INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE COMPETITION PROGRAMMES

The Drama Short Film Festival has in recent years acquired a new, dynamic and broader cinematic identity, which distinguishes it as an extroverted festival – a nursery for young and talented filmmakers, both within and outside the borders. This year, once again, the Festival’s team has worked for another dynamic event, which will constitute an essentially creative meeting and gathering of young, emerging, but also more experienced and established filmmakers, both from the domestic and the international film scene.

As we have already announced, the 47th DISFF will screen a total of 62 Greek films in all its competition sections, which will be premiered nationally and worldwide.

Since last year, the films that receive the top awards in both the National and the International Competition section each September, automatically secure the coveted “ticket” to participate in the Oscar® selection process. The link with the Academy® Awards highlighted the international character of the Festival and was an attraction for even more entries in our international programmes.

These are the short films that will compete internationally this year in the programmes of the 47th Drama Short Film Festival (2-8 September 2024):

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

1. If the sun drowned into an ocean of clouds by Wissam Charaf
2. Las Memorias Perdidas De Los Arboles by Antonio La Camera
3. fishing by Josie Charles
4. Lovin’ Her by day
5. Clamor by Salomé Da Souza
6. A Bird Flew by Leinad Pájaro De la Hoz
7. The distance between us by Léo Fontaine
8. Madwoman in the attic by Tamara García Iglesias
9. Abraham by Elnaz Ghaderpour, Reza Gamini
10. Workers’ wings by Ilir Hasanaj
11. What we ask of a statue is that it doesn’t move by Daphné Hérétakis
12. The Voice of Others by Fatima Kaci
13. Pena’s Special Hauling by Anssi Kassitoni
14. Céline on a Cloudy Day by Can Köroğlu
15. Numb by Despina Kourti
16. What Mary Didn’t Know by Konstantina Kotzamani
17. Unwanted Kinship by Pavel Mozhar
18. The House by Carl Olsson
19. looking she said I forget by Naomi Pacifique
20. Silent Panorama by Nicolas Piret
21. The Oasis I Deserve by Inès Sieulle
22. Montsouris by Guil Sela
23. Cross My Heart and Hope to Die by Sam Manacsa
24. Dreams Like Paper Boats by Samuel Suffren
25. Milk by Miranda Stern
26. So Long by Jiaqi Yuan
27. Wouldn’t Make It Any Other Way by Hao Zhou

The International Competition of the Drama International Short Film Festival, led for the fourth consecutive year by filmmaker Giorgos Zois, is excited to announce this year’s lineup. The program features 27 films from 21 countries. This year’s international competition focuses on coming-of-age stories of youth and teenagers, as well as their integration into a rapidly evolving world, both materially and virtually. It also addresses the rising social class disparities that affect people of all ages, leading to a constant struggle for survival and testing their human behavior.

The 27 films come from the following countries: Colombia, France, Haiti, Estonia, Sweden, Kosovo, Lebanon, Philippines, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Iran, Belgium, USA, Spain, Italy, Finland, China, the Netherlands, Peru, and Greece. Many of these films will have their world premiere at the festival, while others have already received acclaim at major international film festivals.

These short films present a distinct narrative perspective and personal style, transforming each into a truly unique piece of filmmaking. Even if some demand more focus and attention due to their length or format, they will definitely pique your interest, charm you, and reveal new visual pathways.

Head programmer: George Zois

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COMPETITION

1. Sea Salt by Leila Basma
2. Leli’s Friend by Sawanti Das
3. Rising Above by Natálie Durchánková
4. Falling by Anna Gyimesi
5. Renaissances by Naomi Noiret
6. Slimane by Carlos Pereira
7. No Future Kids by Eleni Poulopoulou
8. Say Wuff by Fabian Podeszwa
9. Dracaena by Sofia Priovolou, Ioannis Panagiotidis
10. Obituary Service For You by María Salafranca
11. Vic by Luis Schubert
12. The Sea in Between by Lun Sevnik
13. As if Mother Cried that Night by Hoda Taheri

For the 5th consecutive year, the programme of the International Student Section of the 47th Drama Festival will feature exciting films by young artists! This year’s topic is “Human Relations & the Sea”! Lots of love, but also violence. Films about the much-discussed diversity and human sexuality, with its various manifestations. Whatever their themes, for me my great joy comes from the fact that we found films, once again, that approach their topics in an authentic, contemporary and artistically daring way. We met young filmmakers who are worthy representatives of their time and generation and who, I hope, will continue to tell film stories with the same sensitivity and interest.

Head programmer: Thanasis Neofotistos

SHORT AND GREEN

1. Bios Beneath Blind by Kim Allamand
2. Goodbye Sun by Hakim Atoui
3. Greenwash by Andres Bronnimann
4. Wavering by Fanny Chesnel
5. The Generators by Georgie Cowan-Turner
6. Guardiani Del Lago by Alice Gagliardi
7. Plantasia by Angelos Gourzis
8. I Would Rather Be a Stone by Ana Husman
9. Know Your Stones by Katarina Jazbec
10. Enjoy your meal by Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke
11. Las Memorias Perdidas De Los Árboles by Antonio La Camera
12. Hikuri by Sandra Ovilla
13. For You by Luca Paulli
14. On the 8th Day by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin, Théo Duhautois
15. Guardians by Julián Stubbs Generali

The Short and Green international competition programme is now in its 4th year. And if anything  shows the urgent need for such reflections and stimuli for the film-loving audience, it is the changes that we are clearly experiencing in the climate of our country and the planet and, consequently, in our lives and everyday life.

This year’s programme features 15 films -5 animation films, 5 documentaries and 5 fiction films- 15 small pieces, which form a colourful, multicultural, and inclusive mosaic and create a special polyphony of cinematic storytelling.

From Italy to Mexico, and from France to Costa Rica, young filmmakers around the globe are inspired by and create with the environment and the climate crisis in mind. And even if film is not a powerful enough medium to change the course of events, it can at least serve as an indirect warning. As long as it’s not too late.

Head programmer: Vassilis Terzopoulos

KIDDO

1. The Man in the Blue Suit by Evan Patrick Adams
2. Porcelain by Annika Birgel
3. Mao Lucky by Luis Carlo Caballero Arguelles
4. Trinkets by Elli Fotiou
5. I Loved to See You by Ricardo Garcia
6. A Deer Died Here by John Giordano
7. Tamagoyaki by Meg Igarashi
8. Gaomei Fantasy by Juo Wen Chin
9. Childhood Colors by Alexandre Labarussiat
10. Healer by Mackenzie Leigh
11. Tremolo by Leonard Mink
12. Dusk by Awa Moctar Gueye
13. Beromut by Pola Rader
14. Snowglobes by Gregory Vardarinos
15. In Sickness and in Health by Devina Vassileva
16. Game Rules by Christian Zetterberg
17. Love Photosynthesis by Alisa Zolonz

Kiddo’s competition section is open to filmmakers of films for children and teenagers with contemporary themes that speak about the school years, adolescence and adulthood. About gender equality, racism and young people’s motivations for life. Fiction and animation, drama and comedy films. 17 films in total, from many countries, including two Greek entries.

In this section, younger filmmakers are given the opportunity to screen their films, but also to compete, as these are films made by adults for children, and by children for children. The ultimate aim and objective is to trigger the artistic spirit of young people and develop their aesthetic perception. To cultivate their imagination. To motivate them to become actively involved in the art of cinema.

For this reason, the film evaluation committee consists of children from the city of Drama. Kiddo is the new section of the festival and it is in its second year of operation this year. We hope and believe that it will flourish and develop into an important programme for the children who compete as well as for the children of the city of Drama who will attend it.

Head programmer: Elena Mavridou

ANIMATION

1. Two One Two by Shira Avni
2. chicken by Anna Benner
3. The Girl Who Walked On Snow by Bruno Carnide
4. Dodeca – the womb by Daniele Charasanakis
5. Underground by Yiannis Christoforou
6. G3N3SIS by Antonis Doussias
7. Echoes by Robinson Drossos
8. Plantasia by Angelos Gourzis
9. Don’t Forget to Take Medicines on Time by Xiaoxuan Han
10. P by Stelios Koupetoris
11. 74 by Charalambos Margaritis
12. In the Shadow of the Cypress by Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani
13. WAN by Victor Monigote
14. Asotos by George Nathenas
15. The Mushroom Man by Petros Niamonitakis
16. Percebes by Alexandra Ramires, Laura Gonçalves
17. Nabu by Joanna Rusinek
18. The Wild-Tempered Clavier by Anna Samo
19. La Voix des Sirènes by Gianluigi Toccafondo
20. Darwin Story by Natasha Tonkin
21. SHORTS FROM THE BOX / modern times by Géza M. Tóth
22. Flower Show by Elli Vuorinen
23. Little Fire by Chen Wu

Animation, as a medium of visual communication, combines a variety of expressive media from all art forms to convey a message and generate corresponding emotions. This year’s event saw a record number of submissions to the animation programme, as part of a broader trend of increased participation in all of the festival’s programmes. However, the films submitted were of high quality, both technically and narratively, and it is worth noting that this year saw a significant increase in the number of Greek animation films with a plethora of techniques and of excellent quality.

The selection of the final programme was really difficult and was made, as every year, based on the plurality and variety of creative techniques and narrative approach. The main objective remains, always, the development of audiovisual animation literacy towards the active participation of the audience of Drama and the promotion of animation films in general.

Head programmer: Spyros Siakas

The Festival’s programming teams watched and evaluated more than 4000 films in total. We invite you to discover them up close in Drama and online during the 47th edition (2-8 September 2024).

The Drama Festival is realized with the full support of the Ministry of Culture, the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, the Hellenic Parliament, and of course the Municipality of Drama.