!”

THE VISUAL IDENTITY OF THE 46TH DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Upon presenting this year’s visual identity, designer and Head of Branding at the Drama International Short Film Festival Dimitris Papazoglou (DpS Athens) noted:

“We are both happy and honoured to be presenting the visual identity which will accompany the 46th Drama International Short Film Festival; in doing so, we have finally completed the design trilogy we announced back in 2021, when we first took over the redesigning of the organisation’s visual identity.

As such, in 2021 we focused on the format, the technical qualities of the medium, the short duration (the short film narration) and the density of meaning, all typical elements of this type of filmmaking.

Following that, in 2022 we focused on the community of short film creators, bringing the creators at the forefront of visual communication. By using the verbal creation “A Flm By” and incorporating their names in the design process, we underlined and highlighted their contribution as a vital, creative part of our Festival.

Our work on the Festival’s visual identities for both 2021 and 2022 received important distinctions, the most important one being the Golden Award for Design during the Greek Design Awards for Visual Communication (EVGE Awards), as well as the Merit of Typography for the 2022 publications of the Festival during the same event. Additionally, the total work of the two years has received recognition by multiple design platforms and design-related publications, not only in Greece, but also abroad, something that contributed significantly to the establishment of the Drama Film Festival among international cinematic festivals.

This year’s visual identity draws inspiration from and honours the long, upward trajectory of the Festival. In terms of branding, the Festival’s name is strengthened and dispersed, gaining more exposure as it is promoted more and more abroad, in events such as the Los Angeles GFF, the Festival de Cannes, the Clermont-Ferrand Festival, the Torino Short Film Market, and others.

On an international level, an important proof of the strengthening of our institution, the validation of its identity, and its contribution in the world of short film making is the fact that the Drama International Short Film Festival now becomes an Oscar®-qualifying festival, officially providing a ticket to the Oscar® Awards competition to the two award-winning films of the National and International competition programmes.

This, of course, is an extraordinary circumstance, which makes this year’s visual identity even more pertinent. The verbal creation “Focus on DISFF” challenges us to “see” – and, therefore, to think – both carefully and in depth about the Drama International Short Film Festival, ponder the meaning of its vision, and examine the principles and qualities which typify it as it grows, disperses, and travels, gaining more and more prestige on the international map of film festivals”.

 

THE JURIES OF THE 46TH DRAMA FESTIVAL

*The jury of the National Competition Programme is composed of:

  1. Lefteris Charitos (President), director
  2. Alexia Roider, artistic director of the Cyprus International Short Film Festival
  3. Menos Deliotzakis, director
  4. Alexandra Matthaiou, director/screenwriter
  5. Asimina Proedrou, Director/screenwriter

*The jury of the International Competition Programme is composed of:

  1. Eva Stefani (President), director
  2. Philip Ilson, Artistic Director of the London Film Festival
  3. Marie-Pauline Mollaret, Head of the short film selection segment of the Cannes Film Festival/cinema critic

*The jury of the International Student Competition Programme is composed of:

  1. Florian Fernandez-Canto, coordinator of the Cannes Court Métrage – Rendez-vous Industry
  2. Anne Gaschutz, artistic director of Filmfest Dresden
  3. Thanos Tokakis, director/actor

*The jury of the National Student Competition Programme is composed of:

  1. Kyriakos Aggelakos (President), director/producer/screenwriter
  2. Ilektra Venaki, video editor
  3. Maria Komninou, Chairperson of the Board of the Greek Film Archive Foundation

*The jury of the Short and Green Programme is composed of:

  1. Yorgos Gousis (President), director
  2. Sofia Stavrianidou, head of the Greek Film Festival Berlin
  3. Natasha Christia, curator, writer, and educator in the field of artistic photography

*The jury of the Animation Competition Programme is composed of:

  1. Jutta Wille, director of AGKurzFilm/producer
  2. Alekos Papadatos, animator/director
  3. Anthi Samartzidou, cartoonist

*The jury of the KIDDO programme is composed of children and teenagers between the ages of 11-18:

  1. Petros Georgiadis
  2. Tatiana Mavridou,
  3. Anna Panagiotopoulou,
  4. Christos Sapanidis,
  5. Vasiliki Stefanidou

PARTICIPANTS IN 2023 DISFF46

NATIONAL COMPETITION

  1. Unorthodox by Konstantinos Antonopoulos
  2. My name is Anti by Andreas Vakalios, Fili Olsefski
  3. White Christmas 1948 by Antonios Vallindras
  4. Good Girls Club: A Virginity Odyssey by Lida Vartzioti, Dimitris Tsakaleas
  5. Antilopi by Alexandros Voulgaris aka The Boy
  6. Light of Light by Neritan Zinxhiria
  7. Arizones by Giorgos Iliopoulos
  8. Wings by Fivos Imellos
  9. A piece of liberty by Antigoni Kapaka
  10. End of August by Antzelika Katsa
  11. Τhe armchair on the pavement by Mary Kolonia
  12. Aerolin by Alexis Koukias-Pantelis
  13. Super by Nikolas Kouloglou
  14. Pick a hand by Stavros Kostopoulos
  15. Please wait by Karina Logothetis
  16. Midnight Skin by Manolis Mavris
  17. If I tell you my memories by Maria Elena Mitrodima
  18. Flux by Giorgos Bougioukos
  19. À deux voix by Martha Bouziouri
  20. Athalassa by Argyro Nicolaou
  21. Deep sea by Kallia Papadaki
  22. Bearcave by Krysianna Papadakis, Stergios Dinopoulos
  23. Firebug by Alexandros Papathanasopoulos
  24. Short draft by Spyridon Papaspyrou
  25. Mailman by Nicholas G. Pelecanos
  26. The thief by Matteo Pizzocaro
  27. Until you see me by Eleanna Santorinaiou
  28. Walls by Christos Sarris
  29. Cargo by Yorgos Servetas
  30. Womb by Themos Skandamis
  31. Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou
  32. Dyosmos by Alexandros Georgios Sotiropoulos
  33. The first setting sun of summer by Asteris Tziolas
  34. Crossing by Aineias Tsamatis, Katerina Mavrogeorgi
  35. Fracture by Panagiotis Fafoutis

As Yannis Sakaridis notes, “35 films participate in the National Competition Programme, directed by 26 men and 13 women.

“Short film directors stand apart for their creative intelligence, their sensitive approach in communicating with the audiences, and their ability to convey multiple experiences and emotions in just a few minutes. Short films allow directors to approach deep and important subjects, and to capture them in strong, compact scripts. In this case, direction is a challenge, seeing as directors must choose the moments which will successfully convey the full picture of their story. The direction of short films demands precision and narrative economy.

As my dear predecessor and fellow director Antonis Papadopoulos wrote, a short film is a film of “immediate return”. A short film that can be realised within a short time span records the social, economic, and mental state of the country, transforming the screens of the Drama International Short Film Festival into a mirror of society, both in realistic and lyrical ways.

This year we watched films that touched upon deep social and psychological issues, with an emphasis on solitude, abandonment, abuse, and toxic masculinity. The exploration of one’s sexuality and sexism occupy big part of this year’s subject matter, while problematic family relationships, breakups and the management of grief seem to once again inspire short film creators. Furthermore, we watched some excellent comedies, as well as experimental films and powerful documentaries.

The Drama International Short Film Festival received certification for the Oscar nominations in the category of short films, for the award-winning films of the National Competition Programme (Oscar®-qualified).

We hope that once again this year, the Festival will uplift Greek cinema and will become a source of positive energy”.

NATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION

  1. A diary of sexual solitude by Nina Alexandraki
  2. The Parade by Michalis Galanopoulos
  3. Greenhouse by George Georgakopoulos
  4. Góos by Flora Ilia
  5. Ketchup to your mustard by Ifigeneia Theodoridis
  6. Days of a lilac summer by Ariadni Angeliki Thyfronitou Litou
  7. Athens, my love by Dimitris Kechris
  8. A very small gentleman by George Kleanthous
  9. The chaos she left behind by Nikos Kolioukos
  10. Scorched earth by Markela Kontaratou\
  11. Why won’t you dance? by Penelope Mavropsaridi
  12. Love is a heavy load by Marianna Bozantzoglou – Katerina Roussiaki
  13. Little doggie by Giorgos Ntounis
  14. The legend of Kavalawood by Melina Xypolitaki
  15. Unicorns do exist by Milena Perdikari
  16. The knock by Ismini Proiou
  17. Farewells by Savvina Samioti
  18. Sea urchin by Alex Scholz
  19. How to light a cigarette without burning yourself by Constantinos Spanoudakis
  20. One and a half by Odysseas Spyropoulos
  21. Birds don’t look through the windows by Eirini Tampasouli
  22. Eau en noir / Water in black by Vanessa Ferle
  23. Lou by Antonina Frokou
  24. Watering hole by Fivos Chalkiopoulos
  25. Justis by Aggelos Barai, Nikitas Sifonios [out of competition]

24 films participate in the National Student Competition Programme (an extra film will be screened outside the competition), directed by 10 men and 14 women. Panagiotis Iosifelis is Head Programmer of the programme (screenwriter, screenwriting professor at the Film Department of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). There was a 60% increase in this year’s submissions compared to the previous year, and films from 12 schools were selected. This year’s subject matter revolves around issues such as abuse, femicide, and self-identification. The creation of the Student National Programme succeeds in filling a significant gap in the field of student short film creation.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION

  1. Klette by Michael Abay,  Belgium
  2. Bad kids with saint names by Vicky Anastasiadou,  Greece
  3. Phalène by Sarah-Anaïs Desbenoit,   France
  4. Kokuryo: the untold story of bb. Undas 2019 by Diokko Manuel Dionisio,   Philippines
  5. δ by Julia Diệp My Feige,   Germany
  6. Carp xmass by Anna Heribanová,   Czech Republic
  7. Suitcase by Saman Hosseinpuor – Ako Zandkarimi,    Iran
  8. Xiaohui and his cows by Xinying Lao,   China
  9. Ánima by Manuel Mateo,  Cuba
  10. The things to come   by Santiago Ráfales,   Spain
  11. I asked him to take me dancing by Hillel Rate,   Israel
  12. Sea urchin by Alex Scholz,   Greece
  13. Dancing on the grave by Ana Šiškov,   Croatia
  14. Opening night by Sara Szymańska,   Poland

14 films from 13 countries participate in this year’s Student International Programme, directed by 8 men and 7 women. Director Thanasis Neofotistos, Head Programmer of the Student International Programme, envisions to create a student campus in the city of Drama. This year’s films address various social and political matters, and touch upon issues such as diversity and human relationships.

SHORT AND GREEN

  1. This is not a place for you by Ceyda Aşar,  Turkey
  2. A queen by Benjamin Behaeghel,   France
  3. Terra mater by Kantarama Gahigiri,   Rwanda
  4. Bumbumpapá by Alexis Gómez,   Mexico
  5. Fantasmagoría by Juan Francisco González,   Chile
  6. Luthier by Carlos González Penagos,   Colombia
  7. Nool by May Grosman,   Israel
  8. Strangers in the dark by Perttu Inkilä, Jenni Pystynen ,  Finland
  9. Bégan by Maria Jorge,   Portugal
  10. Time to live by Hawar Rehimi,   Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran
  11. Happy by Laura Rindlisbacher,   UK
  12. Seagulls scream on the weekend by Maria Stuut, Frederik Stuut, Netherlands
  13. Lumen by Eirini Tzoulia,   Greece
  14. Eina by Michael Vella, Tommy Vella ,  Germany
  15. The wheat will not be golden   by Guoxin Wang ,, China

The Short and Green competition programme includes 15 films (directed by 10 men and 8 women) from 15 countries, covering all cinematic genres: fiction films, documentaries, and animation films. The programme is curated by Vasilis Terzopoulos.

THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED SHORT FILM HUB

The Drama International Short Film Festival has always been a space of expression for new creators and cinema professionals. It has historically served as a meeting point, where, come September every year, new connections are created, cinematic discussions held, ideas exchanged and future collaborations forged.

The Short Film Hub programme will be held for the first time this year, under the leadership of Yanna Sarri, and aiming to unite all film professionals that will be present in Drama; via discussions and panels, it will provide the opportunity to new creators to approach distinguished professionals in the field of cinema, in order to learn more about the unlimited potential of their art, the methods of promoting their work, the ways of developing a script and the creation of a network of connections.

The actions of the Short Film Hub will cover the entire duration of the Festival. Discussions will be held daily at the open air cinema Alexandros, on a variety of subjects: One talk will touch upon the most important festivals around the world, such as the Cannes Film Festival and its Marche du Film segment, while other discussions will be held regarding the country’s funding programmes and the development of a cinematic market during the past few years. We will address the process of acquiring music rights, which is a crucial element in the creation of a film. Finally, a discussion on the new platform by Crew United will be held, where renowned Greek and foreign professionals of the field will provide useful tools, while other talks will touch upon topics such as DIY cinema and the fascinating work of Frieda Liappa.

At the same time, the DIRECTOR’S CUT: A Cinema of Stills workshop will be held, led by Natasha Christia (curator, writer, and educator in the field of artistic photography). In this workshop we will try to incorporate photography and its theory into cinematic theory and practice, and create a useful and inspired toolbox to aid the conception, production, and promotion of a cinematic project.

The successful actions of the Pitching Lab will continue this year, celebrating its 10th anniversary and its collaboration with the Torino Short Film Lab. These two actions will be combined with constructive meetings between the participants and the professionals of the field.

Finally, the actions of the Meet the Experts programme will be held for the first time this year; these will be daily meetings with film professionals attending the Festival, who will be available for one-to-one meetings with the directors, screenwriters, and producers presenting their films within the official programme of the Festival.

Meet the GFC

The series of informative meetings “Meet the GFC”, which will be held for the first time this year within the Agora segment of the Festival, will strengthen the long-standing, strong bond between the Greek Film Centre and the Drama International Short Film Festival. From Tuesday, September 5th until Friday, September 8th, executives from all the departments of the GFC will inform directors and producers on the possibilities offered through the Centre’s funding programmes, as well as through its international connections.

Finally, we would like to add that, this year, the Drama International Short Film Festival begins a new collaboration with Crew United, the top online platform for connecting audiovisual professionals in Europe, which started operating in Greece as Crew United Greece. This platform, which is now available in Greek as well, will be giving out three awards and will be presented at the Short Film Hub on Friday, September 8th.

CINEMATHERAPY

After the very successful run of the programme from 2020 to this day, in Greece and abroad, a new project for the Cinematherapy programme, led by psychotherapist Denise Nikolakou, will be implemented by the Drama International Short Film Festival, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and the Directorate of Contemporary Culture, reaffirming the impact and effectiveness of the innovative programme that has been running for three years in Greece and abroad.

For the first time this year, the new project is focused at the age group 18 to 30, with the goal of creating 5 mixed groups of 10 people each, with open flow, with a fixed duration of 90 minutes and a weekly meeting schedule. The duration of the program is set at a predetermined start and end date, from 28/8 to 30/12/2023.

The Programme will run in a hybrid format (in person and online). The kick-off meeting / introduction of the team with the coordinator and the participants as well as the closing meeting will be held in person. In the in-between period, the group meetings, under the curation and coordination by Denise Nikolakou, will be held via an online platform (Zoom).

PICTURES OF THE DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL’S NEW VISUAL IDENTITY


The Drama Festival becomes the "ticket" to the Oscars

The Drama Festival becomes the “ticket” to  the Oscars® 

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected the Drama International Short Film Festival among the world’s top film festivals.  

It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that the Drama International Short Film Festival is announcing that it has received the status for the Oscar®qualifying short films in its International and National Competition Program.

From now on, the Drama Festival officially becomes a “ticket” to the Oscar Awards.

The American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected the world’s leading festivals to collaborate in the formation of the final list of short films eligible to compete for the Academy Award for Best Short Film. The Academy allows films that win first prize at these festivals to automatically qualify for the category shortlist, provided they meet the Academy standards.

Thus, the two short films that receive a Golden Dionysus, i.e. the Best Film Award at the National Competition, and the Best Film Grand Prix at the DISFF International Competition each September, will automatically secure the coveted “ticket” to participate in the Oscar process, which may lead them to the final five for the Best Short Film Oscar.

This development rewards the efforts that the Drama Festival has made over the years to distinguish itself as one of the leading international short film festivals. It also confirms the extroversion that it has shown in recent years, as well as its timeless influence on the promotion of young cinema talents in Greece. 

The association with the Academy Awards® will give Drama Festival the extra impetus needed to perform its role to the best of its ability.

The Drama Festival becomes the "ticket" to the Oscars

Pitching Lab 2023

46th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

4 – 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
10 years Drama Pitching Lab / Forum

CALL FOR ENTRIES

New deadline 10th May 2023

WHAT IS IT?

As part of the in house Educational Platform DRAMA LAB, every year the Drama International Film Festival organises a Pitching Lab Workshop and a Pitching Forum, to provide pitching techniques to directors/producers.

Young filmmakers, scriptwriters, and producers from all over the world will participate in training sessions and learn how to present their project to producers and secure potential funding.

Moreover, the workshop aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge and working tools useful for developing an original idea into a script and furthermore towards realizing an authentic short film of any genre (fiction, animation, doc e.t.c.).

At the end of the workshop participants are given the opportunity to present their ideas during the Pitching Forum Session, to a group of experts, producers and festival directors (5΄ presentation time).

Members of the Forum Committee will quiz each participant after their presentation, asking them critical questions about their project. (5’ Q&A ).

Participants are also given the opportunity to arrange one to one meetings with potential financiers to help them raise funds for their project.

TRAINING VIDEOS

In the following link you can find four training videos by the Head of the programme Barbara Dukas and Pitching Lab instructors Georgina Kakoudaki, Stathis Paraskevopoulos and John Stephens, explaining the significance of pitching an idea for a film, a glimpse of the workshops that are going to take place the Drama Film Festival Pitching Lab.

DISFF45 | PITCHING LAB

SUBMISSIONS

Project Submission (exclusively in the English language) until Wednesday 10th of May 2023 +GR 12.00 by mail pitching@dramafilmfestival.gr

THE APPLICATION

Required

  • Synopsis up to 200 words
  • Project description up to 500 words ( a logline of up to 50 words should be included)
  • CVs of the project creative team (author/writer, director & producer) up to 200 words each.

Optional

  • Audiovisual material at the discretion of each candidate e. photos, small teaser, music, color palette, location material, casting and more generally anything that can help in understanding the idea behind the project.
  • A complete script is not necessary at this stage

All information and requirements must be included in a single pdf file named after the title of the project.

Who can apply?

The workshop is open to all aspiring directors, producers and/or screenwriters from all over the world. The workshop will be held entirely in English.

Selection

A selection committee composed by members of the Educational Team of DISFF  will select ten projects.

Additional attention will be paid to international projects that will select   Greece as part of the project or for the location of their shooting.

The selected projects will be announced by the 10th of June 2023.

Where and When?

The workshop includes 3 on-line sessions (mandatory), in dates and times that will be announced, and will take place in the interim between the 28th of August 2023 and the 4th of September 2023, and a three-day workshop (in person), during the Drama International Short Film Festival from 6 to 8 of September 2023. The participants presence at the workshop and forum is mandatory.

Participation will occur following the health protocols in force at the time of the workshop. These protocols will be communicated to the participants before the beginning of the workshop.

Μore specifically

PITCHING LAB

PITCHING Workshop for short film projects (short fiction or animation up to 20΄/documentaries up to 30′), (6th to 8th of September 2023)

PITCHING FORUM

The Pitching Forum will be held on Saturday the 9th of September 2023

with the participation of financiers, producers, festival directors and other experts.

Presentation time for each project 5΄

Q&A time 5 ‘

Registration and costs.

Registration is free of charge. The deadline for registration is Wednesday the 10th of May 2023  +GR 12:00

Awards:

  • Finos Film- Cash prize
  • GFC – Cash prize contribution in the production

Mentorship Awards

  • Development/script doctoring sessions in selected projects

More information about previous Pitching Lab editions, awards, as well as booklets with selected projects from previous years can be found on our website: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/pitching-lab/

Additional information
Email: pitching@dramafilmfestival.gr

Pitching Lab 2023

46th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

4 – 10 SEPTEMBER 2023
10 years Drama Pitching Lab / Forum

CALL FOR ENTRIES

WHAT IS IT?

As part of the in house Educational Platform DRAMA LAB, every year the Drama International Film Festival organises a Pitching Lab Workshop and a Pitching Forum, to provide pitching techniques to directors/producers.

Young filmmakers, scriptwriters, and producers from all over the world will participate in training sessions and learn how to present their project to producers and secure potential funding.

Moreover, the workshop aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge and working tools useful for developing an original idea into a script and furthermore towards realizing an authentic short film of any genre (fiction, animation, doc e.t.c.).

At the end of the workshop participants are given the opportunity to present their ideas during the Pitching Forum Session, to a group of experts, producers and festival directors (5΄ presentation time).

Members of the Forum Committee will quiz each participant after their presentation, asking them critical questions about their project. (5’ Q&A ).

Participants are also given the opportunity to arrange one to one meetings with potential financiers to help them raise funds for their project.

TRAINING VIDEOS

In the following link you can find four training videos by the Head of the programme Barbara Dukas and Pitching Lab instructors Georgina Kakoudaki, Stathis Paraskevopoulos and John Stephens, explaining the significance of pitching an idea for a film, a glimpse of the workshops that are going to take place the Drama Film Festival Pitching Lab.

DISFF45 | PITCHING LAB

SUBMISSIONS

Project Submission (exclusively in the English language) until Monday 10th of April 2023 +GR 12.00 by mail pitching@dramafilmfestival.gr

THE APPLICATION

Required

  • Synopsis up to 200 words
  • Project description up to 500 words ( a logline of up to 50 words should be included)
  • CVs of the project creative team (author/writer, director & producer) up to 200 words each.

Optional

  • Audiovisual material at the discretion of each candidate e. photos, small teaser, music, color palette, location material, casting and more generally anything that can help in understanding the idea behind the project.
  • A complete script is not necessary at this stage

All information and requirements must be included in a single pdf file named after the title of the project.

Who can apply?

The workshop is open to all aspiring directors, producers and/or screenwriters from all over the world. The workshop will be held entirely in English.

Selection

A selection committee composed by members of the Educational Team of DISFF  will select ten projects.

Additional attention will be paid to international projects that will select   Greece as part of the project or for the location of their shooting.

The selected projects will be announced by Monday the 8th of May 2023.

Where and When?

The workshop includes 3 on-line sessions (mandatory), in dates and times that will be announced, and will take place in the interim between the 28th of August 2023 and the 4th of September 2023, and a three-day workshop (in person), during the Drama International Short Film Festival from 6 to 8 of September 2023. The participants presence at the workshop and forum is mandatory.

Participation will occur following the health protocols in force at the time of the workshop. These protocols will be communicated to the participants before the beginning of the workshop.

Μore specifically

PITCHING LAB

PITCHING Workshop for short film projects (short fiction or animation up to 20΄/documentaries up to 30′), (6th to 8th of September 2023)

PITCHING FORUM

The Pitching Forum will be held on Saturday the 9th of September 2023

with the participation of financiers, producers, festival directors and other experts.

Presentation time for each project 5΄

Q&A time 5 ‘

Registration and costs.

Registration is free of charge. The deadline for registration is Monday the 10th of April 2023  +GR 12:00

Awards:

  • Finos Film- Cash prize
  • GFC – Cash prize contribution in the productio

Mentorship Awards

  • Development/script doctoring sessions in selected projects

More information about previous Pitching Lab editions, awards, as well as booklets with selected projects from previous years can be found on our website: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/pitching-lab/

Additional information
Email: pitching@dramafilmfestival.gr

open call 2023

CALL FOR ENTRIES

THE DRAMA FESTIVAL AWAITS YOUR FILMSKIDDO: THE NEW COMPETITION

KIDDO: NEW COMPETITION PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE!

The Drama International Short Film Festival, the great celebration of short film filmmakers, awaits your film for its 46th edition! Film submissions for the National Competition Programme, as well as for the other competition sections of the festival, are now open.

The Drama Festival invites filmmakers from all over the world to apply for the International Competition Programme and the International Student Competition Programme. No separate application is needed for the International Animation and Short & Green competition programmes.

This year, interested parties can apply and submit their films for the National and National Student programmes until May 15, whereas for the International, International Student and the new Kiddo competition programme, which aims at filmmakers, as well as children and teenagers who want to create films for children and young people, until May 8.

Films are submitted online to the filmfreeway.com

We remind you that in order to submit films to the National Competition, a Greek premiere is required, while only fiction, documentary, experimental and animated films completed after January 1, 2022 are accepted. Submission of participation is free for Greek and Cypriot directors.

To participate in the International Competition, films must be produced in 2023, the cost of submission per film is 15 Euros, while the duration of the film must not exceed 45 minutes. For the International Student Competition (2022-2023 productions), the submission fee is 5 Euros and the duration of the film must not exceed 20 minutes.

In any case, a Greek premiere is required.

The terms of participation are detailed here:

REGULATIONS – TERMS OF PARTICIPATION

KIDDO

Kiddo marks the new aspirational opening of the Drama Festival to films in which children and young people are in the foreground. The acclaimed Drama actress Elena Mavridou will be the head of the programme, and explains the reasoning behind this new initiative of the Festival:

“No human being is more contemporary at this time than young children who can handle digital media with such comfort and knowledge. If this knowledge shifts towards the Arts, a breeding ground of new innovative ideas can be formed. Children’s emotional intelligence and critical thinking lay the groundwork for the future societies. The Drama Short Film Festival, through its many years of educating the pupils of Drama, offers educational programmes, screenings and cinema workshops for children. We are happy to announce the new Kiddo competition programme for films by professional filmmakers, as well as by children and teenagers. The competition addresses creators of films for children & teenagers with contemporary themes. Young creators are also given the opportunity to screen their films. Films made by children for children, aiming to activate their imagination and to cultivate their own aesthetic perception. The competitive nature of the programme aims to prepare young cinephiles, as well as future creators, for the art of cinema.”

 

SAVE THE DATE: this year’s 46th Drama International Short Film Festival will be held September 4-10. The opening will take place on Monday, while the award ceremony will take place on Sunday.

The National Short Film Festival is here to highlight new emerging talented filmmakers and to encourage the creation of short films as an autonomous category for creators of all ages.

The Drama Festival, a hub for filmmakers and audiovisual professionals, is considered one of the most important of its kind in Europe, providing contestants with an opportunity to compete for European Film Academy (EFA) awards.


More information:

info@dramafilmfestival.gr (Drama Festival Secretariat)
Drama Offices: tel. 25210 47575
Athens offices: tel. 210 3300309

PP

Masterclass with Pawel Pawlikowski | 17-Sep-2022

THE DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL TRAVELS TO THE GREEK FILM ARCHIVE

Among the undisputed highlights of this year’s programme at the Drama International Short Film Festival was the masterclass with Oscar-winning creator Paweł Pawlikowski. Held as part of the Cinematherapy programme of the Festival and followed by a discussion between the Festival’s artistic director Yannis Sakaridis, psychotherapist Denise Nikolakou, and – naturally – the audience, the event proved to be a very successful part of the ‘DISFF in Athens’ function, with crowds filling up the great hall of the Greek Film Archive building.

The four-day event of the Drama Festival which took place at the Greek Film Archive was successfully concluded last night, with sold-out screenings of films from the Festival’s National Competition Programme.

The Cinematherapy programme, curated by Denise Nikolakou, is now synonymous with Paweł Pawlikowski, as it was the Oscar-winning director himself who inaugurated the programme with his film Cold War (2018) during the 43rd event of the Drama International Short Film Festival in 2020.

During the event at the Greek Film Archive, the audience enjoyed a cinematic collage of the director’s prolific work, with excerpts from the important period of his BBC documentaries (1990-1995 – From Moscow to Pietushki, Dostoyevsky’s Travels, Serbian Epics, Tripping with Zhirinovsky), from the second period of his fiction filmmaking (1998-2004 – The Stringer, Last Resort, My Summer of Love), as well as works from his third (The Woman in the Fifth) and fourth (Ida, Cold War) periods (2011-2018).

You can watch the entire masterclass and discussion with the director here:

DISFF45 LIVE STREAMING - Pawel Pawlikowski

Talking with Denise Nikolakou in the discussion that ensued, Paweł Pawlikowski was charming, expressive, and humorous. The creator revealed that he loves, empathises and identifies with the heroes of his films from a psychological point of view, even when the characters are unlikeable. “Of course, that does not mean I consciously try to deliver any kind of cinematherapy when making these films”, he clarified. “When I feel I am starting to lecture the audience, I am immediately deactivated; I push the OFF button, because this is something I don’t want to be doing. I have always made films that expressed what was in my mind at the given time”.

Regarding the documentaries he filmed in the 1990s, produced by BBC (editor’s note: Pawlikowski lived in England since he was 14 years old), the director said he was influenced by documentaries made in the country by great creators like Kieślowski. This influence led him to give this Polish “approach” to his films, which were more artistic and lyrical than the conventional British documentaries of the era. “Polish creators functioned within a different framework, that of totalitarian state control”, he explained. “Thus, they were forced to invent ways to deceive the regime in order to say what they wanted to say, which had an impact on the aesthetic of their films”.

In his documentaries, he captured “the birth of nationalism in Europe during that time”. “It was interesting to capture it all not with today’s digital means, but rather on 16mm film”, he said. “Today we are trapped in a virtual reality, but back then making films was much more interesting. Today we film current events endlessly and without critical thought. Back then we used film, so everything we shot was selected very consciously, as it had a specific purpose; we did not shoot in a general and vague manner. We wanted to capture a poetic or funny scene”.

Talking about his documentaries in contrast to the fiction films he created, the director said that “even though the framework is more realistic in one case and more imaginary in the other, I never discriminated fully between the two, as it always felt like I was “toying” with reality and using a kind of stylisation, at least to a certain extent. That is maybe due to the fact that I really hate the way in which the media depict the world and “reality”. Just look at the way they portray Russia and France today…”.

Using his film “Tripping with Zhirinovsky” as an example, the director underlined that “Zhirinovsky was a deplorable, terrible guy; his time was before the era of Trump, but his course is very indicative of what happened to the vast and incredible country of Russia”. Still, much like it happened with his documentary “Serbian Epics”, which he shot in Bosnia during the 1992 war, he said: “You fall in love with your subject matter. Something inside you motivates you and rings a bell within”.

Speaking of his incredible film “Ida”, which he shot in Poland, Paweł Pawlikowski confessed that, during his puberty, he also discovered that his paternal grandmother was Jewish. “I had no idea, and then suddenly I found out about this adventure of my family, about Auschwitz… In that sense, Ida was a very personal film for me”.

In Poland “we have this obsession with history, to the extent that it crushes everything else. I want to create real, three-dimensional characters – besides, truth is a very controversial concept…”.

When asked about which stage in the creation of a film fascinates him the most, he answered with a big laugh: “None! It is a very stressful procedure. Perhaps the only enjoyable part is the moment that something clicks, you get an idea and you think, “Great, that might just work””. And when asked about the moment he realises his film has achieved its goal? “You cannot know that”, he said. “You often wonder, “Ok, what do I do now?”. The thing that offers a kind of satisfaction is holding a first screening for selected friends. If they like it, you feel that something beautiful is happening. When people start discovering your work, you feel that your efforts are being rewarded”. Regarding his relationship with actors, he said that it doesn’t fit the mould. “There is no standard method, because each and every actor is different”.

Discussing the effects of the pandemic on filmmakers and cinema in general with Yannis Sakaridis, he noted that “as a creator, I feel that in today’s age of digital communication, it is getting harder and harder to make a film that has a purpose, a film with cultural content. In my 68 years of age, I admit that I often think: Why should I even bother? Why make the effort? Who cares? At the beginning, digital platforms pretended to care about cinema, but it is now clear they are all exclusively oriented towards making marketable films. At the same time, film crews are either extremely expensive, or they are busy making blockbusters. How can you make a film like Ida today? I grew up with a kind of cinema that is starting to disappear…”.

He concluded: “After the age of 60, it is difficult to maintain the same level of enthusiasm. I wish I were younger so I could fall in love with cinema all over again…”.

DISFF45 LIVE STREAMING - Τελετή λήξης

DISFF 45 (2022) And the winner is…!!!

45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL NATIONAL COMPETITION PROGRAMME AWARDS

JURY

Jury Head: Konstantinos Giannaris, Director

Jury Members:

  1. Markella Giannatou, Actress
  2. Marina Gioti, Filmmaker and visual artist
  3. Aris Dimokidis, Journalist
  4. Ioakim Mylonas, Director, Artistic Director of International Short Film Festival of Cyprus

JURY QUOTE:

Thank you Drama and Drama International Short Film Festival for the hospitality and for giving us the opportunity to be here. Thanks to a successful preselection process, we had the opportunity to judge a wide and strong range of films, from first time directors to established filmmakers. Our main interest was the sincere and sometimes successful attempt of the creators to deal with current social issues but also – something very pleasant to us – with different genres of cinema. They conveyed it to us in their own unique and quirky way and impressed us with their maturity, passion and humor.

We felt very satisfied that the issues related to the personal and social life of women were high up in the agenda and also with the strong presence of female creators, regardless of the fact that we often had objections to the final result, and that we would definitely like even more strong female roles. At the same time we saw surprisingly mature and sensitive depictions of both toxic and non-toxic masculinity, while also successful and hilarious satire on male narcissism.

The social integration of immigrant communities, or more to the point: the depiction of the lives of second generation children were themes that pleased us with their presence. However, we would also have liked a more robust and contemporary approach, devoid of stereotypes and facts deriving from past times.

Sexual identity, in all its forms, was depicted in a guilt-free mood, finally conveying real life without prudence or deciet. But still, in some cases, we would have liked a more complete result in terms of script and direction.

Regarding the depiction of urban violence and marginalized groups, there was an honest attempt from the creators to convey these worlds to us, but we also believe that the strength and effectiveness of this brave effort was undermined by fruitless obsessions with ethics and morals.

The sea and the water elements have obviously been the protagonists of this year’s prοductions, and we hope next year you will take the mountains!

Above all, however, as our role as jury demands, we looked without prejudice for quality and for the finest exploration of cinema as art.

Awards

  • Golder Dionysus – Best Film Award

To the film “5pm seaside” directed by Valentin Stejskal

A truly sensitive and beautifully simple cinematographic narrative which has been with us ever since we watched the film and has succeeded in effortlessly transmitting the wounded, inner world of its main characters.

The award is accompanied by three prizes: Finos Film offers a cash prize of 4,000 euros, ERT offers a cash prize of 3,000 euros and the Hellenic Film Center offers a cash prize of 2,500 euros.

  • Best Direction Award “Tonia Marketaki”

To Michalis Kimonas for the film “KIDDO”

A refreshing and surprisingly enjoyable directorial perspective that masterfully manages to maintain the pace in a film shot in one room.

The Award is accompanied by a cash prize of 3,500 euros offered by the Hellenic Film Center as well as Post Production services worth 2,500 euros offered by Stefilm.

  • Special Jury Award

to Evi Kalogiropoulou for the film “On Xerxes Throne”

Because it is a film that depicts the male, female and non-binary body at the limits of fluidity and seeks forbidden affection and contact within a harsh and archetypal masculine industrial environment.

  • DOCUMENTARY AWARD

to Nasos Gatzoulis for the film “Toxic Magnus”

An inventive hybrid documentary, a torrential and honest confession of an insecure and self-destructive protagonist-victim of toxic masculinity, which also made us honestly laugh with our hearts.

The award is accompanied by two cash prizes: 3,500 euros from the Greek Cypriot Association and 1,000 euros from ERT.

  • BEST SCRIPT AWARD

to Thanos Tokakis for the film “Tokakis or What’s My Name”

A complete and enjoyable, even hilarious, satire of Greek kitsch and the frenzy surrounding our public image, full of self-criticism.

The award is accompanied by a prize of 3,500 euros, offered by the Greek Cycladic Society.

  • DRAMA QUEER AWARD

to Dimitris Zouras for the film “Cactus”

A bold perspective that is particularly well served by the performance of its up-and-coming young protagonist who wanders in an inhospitable Athens looking to find himself.

The award is accompanied by a prize of 2,000 euros, sponsored by Onassis Culture.

  • BEST MALE PERFORMANCE AWARD

to Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos for his performance in the film “5pm Seaside” by Valentin Stejskal

Because Tsitsiopoulos, with finesse and austerity – and with a wounded interiority – managed to convey the psyche of a man trying to negotiate love and lust.

  • BEST FEMALE PERFORMANCE AWARD

To Niovi Charalabous for her performance in the film “Daphne” by Tonia Misiali

For the honest and direct performance on a difficult subject matter discussing female sexuality and the female body.

  • BEST SOUND AWARD

To Vasilis Gerodimos for the film  «PENDULUS» by Dimitris Gkotsis

For the clean and realistic feel of the sometimes inhospitable urban space.

The award is accompanied by a prize with sound design and mixing surround 5.1 services from the company DNA LAB.

  • BEST SOUND DESIGN AWARD

To Nikos Linardopoulos and Leandros Ntounis

For the film «Under The Lake» by Thanasis Trouboukis

We were pleasantly surprised by the harmonious coexistence but also by the simultaneous contrast between the natural and the industrial environment.

  • BEST EDITING AWARD

to Nikos Vavouris for the filmLast Sigh by Haris Raftogiannis.

In this film, we really liked the masterful, sharp and yet simple changes of pace.

  • BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD

to Yiannis Kanakis for the film “Magma” by Lia Tsalta

An impressive picture that effectively served a difficult cinematic genre with consistency and perfection, creating a fantastic world of its own.

  • ORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD

to Alexandros Drymonitis for the film “Magma” by Lia Tsalta

For the evocative musical score that decisively contributes to the creation of the film’s cinematic universe.

  • “IULIA STAVRIDOU” COSTUME AWARD

to Marli Aliferi

for the film “Tokakis or What’s My Name” by Thanos Tokakis

A film with a dizzying change of attires with references to Greek kitsch that delightfully followed the speedy pace of the film.

The Greek clothing company Enjoy Fashion Point dresses the next film of the costume designer with its products.

  • SET DESIGN AWARD

to Eva Goulakou for the film “KIDDO” by Michalis Kimonas

Because he experimented with conventions of the traditional form successfully bringing them into the present day and found inventive solutions that were highly imaginative and artistic.

  • MAKEUP, HAIR & SPECIAL EFFECTS AWARD

To Ioanna Lygizou for Make-up, to Panos Kondylis for Special Make-up Effects and to Michalis Gkiokas for Special Effects in the film KIDDO by Michalis Kimonas

Because it is an extremely successful achievement, reminding us of the work of the pioneering photographer Cindy Sherman, using a grotesque approach managed to skillfully serve the tone of the film.

45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION PROGRAMME AWARDS

Head of Jury: Vasilis Kekatos, Filmmaker and Visual Artist

Jury: Claire Diao, Distributor and Film Critic

Basim Magdy, Filmmaker and Visual Artist

  • GRAND PRIX

To the Film Techno, Mama by Saulius Baradinskas from Lithuania

The 2022 DISFF Grand Prix goes to a striking film which combines toughness and tenderness in a unique way through music, frantic rhythm, daring acting and impressive mise-en-scène. This punch-in-the-face experience is a masterful demonstration of the complexity of expressing love and the urgent need to leave.

The award is accompanied by a 4.000 euros cash prize, a contribution of the company Raycap.

  • BEST DIRECTION

To the film «The Saboteur» by Ansii Kasitonni from Finland

Goes to a fearless director who made a memorable film that captures the magic of the process of filmmaking with humor and innovation. This love letter to cinema employs action to create a film within a film.

  • EFA CANDIDACY DRAMA

European Film Academy Award Nomination for Best Short Film – EFA 2022

To the film The Salamander Child by Théo Degen from Belgium

Goes to a film that successfully combines the wild imagination of a teenage boy with an absurd sense of humor. The tenderness used to film his two alienated worlds mirrors his escapist process of mourning and invites us inside a surprising world of dreams and wonder.

  • BEST SOUTHEASTERN EUROPEAN FILM AWARD

To the film Under The Lake by Thanasis Trouboukis from Greece

Goes to a captivating 16mm experimental film that seizes the stillness of submerged and forgotten villages. While drifting through smooth and meditative footage, the filmmaker manages to recall the ghost story of invisible lives.

  • BEST PRODUCTION AWARD “TV5 MONDE”

To the film «Cherries» by Vytautas Katkus from Lithuania

Goes to a producer who trusted a filmmaker with a very strong and personal vision. Through their collaboration, the film brilliantly transcends a seemingly banal father-and-son relationship into poetry.

  • #ThisisEU EUROPEAN VALUES AWARD

European Values Award #ThisisEU 2022, under the auspices of the European Commission in Greece

To the film «August 13th» by Ventsislav Lyubenov Sariev from Bulgaria

Goes to a debut film that also made its World Premiere at DISFF. It deals with human dignity and the right to fight for freedom and equality. This emotional short, shot in Eastern Europe, confronts us with the darkest parts of coming-of-age, and leaves the door open for a hopeful future.

  • SPECIAL MENTION

To the film «Plurabelle» by Sacha Amaral from Argentina

Goes to a debut film which made its World Premiere at DISFF and gradually exposes the loneliness of youth while seeking love and exploring sexuality through emotional detachment. For its natural acting and sensitive directing, the award goes to: Plurabelle directed by Sacha Amaral from Argentina.

  • DEVELOPMENT AWARD (Onassis Film Development Grant)

to Thanasis Troumpoukis from Greece for his film “Under The Lake”

The award is accompanied by a cash prize of 10,000 euros, offered by ONASSIS CULTURE, to develop their feature film script.

  • “HUMAN VALUES” AWARD to the film “Techno, Mama” by Saulius Barandinskas from Lithuania.

The Parliament TV Station (Vouli) awards the “Human Values” prize of the Hellenic Parliament to a film of the International Competition section which, by composing with skill, narrative economy and powerful performances the portrait of a young man trying to fulfill his dreams, highlights the problem of domestic violence violence and lack of love.

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME AWARDS 45th DRAMA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

JURY

Themis Bazaka, Actress
Lena Divani, Author
Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Filmmaker

JURY QUOTE

First of all, let’s thank the festival and the city of Drama for the hospitality and the artistic director and the programmers for their trust. We have been thinking for a long time what we should tell you and we decided to tell you the honest truth:

We envy you!

You are living the best moments of your life. You are at the beginning of the beginning, in the phase where you can dream, take risks, get out of your comfort zone, make fantastic mistakes that may not even be mistakes and watch thousands of films. Short, long, old, new, from the International Student Programme maybe – we were constantly wondering why the theaters were half empty when the International Student Programme was on -, watch delightfully bad or irritatingly good films that will inspire you and take your work further.

We won’t keep going because we are jealous of you, instead we will reward you!

Let’s start with the International Competition awards.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME AWARDS

  • Special Mention

To the film “Before Pandemic and War, There Were Bed Bugs and Love!” by Nuruzzaman Khan from Chech Republic and India

To a film with a cool hybrid narrative, a disarming sincerity, which convinced us that unfortunately love is not as effective as a pesticide.

  • Distribution Award “Heat Me Up!”

To the film «Love You More Than Peanut Butter» by Ariadni Aggeliki Thyfronitou Lytou from Greece

Sponsorship of Radiator IP Sales, awarded to a Greek film in the programme, and offering representation for an integrated formulation of a commercial strategy, which will be addressed to buyers abroad (television stations and platforms).

  • Queer Student Award: “Loud & Proud!”

To the film “I Should Feed My Cat” by Abram Cedra from Belgium

To a film that magnified with chilling precision the disease of our age. How can I look for a caress if I’m afraid it will end in a slap?

  • Special Jury Award: “Rising Star”

To the film “The Dependent Variables” by Lorenzo Tardella  from Italy

Because no one in the festival flirted better than these two kids!

  • GRAND PRIX STUDENT: “Almost Famous”

To the film “On The Edge” by Matteo Sanders from Austria

The main characters live on the edge, but  the film has it all, narrative skill, emotional intensity, talented actors. We hope “very famous” soon!

The prize is accompanied by the amount of 1500 euros offered by Metropolitan College.

NATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMME AWARDS

  • Special Mention

To Ioanna Digenaki for the film “HAIR”

  • Editing Award

To Danae Xilogianni Gkontria for the film  «Love you more than peanut butter»

The company Green Pixel makes their award-winning editing suite available for their next film.

  • Best Acting Award

to Elina Tsiorbatzi & Eleni Georgakis for the film “Tsoulakia / Hussies”

  • Sound Design Award

to Giorgos Bisdikis for the film “Photosensitivity / Sun & Shadow”

The award is accompanied by sound design and 5.1 surround mixing services from DNA LAB and also a 6-month internship at Green Pixel.

  • Set Design Award

to Eva Kourelia & Eleni Sampri for the film “Tsoulakia / Hussies”. The award is accompanied by a 6-month internship at the Green Pixel company.

  • Dinos Katsouridis” Photography Award

to Michalis Gajoias for the film “Sun & Shadow”

The award is accompanied by full technical coverage for the production of the cinematographer’s next film, courtesy of the Katsouridis family.

  • Screenplay Award

to Stelios Christoforou for the film “Sammer”

The award is accompanied by a cash prize of 1,500 offered by the ANT1 Screenplay School.

  • Directing Award

to Semeli Safou for the film “All that remains”

The award comes with the free disposal of a camera for their next short film by Karamanos STUDIOS.

  • “Frida Liappa” Greek Study Film Award

to Despina Mavridou for the movie “Hussies”

The Award comes with a cash prize of 5,000.

SHORT & GREEN AWARDS 2022 – 45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

  • DRAMA GREEN AWARD

To the film Gardens Petrified, by Ali Cabbar from Turkey

A fiction film that illustrates the selection of Short and Green in the best possible way, portraying a strong story with a well orchestrated editing rhythm.

Accompanied by a cash prize of 4,000 euros sponsored by CYCLOPS

  • Special Jury Award

To the film Aralkum, from Daniel Asadi Faezi and Mila Zhluktenko from Uzbekistan

A film that combines a unique mix of documentary and experimental form. A warning story about the uncontrolled range that a human intervention to the environmental balance can take. A new cinematic reality very well constructed by the authors, in an impressive movie.

  • Special Mention

To the film Sirens by Ilaria Di Carlo from Germany

To an impressive and poetic movie, not only for the filming, the beautiful rhythm, the harmony and the brilliant music that made it an unforgettable experience. But also for the decision to make the catastrophe a poem. For the tenderness of embracing the darkness and lighting our souls through art. Well, that’s a way to save us.

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION PROGRAMME AWARDS 2022 –  45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

  • Best Animation Film Award ASIFA HELLAS – GIANNIS VASILIADIS

The winner of the Animation Competition is A Garbage Man by the Portuguese Director Laura Goncalves

It is a complete film where the animation technique and the storyline turn a very personal story into a story that can catch us all.

Congratulations to the Winner !

DRAMA PITCHING LAB 2022 AWARDS – 45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

  • FINOS FILM AWARD

To the film ‘Tavern of Shadows” by İlyas Soner Yıldırım from Turkey

The award is accompanied by a prize of 2000 euros from FINOS FILM.

  • GREEK CINEMA CENTER AWARD

To the film “The weight of Air” by Carlos Ormeño Palma, from Peru

The award is accompanied by a prize of 1,500 euros from the Greek Cypriot Association.

Sessions of further development and script corrections on selected projects:

#bagets rider FREE HD, Lester Cristal, Philippines

HAG / Didimokorfo by Achilleas Gatsopoulos, Germany / Greece

FILM SOCIETIES AWARDS –  45th DRAMA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

  • ETEKT AWARD to Dimitris Gkotsis for the film «PENDULUS»

The Technical Excellence Award of the Union of Greek Cinema and Television Technicians for achieving a functionally structured result from every filmmaking aspect.

  • Union of Greek Cinematographers (G.S.C)

to Fili Olsefski for the film “Yama” by Andreas Vakalios

For the script’s robustness and inventiveness,  illuminating childhood and difficult social nuances.

The Union of Greek Cinematographers (GSC) is excited to participate, for another year, in the process of following the evolution of visual storytelling, of cinematography to put it simply, in the National Competition Programme of the Drama Festival and to distinguish a fellow young filmmaker.

This year the committee members were Olympia Mytilineou, Christos Karamanis and George Fredzos.

The award is accompanied by a prize worth 2,000 euros, an offer by the ANMAR image laboratory in services for colour correction and DCP.

  • Federation of Cinematic Clubs of Greece (OKLE)

in the film “No Tomorrow” by Amerissa Basta

For the realistic depiction of the main character, who, inside a problematic environment, with the absence of a father being strong, carries the burden of the family and holds morality and dignity high and for the immediacy of the image, the creative use of hip hop music and the atmosphere of the natural spaces, which contribute positively to the artistic effect and the truth of the story.

  • Panhellenic Union of Cinema Critics (P.E.K.K.)

in the film “Pendulus” by Dimitris Gotsis

For the director’s ability to balance the internal pendulum of the hero’s search for identity. After all, nationalism has no identity!

  • International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI)

in the film Under The Lake by Thanasis Troumpoukis

The committee decided to award the prize to a film that impressed us for its enchanting images. A film that directly flirts with fiction, documentary and experimental montage. With truly beautiful photography, on film, the director takes us on this almost hypnotic journey through the water.

AUDIENCE AWARD 2022 45th DRAMA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

The 2022 Audience Award goes to the film“PENDULUS” by Dimitris Gotsis

Everything about the 45th Drama Short Film Festival

Everything about the 45th Drama International Short Film Festival

5 – 11 SEPTEMBER 2022

With renewed image and content, the 45th DISFF is ready to welcome all things fresh in the field of short film; this year’s Festival will be held on 5-11 of September 2022 in the city of Drama, earlier than any other year. The opening ceremony will be held on Monday, while, for the first time ever, the awards ceremony will be held on a Sunday.

This year’s president of the International Competition Programme jury will be multi-award winner Vasilis Kekatos, the first Greek director to have won a Short Film Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival (for his film “The Distance Between Us and the Sky”). This year’s rich programme includes various events, ranging from masterclasses delivered by Yannis Economides, to discussions with renowned director Paweł Pawlikowski and a tribute dedicated to his documentaries. A panel with Greek directors, producers, and representatives from the Cannes Film Festival and the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication will be held, as well as an interesting discussion with General Secretary for Contemporary Culture Nicholas Yatromanolakis, which will be broadcasted on TikTok, the Festival’s digital sponsor.

The Festival’s new visual identity, which was created by Dimitris Papazoglou, received the 2022 Golden Graphics Award at the Greek Visual Communication Design Awards (EBGE Awards), justifying, thus, our efforts to radically reform the profile of the Drama Film Festival.

The Festival heads into its 45th event focusing on the operation of the much-awaited Drama Film Department of the Hellenic Open University, which has finally been green-lit by the Ministry of Education. The school (offering an undergraduate course), which will be linked with the Drama Short Film Festival, is expected to begin operating in the spring semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. The courses will be held online, but in-person workshops will also be held in the city of Drama.

This year’s National Competition, International Competition, and International Student programmes are complemented by the new National Student programme, which aspires to give students their “wings” and serve as an important stepping stone for them to complete their very first creations. At the same time, the International Animation and Short & Green programmes continue their successful run, as does the much promising Cinematherapy programme.

This year’s Festival sees Yannis Sakaridis at the role of artistic director for the third year running; the events of the Festival will be held at both physical locations and online. The conditions remain favourable for Greek short film creators, as they continue to know success at important festivals abroad.

The great celebration of short film (https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr) focuses on filmmakers, as well as on the audiences that love and support short film. Drama is feverishly preparing to welcome Greek short film creators at the jolliest celebration of Greek cinema, which, every September, transforms the town’s centre and beautiful water park – where the Festival is hosted – into a frenzied cinematic set. Our national short film festival is here to showcase talents in the making, and to encourage the creation of short film as an autonomous category in which creators of any age can engage. The Festival’s primary goal is to “embrace” and showcase all people, regardless of origin, religion, and sexual orientation, employing cinema as the primary medium.

The 45th DISFF will be held at the Olympia cinema, the Drama Municipal Music School (Antonis Papadopoulos Hall), the Alexandros open-air cinema, the garden of the CYCLOPS Cultural Centre, and the Eleftheria café-complex (at the junction of Venizelou and Kountouriotou streets), as well as online.

A total of 148 films originating from more than 33 countries will be screened across all programmes of the Festival.

As Yannis Sakaridis notes, “the field of education and the cinematic community take centre stage at the DISFF45). We founded the new National Student Programme, and we collaborated with Clermont-Ferrand and the Torino Market to create novel educational programmes. We will be holding a tribute dedicated to Pawlikowski’s documentaries, and we will be presenting Basim Magdy’s video art films, in an effort to strike new, qualitative paths in the field of short film. Film studies are now happening in Drama, thanks to the green light given to the launch of an undergraduate programme by the Hellenic Open University, which will be realised in collaboration with the DISFF and the Municipality of Drama. Therefore, in February of 2023, the first classes of the spring semester will be held, and the first workshops (on directing, etc) are scheduled to take place in the city of Drama”.

As Yorgos Demertzis, president of ‘Cultural Organization – Drama’s Short Film Festival’, notes, “in 2022, in a time when we are facing a pandemic, a bloody war in Europe, and the deep, global financial crisis that comes as a result of the latter, humanity has an obligation to confront and conquer itself, using prudence and consistency, and focusing on achieving the peaceful and civilised co-existence of peoples. With its 45th event and international presence, the Drama Film Festival seeks to convey this message to all corners of the world. Civilisation and art are a breath of life; they are the creative powers that bring the people of this world together. Our new programmes, our important collaborations with bodies and personalities from both Greece and abroad, our new undergraduate film studies course, which will see the realisation of workshops in Drama and collaborations with the Festival from the following February, and the identity of this year’s Festival, which focuses on the notion of community, are all elements that communicate our wish to contribute to these ideals”.

The Drama Film Festival collaborates with the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the Greek Film Centre, Onassis Culture, non-profit organisation CYCLOPS, RAYCAP, Finos Film, COSMOTE TV and other bodies, while it also enjoys the wholehearted support of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace, the Hellenic Parliament, and, of course, the Municipality of Drama. Naturally, our Festival also maintains a steady collaboration with various cinematic bodies of our country.

DISFF 45 TRAILER

DISFF45 OFFICIAL TRAILER 2022

DpS Athens

THE FESTIVAL’S PLATFORM

Audiences who wish to watch the 45th Drama International Short Film Festival online must log onto the Festival’s platform at https://disff.cine.gr (redirected from the https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr website, through the ‘online festival’ link), and follow the instructions. The films will be available from September 5th onwards.

The standard film package is priced at 5 euro, and it provides users with access to the entire content of the Festival. The award-winning films will remain available on the platform until the afternoon of September 15th.

An additional six competition programmes, as well as the Pitching programme will be available on the platform.

The platform is now open for package pre-purchasing.

NATIONAL COMPETITION PROGRAMME

Of the 285 films that were submitted to the National Competition programme this year, 30 films were selected to participate, directed by 17 men and 15 women, in a “tight” selection which successfully represents this year’s production. The selection includes 25 fiction films, 2 documentaries, and 3 animation films.

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/national-competition/

Numerous popular actors make appearances in these films, among which the following: Yannis Stankoglou, Makis Papadimitriou, Dimitris Lalos, Marisha Triantafyllidou, Haris Fragoulis, Nikos Zeginoglou, Maria Kallimani, Kimonas Kouris, Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos, Romanna Lobach, Dimitris Katalifos, Reni Pittaki, and Evangelia Andreadaki. Additional appearances are made by Greek singer Giorgos Mazonakis, actress Angela Brouskou, and author Giorgos-Ikaros Bampasakis.

Plenty of new talent is introduced, as well as older actors, whom the Festival has honoured in the past.

This year’s films touch upon themes such as the exploration of one’s sexuality, unrequited love, and romantic relationships of women and teenagers. At the same time, the films address issues such as bullying, loneliness in old age, teen abortion, imprisonment at a young age, and lack of connection between children and parents. It is also interesting to observe the cinematic treatment of issues such as bigotry, confusion of national self-identification, and the marginalisation of second-generation immigrants. Problematic family relationships, break-ups, and grief management are subjects that inspire short film creators for yet another year. The pandemic is presented as a driving factor for poverty and the mitigation of values, while cruelty in professional relationships is occasionally depicted in unexpected ways.

The film “Shooting” will be screened out of competition. “Shooting” is the third short film by Nikos Panagiotopoulos, author, screenwriter, and script-writing professor at the Hellenic Open University. The film stars actor Symeon Tsakiris. The shooting of a commercial is going to hell. Can a person’s death save the day?

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION PROGRAMME

This year marks the 28th anniversary since the Festival’s acquisition of an international identity. To celebrate the occasion, 15 films from all around the world (from India to China, and from France to Argentina) will be screened. Three Greek films are also competing in this segment: “Memoir of a Veering Storm” by Sophia Gerovassili, “On Xerxes’ Throne” by Evi Kalogiropoulou, and “Under the Lake” by Thanassis Troumboukis.

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/international-competition/

As Head Programmer of the International Competition programme Yorgos Zois remarks, “this year’s selection includes special narrations, mainly on the subject of youth and the impasses it faces in everyday life, while frantically seeking ways to reach the sky. We will be treated to both realistic and metaphysical stories, which balance on a tightrope and occasionally dare to experiment with the form of cinema itself”.

Among those films we will encounter:

*the dynamic and multi-dimensional short film “Cherries” by multiple award winner Lithuanian director Vytautas Katkus.

*the colourful, surrealistic, and humorously extreme film “Modern Love”, a new short by Spanish artist Héctor Herce, filmed on 16mm film.

*the film “Terra Incognita”, a creation visibly influenced by René Laloux’s “Fantastic Planet” (1973). Boasting a psychedelic aesthetic from the 70’s, this film was created by a team of no less than ten different artists!

Airhostess-737”, the new film by Thanassis Neofotistos, will also be screen out of competition.  The screening at the Drama Film Festival will be the film’s premiere in front of a Greek audience, after its global premiere at the Locarno International Film Festival. The action unfolds on board of a Boeing-737 plane, on a flight from Athens to Kavala. The film’s main character (played by Lena Papaligoura) is a stewardess on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION PROGRAMME

*This year’s International Student Competition programme includes 14 films, with two Greek creators competing in the programme: Ariadni-Angeliki Thiphronitou-Litou with the film “Love You More than Peanut Butter”, and Semeli Saphou, with the film “All that Remains”.

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/international-student-competition/

As Thanassis Neofotistos remarks, “this year we will watch films touching upon the widely discussed subject of diversity, human sexuality and its various expressions, pressing political issues, human relationships and their difficulties. These films approach their subject matter in an authentic, modern, and artistically bold manner. We met new filmmakers, worthy representatives of their times and generation, who I hope will continue to provide us with stories of the same sensitivity and interest. All this is happening under the umbrella of the Festival’s new initiative: the Student Campus, which aspires to transform the city of Drama into a space where new filmmakers can meet and exchange ideas!”

NATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION

The newly-formed National Student Competition programme includes 20 films, directed by 10 men and 10 women. At the role of Head Programmer we find Panagiotis Iosifelis (screenwriter, script-writing professor at the Film Department of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki).

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/national-student-competition/

As Panagiotis Iosifelis notes, “the National Student Competition is the new programme of the Drama International Short Film Festival. The decision for its creation came after we became aware of not only the volume, but also of the quality of student films in our country. The one hundred and one submissions in the preliminary round of our programme verified our suspicions in the best way possible.

The film selection was not an easy process, mainly due to the quality of the majority of submissions. We detected elements of incredible beauty and technique (occasionally even within the same film), as well as narrative and technical faux pas, most of which were justified by lack of experience. We eventually selected twenty films from twelve  educational institutions in Greece and abroad, both private and public, and from both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

Among the films we chose were fiction films, documentaries, and animation films. These films represent almost all technical and aesthetic approaches to audiovisual narration, while simultaneously covering a very wide range of topics – they tell stories about relationships, identity, inclusion and isolation, social critique and self-critique, management of trauma, and personal and social responsibility. Despite their relatively disparate characteristics, we believe that, as a whole, they create a hologram: a magical picture which, when viewed comprehensively, showcases the face of modern Greek filmmaking”.

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION COMPETITION

20 films compete in the International Animation Competition programme, with three Greek films among them: “The Incredible Mrs. Lien Mourlen” by Eleni Ksoupa, “In Between” by Effie Pappa, and “A Night at the Cemetery” by Stelios Polychronakis.

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/animation/

As programme manager Spyros Siakas notes, “the selection of the films was based, on the one hand, on the diversity of creation techniques and, on the other, on the special treatment and showcasing of emotions and every-day situations through different and often unexpected angles. Within this framework, the programme is comprised of films using techniques for two- and three-dimensional depiction, stop motion, and computer animation; the films approach both issues such as human relationships, as well as issues concerning our planet, managing, thus, to highlight numerous complex feelings. The main goal of the programme is the active participation of audiences in Drama in viewing animation films, in an effort to introduce them to a world of stories, while simultaneously helping them thoroughly comprehend the principles of this art form.

SHORT AND GREEN

In its second year, the Environmental Awareness Films “Short and Green” International Competition programme includes 12 films from all cinematic genres: 7 fiction films, 4 documentary films, and 1 animation film, originating from a total of 10 countries. The films touch upon climate change and the catastrophic impact of human activity on the natural environment, while focusing and challenging our perception of man’s relationship with nature.

The programme includes two films by Greek creators: “In Vain” by Anastasia Melia Eleftheriou, and “Under the Lake” by Thanasis Troumboukis. The Short and Green programme will be accompanied by two environmental actions.

You can find the complete film list here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/short-and-green/

Programme director Vasileios Terzopoulos notes: “Perhaps a film is not able to change the world, no matter how romantically optimistic cinephiles might be. Still, the cultivation of an environmental consciousness in every possible way is now more imperative than ever. The International Short and Green Competition programme seeks to use the influential power of cinema to make audiences reflect on the environmental issues the world is called to resolve, while faced with practically non-existent deadlines. Watching this year’s submissions to the Drama Film Festival, we happily observe and welcome the more and more conscious choice of creators to approach such topics, which indicates their sensitivity and continuous interest in the subject. This year’s programme includes many promising films, some of which have already traced a significant course at festivals abroad. This constitutes yet another indication of the developing interest in environmental issues”.

THE JURIES

The jury of the International Competition Programme is composed by:
Vasilis Kekatos (President), Director
Basim Bagdy, Experimental Artist – Filmmaker
Claire Diao, Distributor – Film Critic

The jury of the National Competition Programme is composed by:
Constantine Giannaris, Director (President)
Ioakim Mylonas, Director / Artistic Director of the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus
Aris Dimokidis, Journalist
Markella Giannatou, Actor
Marina Gioti, Filmmaker and visual artist

The jury of the National Student Competition Programme and the International Student Competition Programme is composed by:
Argyris Papadimitropoulos (President), Director
Themis Bazaka, Actor
Lena Divani, Author

The jury of the International Animation Programme is composed by:
Sperer Sebastien, Member of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Maria Anestopoulou, Programme Manager of Platforma Video and the Animasyros Festival
Panagiotis Kyriakoulakos, Assistant Professor of Film Informatics (University of the Aegean) and producer of audiovisual and interactive works

The jury of the Short and Green Programme is composed by:
Yannis Economides (President), Director
Nandia Kontogeorgi, Actor
Dejan Dabic, Animator, Film Critic, Artistic Director at the Martovski Documentary and Short Film Festival (Serbia)

*Audience Awards will once again be awarded this year: through the Festival’s online platform (Online Festival), viewers can cast their vote to showcase the best film, which will receive the Audience Award.

PITCHING LAB

For the ninth year in a row, a Pitching Lab and a Pitching Forum for young filmmakers will be held, as part of the active DISFF Educational Programme. The DISFF Educational Programme continues throughout the year, aiming to promote communication between short film creators, as well as with the modern global market.

Pitching Workshop (Tuesday, September 6 – Friday, September 9, 2022, 11:00–13:30). Throughout the week, participating screenwriters, directors, and producers will attend workshops in which professional tutors will provide pitching techniques and help them improve the presentation of their drafts.

Pitching Forum (Saturday, September 10, 2022, 14:00–16:30). Sixteen projects from around the world will be presented in 5-minute pitches to producers and potential financiers. Pitching Forum guests will then have an additional five minutes to pose questions to each artist. At the end of the event, participants will have the opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with interested producers or festival directors, in order to promote their projects.

Tutors: Barbara Dukas (DISFF Educational Programme Manager), Georgina Kakoudaki, Stathis Paraskevopoulos, John Stephens

As Barbara Dukas notes, “we are pleased to have received numerous projects in this year’s Pitching Lab (fiction, animation, and documentary films), and, as has been the case in recent years, the tutors had a hard time selecting the final projects that will participate in the three-day workshop and the Pitching Forum.

This year, central themes in all the projects we received from around the world – a world which has suffered two years of the pandemic – are anxiety for survival, the spread of a latent violence, identity and gender issues, the rights of excluded groups, living with an illness and disability, tolerance towards diversity, and coming of age when living in a colorful and unpredictable planet. With films from Peru and Nepal, to Kazakhstan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Portugal, and Finland, our souls were filled with the images the young filmmakers sought to narrate. Unfortunately, out of this explosion of colour and ideas, we could only select 16 of the 117 proposals that were submitted to us, all yearning for communication and creation. With the plurality of their projects, their ambitious productions and a wide variety of themes, Greek creators won a special place this year.

In response to the needs of the Greek market, the Pitching Forum will try, through its shortlisted projects, to assist select Greek projects that will participate in this year’s Lab in communicating with other festivals and forums abroad, in an effort to contribute to the extroversion and encouragement of co-producers.

For this reason, in addition to the projects that will come to Drama, the Forum will choose five more Greek projects to participate in a development workshop, which will take place within the framework of the two-day ‘Drama Festival in Athens’, held on September 17-18 at the Greek Film Archive.”

You can find the projects participating in this year’s Pitching Lab here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/festival/pitching-lab/

CINEMATHERAPY

The Cinematherapy programme, inspired by Denise Nikolakou, continues to be part of the 45th DISFF; this year’s thematic extends from Paweł Pawlikowski’s works and the Greek television series “Agries Melisses”, to an interesting film for children:

* On Tuesday September 6th (20:00), the film “Enemy Pie” (2019) by Derek Munson will be screened at the courtyard of the Drama Museum of Photography (Cyclops Cultural Space). The story follows the unorthodox way two boys became friends: from hatred to liking, and then to a strong friendship. The screening will be followed by a discussion held by project manager Denise Nikolakou with the participation of the children, which will include comprehension questions and film content analysis.

* On Friday September 9th and for the first time in this year’s programme, an attempt will be made to analyse the outstanding television series Agries Melisses [“Wild Bees”] (2019-2022) at the Alexandros open-air cinema. The series can be described as a case of deconstruction of the “holy” Greek family, with a strong message against stereotypes. A Q&A session with the series director Lefteris Haritos and actors from the series will follow.

* On Saturday September 17th, a masterclass and discussion with Paweł Pawlikowski will take place at the Greek Film Archive. The Cinematherapy programme is now synonymous with Paweł Pawlikowski, as it was the Oscar-winning director himself who inaugurated the programme with his film Cold War (2018) at the 43rd DISFF in 2020. Excerpts from the director’s prolific work will be screened during the event (including the important period of his BBC documentaries), while a discussion will follow, as well as a Q&A session with director and DISFF artistic director Yannis Sakaridis. Denise Nikolakou will moderate the discussion and will decipher his work in psychological terms.

More information is available here: https://www.dramafilmfestival.gr/en/program/cinematherapy/

ANIMATION /COVID-19 SPECIAL PROGRAMME

Through a tribute organised by the DISFF in collaboration with the Greek Film Centre, Greek audiences will have the pleasure of watching the animation films created as part of the COVID-19 Special Programme. This programme was created by the Greek Film Centre, and funded by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. A representative portion of the programme’s films will be presented during the events in Drama, in an effort to showcase Greek animation creators on a larger scale.

OTHER ACTIONS:

Side events of the 45th DISFF include:

* An extremely interesting tribute to the BBC documentaries by Oscar-winning director Pawel Pawlikowski, such as the film Dostoevsky’s Travels, featuring the only living descendant of Fyodor Dostoevsky.

* A masterclass on directing by award-winning director Yannis Economides, titled “Making Movies in Greece.” The masterclass will take place on Wednesday, September 7th, at the Alexandros open-air cinema (14:00).

* Short Matters 2022. A programme including the films nominated for the 2021 Best European Short Film Award of the European Film Academy (EFA).

* A screening of short films that emerged from the DISFF Drama Pitching Lab in recent years and have known success thereafter. In the nine years of its operation, the Pitching Lab has received over 800 drafts from all over the world. More than 100 Greek and international participants have been trained and have competed in Drama, while 25 short films showcasing a variety of themes, genres, and ideas have been completed so far; a selection of these will be screened at the Municipal Music School, while others will be available on the Festival’s online platform.

* Screenings of selected iconic Greek films from the programme “Motherland, I See You”, in collaboration with the Hellenic Film Academy.

* A tribute to internationally renowned visual artist Basim Magdy, within the framework of the Festival’s newly established Film & Visual Arts programme, which aspires to highlight the interface between visual arts and short films. Image, sound, and speech are the key features of Magdy’s work. Through a unique and humorous language, the artist expresses his concerns about the human condition, while creating his own artistic universe.

* A panel with Greek producers and representatives from the Cannes Film Festival and the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication.

* For the first time this year, the TSFM Word-Frame workshop will be held, in collaboration with the Torino Short Film Market. The workshop aims to provide guidance to eight directors and/or screenwriters on how to create a short film or a hybrid film.

* Presentations by the competing directors and open discussions with the audience of the Festival. Daily at the Alexandros open-air cinema (12:00).

* A TikTok Discussion (Tuesday September 6th, 18:00, Municipal Music School). Participants: Nicholas Yatromanolakis – General Secretary for Contemporary Culture, Giacomo Lev Mannheimer – Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Southern Europe, Yannis Sakaridis – DISFF Artistic Director. The event will be live-streamed.

* Two parallel experiential environmental actions for children and adults will be carried out as part of the “Short and Green” programme, in collaboration with ‘Organization Earth’. On Tuesday, September 6th, an open discussion on “Culture as a means of developing the public green space” will take place, with the participation of representatives of Drama’s civil society. The event will be held at the Cyclops Cultural Centre at 18:00. At the same time, an experiential workshop for children titled “Young Farmers” will take place at the Saint Barbara Municipal Park (meeting point: Cyclops Cultural Centre).

* As part of the DISFF’s screenings at the Greek Film Archive, the film Antigone by Eva Nathena will be screened on September 16th. The film depicts the apprenticeship of 18- to 21-year-old incarcerated boys at the Art/Theatre workshop, which was created by Eva Nathena after spending time at the Avlonas Prison School, run by Petros Damianos. The boys studied theatrical discourse by putting on a show and sewing their own costumes, which they then wore to enact the roles/heroes of the play Antigone.

* Book presentations (September 8th, 14:00, Alexandros open-air cinema) by the Drama-born poet Polyna G. Bana. The following books will be presented: Oneireftika ti Dido [“I Dreamt of Dido”] by Lena Divani, and O Tzimis stin Kypseli [“Jimmy in Kypseli”] by Christos Chomenidis.

* Screenings for children (September 11th, 20:30, Alexandros open-air cinema)

* Finally, on Monday September 12th, the award-winning films of the Festival will be screened at the Olympia cinema at 18:00.

RENDEZVOUS IN ATHENS (TOO)

We will be seeing you in Drama, but not only there; we shall also meet in Athens, on September 15th-18th, at the Greek Film Archive, where the DISFF National Competition Programme will be presented there in its entirety. At the same time, the masterclass/discussion with Paweł Pawlikowski will be held as part of the Cinematherapy programme (September 17th), as will the development workshop (September 17th-18th). On September 16th, the film Antigone by Eva Nathena will be screened at the Greek Film Archive. The film was created in Avlonas prison with the participation of 18- to 21-year-old boys. A discussion with the audience will follow.

The COVID-19 situation permitting, the Drama Festival Travels programme will reach even more destinations in the coming period, in order to showcase the strong presence of Greek cinema in Greece and abroad.

REMINDER

* Entry to the closed spaces will be in accordance to current health protocols.

* Please do not forget to download the latest version of our Android mobile and tablet app.

PHOTO GALLERY

You can select the photos you want from all programmes of the Festival here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1RCLxyy3XKpqTZ0r1qNSBSO9R30qMw2my

2022 DISFF SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS

The Drama Festival is a cultural organization of the Municipality of Drama and is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, and the Municipality of Drama.

We thank the sponsors and supporters of DISFF:

Co-organizers

Ministry of Culture and Sports

Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace

Municipality of Drama

Grand Sponsors

National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME)

Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT)

ONASSIS CULTURE

CYCLOPS

RAYCAP

Supporters

Hellenic Parliament

Greek Film Centre (ΕΚΚ)

Creative Europe MEDIA Desk

TH. Dimitrakopoulos and F. Papageorgiou Company of Social Work and Culture AMKE

Digital Sponsor

TikTok

Sponsors

Finos Film

Olympus Bank

Cosmote TV

TV5 Monde

Dna Lab

Stefilm

Enjoy Fashion

Ant1 Script School

Metropolitan College

Katsouridis family

Fischer

Wines of Drama

Ioannidis Bros S.A.

Suzuki

Media Sponsors

ERT, ERT3, Second Programme 103.7, I Foni tis Elladas, ERT3 102 FM, ERT3 95.8 FM, ERT Kavala, ERT Serres

Hellenic Parliament TV Station

Real Fm 97.8

Real.gr

Athens 9.84

Sto Kokkino Thessaloniki 91.4

Documentonews.gr, Documento, To Kouti tis Pandoras

Efimerida ton Syntakton

Partners

European Film Academy

Fipresci

Representation of the European Commission in Greece

Torino Short Film Market

Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People

Hellenic Open University (EAP)

University of West Attica (PADA)

Ionian University

Neaniko Plano

Consulate of France in Thessaloniki & French Institute of Thessaloniki

Greek Association of Film Clubs (OKLE)

Greek Film Critics Association (PEKK)

Greek Union of Film, Television and Audiovisual Technicians (ETEKT)

Greek Society of Cinematographers (GSC)

Directorate of Primary Education of Drama

Directorate of Primary Education of Serres

Arxnet

Cine.gr

Organization EARTH

The International Competition Programs have been announced

The International Competition Programs have been announced

VASSILIS KEKATOS PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION JURY COMMITTEE

The Festival of Drama artistic director Yannis Sakaridis, and the President Yorgos Demertzis, are happy to announce the films participating at the International Competition Program, the International Students Program, and the International Animation Program of the 45th edition of the Festival of Drama, taking place between 5-11 September 2022.

President of this year’s International Competition Jury Committee will be the multi-awarded Vassilis Kekatos, the first Greek director to win the Golden Phoenix for short films in the 72nd Cannes Festival, with his fourth short film The distance between us and the sky.

This year’s International Competition program involves 15 films from all over the world (from India to China, and from France to Argentina). Among these films there are 3 Greek films participating: “Memoir of a Veering Storm” by Sophia Gerovassili, “On Xerxes’ Throne” by Evi Kalogiropoulou, and “Under the Lake” by Thanassis Troumboukis.

In the International Students Program the selection involves 14 films, with the participation of two Greek female directors:  Ariadni-Angeliki Thiphronitou-Litou with “Love you more than peanut butter” and Semeli Saphou with “All that Remains”.

The International Animation Program involves 20 films – with the participation of 3 Greek films: “The incredible Mrs. Lien Mourlen” by Eleni Ksoupa, “In between” by Effie Pappa, and “A night at the cemetery” by Stelios Polychronakis.

THE JURY COMMITTEES

The International Competition Jury Committee:

Vassilis Kekatos (President), Film Director.
Basim Magdy, Experimental Artist – Filmmaker.
Claire Diao, Film Distributor – Critic.

The International Students Jury Committee:

Argiris Papadimitropoulos (President), Film Director.
Themis Bazaka, Actress.
Lena Divani, Writer.

The International Animation Jury Committee:

Sperer Sebastien, Member of the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Maria Anestopoulou, Head Programmer of the Platforma Video and the Animasyros Festival.
Panayiotis Kyriakoulakos, Assistant Professor in Computer Animation (University of the Aegean) and audiovisual and interactive projects producer.

IΝTERNATIONAL COMPETITION  PARTICIPANTS – 2022 DISFF45

  1. “Techno, Mama”, Saulius Baradinskas (Lithuania)
  2. “Foster”, Jordi Wijnalda (Netherlands)
  3. “August 13th, Ventsislav Lyubenov Sariev (Bulgaria)
  4. “Memoir of a Veering Storm”, Sophia Gerovassili (Greece)
  5. “Bon Voyage”, Jiawen Li (China)
  6. “The Salamander Child”, Théo Degen (Belgium)
  7. “Threatened Love”, Héctor Herce (Spain)
  8. “On Xerxes’ Throne”, Evi Kalogiropoulou (Greece)
  9. “The Calf”, Mostafa Vaziri (Iran)
  10. “Terra Incognita”, Adrian Dexter – Pernille Kjær (France)
  11. “Under the Lake”, Thanassis Troumboukis (Greece)
  12. “The Saboteur”, Anssi Kasitonni (Finland)
  13. “Cherries”, Vytautas Katkus (Lithuania)
  14. “Plurabelle”, Sacha Amaral (Argentina)
  15. “Murmurs of the Jungle”, Sohil Vaidya (India)

OUT OF COMPETITION:

“Air Hostess-737”, Thanassis Neophotistos (Greece)

As Yorgos Zois, head programmer of the International Competition, noted: “This year’s selection of films involves unique narrations on youth and dead-ends that young people have to face, while desperately seek for outlet reaching the skies. Realistic and metaphysical stories that keep the perfect balance, just like walking on tightrope, that sometimes dare to fearlessly play with the cinema’s own form”.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PARTICIPANTS  – 2022 DISFF45

  1. “On the Εdge”, Matteo Sanders (Austria)
  2. “Before Pandemic and War, There Were Βed Βugs and Love!”, Nuruzzaman Khan (India, Czech Republic)
  3. “Matapacos”, Karla Riebartsch -Lion Durst (Germany)
  4. “All that Remains”, Semeli Saphou (Greece)
  5. “I Should Feed my Cat”, Abram Cedra (Belgium)
  6. “An Extra Day in Prague”, Jacob Ramsay (Czech Republic)
  7. “Darker”, Frank Van Den Bogaart (Belgium)
  8. “The Dependent Variables”, Lorenzo Tardella  (Italy)
  9. “Laika & Nemo”, Jan Gadermann – Sebastian Gadow (Germany)
  10. “Lonely Fans”, David Oesch (Switzerland)
  11. “Corrupted”, Juan Cifuentes Mera (Chile)
  12. “Any Place”, Minerva Rivera Bolaños (Mexico)
  13. “Love you More than Peanut Butter”, Ariadni-Angeliki Thiphronitou-Litou (Greece)
  14. “After a Room”, Naomi Pacifique (Netherlands)

According to Thanassis Neophotistos, Head of the International Students Program: “In this year’s edition we’re going to watch films about the much-debated diversity, the human sexuality manifested in all sorts of ways, the most pressing political issues, the challenging human relations. In all those films, their themes are treated in an authentic, modern and bold in terms of artistic expression. We met new filmmakers, truly notable representatives of their era and their generation, which I really hope that they will keep telling their stories in cinema showing the same sensitivity and interest. All of the above are happening under the umbrella of the Festival’s new initiative: the Students Campus, with the aspiration to turn the city of Drama into a meeting point involving a cultural and ideas exchange of among the new filmmakers!”

INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION PARTICIPANTS – 2022 DISFF45

  1. “Spirit of the forest”, Nandini Rao -Nipura Rao -Kalp Sanghvi (India)
  2. “Brother nature”, Sophie Bird (United Kingdom)
  3. “Hi! How are you?”, Gaia Grandin-Mendzylewski (France)
  4. “Idodo”, Ursula Ulmi (Switzerland)
  5. “Farm well”, Pepijn Robben-Lucas De Man (Netherlands)
  6. “Mouse house”, Timor Leder (Slovenia)
  7. “The perfect fit”, Meinardas Valkevicius (Lithuania)
  8. “Autosaurus rex”, Marcel Barelli (Switzerland)
  9. “Gut feelings”, Vanesa S. Valliere – John Gregorio (USA)
  10. “Miriam”, Radu Nicolae (Romania)
  11. “The incredible Mrs. Lien Mourlen”, Eleni Ksoupa (Greece)
  12. “Meal on the plate”, Chenglin Xie (USA)
  13. “Hysteresis”, Robert Seidel (Germany)
  14. “Little smasher”, Gilles Cuvelier (France)
  15. “Bardo”, Aisling Conroy (Irland)
  16. “In between”, Effie Pappa (Greece)
  17. “The garbage man”, Laura Goncales (Portugal)
  18. “The pink jacket”, Monika Santos (Portugal)
  19. “My father’s damn camera!”, Milos Tomic (Slovenia)
  20. “A night at the cemetery”, Stelios Polychronakis (Greece)

As the Head Programmer Spiros Siakas notes “for the selection of the films we took into consideration, on one hand, the pluralism and the diversity of the creative techniques, and, on the other hand, the uniqueness of approaching and highlighting emotions and everyday situations under different, and often, unexpected perspectives. Within this context, the program involves films with two-dimensional and three-dimensional, stop motion and computer animation techniques on topics about the human relations and other important global issues, thus emerging diverse and complex emotions. Our main goal is to make the Drama city audience being actively involved in watching the animation films, entering into this universe of stories, and therefore deeply understanding this form of art”.


Drama Festival collaborates with ΕΚΟΜΕ (National Centre of Audiovisual Media & Communication), ΕRT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation), ΕΚΚ (Greek Film Center), Onassis Stegi, Cyclops, RAYCAP, Finos Film, COSMOTE TV and many other bodies, “under the undivided support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Administrative Region, the Greek Parliament, the Municipality of Drama, and, of course the ongoing collaboration with the Greek cinema community”.

 

TSFM Word-Frame Greece - Call for participans

TSFM WORD-FRAME GREECE

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS

training workshop for short film filmmakers

What is it?

TSFM Word-Frame Greece is an intensive workshop aimed at guiding eight directors and/or screenwriters in the making of a short fiction or hybrid film (docu-fiction, creative documentary, animation with real elements, etc.). The workshop aims to provide participants with the basic knowledge and working tools useful for writing a script and realising a short film, i.e. those skills useful to start a profession in the film industry. Moreover the workshop aims to offer opportunities in order to increase their knowledge about the development of stories for short films, and the basics of production and distribution and about the festival circuit.

Who?

The workshop is open to all aspiring directors and/or screenwriters resident in Greece, Bulgaria, Cyprus, North Macedonia, Romania, Turkey who have been working on a short film project in the early stages of development (synopsis, short treatment, starting idea). Candidates with previous cinematographic and/or artistic experience are also admitted to the workshop. The workshop will be held entirely in English.

Where and When?

The workshop will take place over five days during the Drama International Short Film Festival from Monday 5th to Friday 9th September 2022. The participants’ presence at the workshop is mandatory. Participation will occur following the health protocols in force at the time of the workshop. These protocols will be communicated to the participants before the beginning of the workshop.

Selection and teaching.

A selection committee composed by members of Drama International Short Film Festival and TSFM will choose the eight participants. The teaching of the workshop is organised by TSFM and led by tutors with lengthy experience in script advisoring. The workshop is developed by MASSIMO D’ORZI, director, screenwriter and producer, MASSIMILIANO NARDULLI, curator, composer and script advisor. and ENRICO VANNUCCI, programmer, talent scout and distributor.

Registration and costs.

Registration for the workshop is free of charge. The deadline for registration is June 20th 2022. The eight selected participants will be notified by July 1st 2022.

Selected participants are guaranteed accommodation for six nights in partner structures of Drama International Short FIlm Festival. Travel costs, meals and any additional nights of accommodation are to be paid by the participants. The application form implies the acceptance of all the conditions listed above.

SUBSCRIBE HERE

Introduction

TSFM Word-Frame is an intensive international training workshop aimed at short film directors and screenwriters, developed by Massimiliano Nardulli, Massimo D’orzi and Enrico Vannucci and promoted by TSFM – tsfm.centrodelcorto.it.

Through both theoretical and practical training based on a successfully tested methodology, and under the guidance of the workshop’s tutors, eight selected filmmakers will be motivated to confront each other developing their respective short film projects over the course of five days.

Methodology

Said methodology is based on collective work aimed to develop projects and new ideas. A series of tools taught via the dialectical relationship installed with tutors and other students will teach filmmakers to recognize and enhance the core of their work. The production feasibility, artistic values and socio-cultural contexts of the projects will be highly taken into consideration during the phase of development.

The workshop will also feature informative masterclasses that focus on the global short film industry — covering topics such as festivals, markets, distribution & sales companies, pitching sessions and the development of film dossiers.

Our teaching methodology aims to strengthen the quality and originality of the short film format. We intend to nurture short film projects that are deeply rooted into the national and international production and distribution chains of value, while still exhibiting a surprising and unique cinematographic language.

TSFM Word-Frame will happen over the course of a maximum ten workshops of which half will be set in Italy and the other half in five different European countries. An additional final workshop will be held in Italy during TSFM Vol. 7, towards the end of the Fall of 2022.

Via specific calls for projects released for each session, tutors will select eight filmmakers to participate in each workshop. A maximum of ten participants, at least one for each stage, chosen by the tutors on the basis of their work and projects, will ultimately attend the final workshop during TSFM.

This six-days long final session will focus on building production strategies for each short film project and will lead up to a pitching session and one-to-one meetings with producers and industry professionals. A prime objective of this final workshop is to create networks between Italian and European filmmakers coming from different backgrounds — nurtured by the tight collaboration among participants — and other film professionals via scheduled meetings.

We strongly believe that international networking — also deeply rooted to peculiar production chains of value from several areas and regions in Europe — can bring huge benefits to participants, as TSFM Word-Frame will be facilitating and accelerating not only the production and realization of their work-in-progress projects, but also the promotion through festivals and broadcasting & online circuits.