In a fragile and unpredictable international climate, the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival returns for its 28th edition, a key meeting point for global non-fiction cinema. Opening on Thursday, 5 March, the festival sets an unmistakably political tone from the outset with "Ask E. Jean", a film focusing on journalist and author E. Jean Carroll, who twice won court rulings against former US president Donald Trump over sexual assault and defamation.
Speaking at the programme launch, General Director Elise Jalladeau noted that in recent years the event has unfolded "under the shadow of global crises and geopolitical tensions", adding that "the concern about the next day remains great". Artistic Director Orestis Andreadakis echoed that sentiment, stressing the continued urgency of documentary storytelling.
International star Juliette Binoche returns to Thessaloniki, this time as a director, presenting her documentary "In-I In Motion". The programme also bridges popular culture and heritage with "Desmond Child Rocks the Parthenon", connecting rock music mythology to the symbolism of Greece's ancient monuments. Meanwhile, "Orwell: 2+2=5" revisits the enduring themes of truth manipulation and reality distortion, drawing parallels with the contemporary information landscape.
A major tribute is dedicated to filmmaker Voula Skoura. At the same time, the International Competition jury comprises curator and producer Caroline Libresco, editor Dana Bunescu, and Greek producer Giorgos Papalios, a pivotal figure in the revival of Greek cinema who supported directors such as Theo Angelopoulos, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Panos Koutras.
The Golden Alexander award will once again be presented to the best film in the International Competition. Beyond its cash prize and trophy, the award carries tangible industry weight, as the winning film automatically qualifies for consideration in the next Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature.
Among the highlights is a Spotlight tribute and Golden Alexander honour for American filmmaker Bill Morrison, described by the New York Times as "the poet laureate of lost films". Morrison will deliver a masterclass exploring his use of archival and decaying film material as a meditation on memory and disappearance.
The overarching tribute theme, "Toute la mémoire du monde", nods to Alain Resnais' 1956 documentary set in the French National Library. This strand threads through screenings, discussions and publications, showcasing found-footage works assembled from analogue scraps, forgotten reels, home videos, and even desktop documentaries built from online material.
The festival closes on 15 March with the Oscar-nominated "Mr Nobody Against Putin", which examines life, fear, and resistance in contemporary Russia, followed by a closing party at Olympion, timed to coincide with the Academy Awards.
By Kostas Kechagias - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
