Thessaloniki International Film Festival|Greece Festivals

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF; Greek: Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Θεσσαλονίκης, Diethnes Festival Kinimatografou Thessalonikis) has become one of the Balkans' primary showcases for the work of new and emerging filmmakers. The event features the International Section, a panorama of Greek films, the New Horizons program, the Balkan Survey, and numerous retrospectives and tributes to leading figures in the world of film. The Festival is competitive with the International Section jury awarding several prizes each year, most notably the "Golden Alexander" for Best Feature-Length Film.

##Overview

Thessaloniki International Film Festival hoarding.

Since 1992, the International Thessaloniki Film Festival has striven to present the most innovative independent films from around the world. Components of the Festival include:

• The International Competition section consists of new directors' first or second films.
• The non-competitive panorama of Greek films, an overview of the recent local production is followed by the presentation of the State Film Awards by the Greek Ministry of Culture.
• The Independence Days non-competitive section is the cutting-edge showcase for the latest trends in independent film production.
• The Balkan Survey, created in 1994, stands as a unique program which offers audiences a window on the cinema of this region of the world.

Today, president of the Thessaloniki Film Festival is the Paris-born Greek actor Georges Corraface.

Retrospectives and tributes look at both historic masters, and emerging artists. Since 1993, numerous directors have been represented in the retrospective/tribute programs, including:

In addition to the rich film offerings, the Festival hosts panels, exhibitions, and other artistic events such as:

• The Nam June Paik Video & Television Art exhibition
• The Strange Objects of Desire of David Cronenberg Ingrid Caven's concert
• Paintings & Collages by Sergei Paradjanov
• Periplanissis Photo Exhibit by Josef Koudelka
• "Peter Greenaway's Paintings, Drawings & Collages" exhibit
• Jazz master Gato Barbieri in concert

Over the last five years the Festival has also spotlighted significant, leading directors and promoted the work of emerging young filmmakers from all over the world.

##History

"Olympion" theater, where the head office of the festival is located .

Greek Film Festival (1960-1991)

The first period of Thessaloniki Film Festival starts in 1960 and finished in 1991. During these period in festival took part exclusively Greek films. The festival first held in 1960 as a modest "Week of Greek Cinema". From 1965 to 1991 the festival was being named "Festival of Greek Cinema". All these years the festival passed various phases. The first years the festival was an important social event with flashy appearances of domestic showbiz stars. During military junta (1967-1974), the censorship made its appearance. In Metapolitefsi the new generation of Greek directors dominated in awards. The festival became more politicized and two opponent groups of spectators were appeared in festival. The conflict of two groups arrived to extremes so that in 1977 the festival split in two different festivals. The split lasted one only year. During 80s festival declined and the change to an international film festival upgraded the festival.

International Film Festival (1992-today)

In 1992 the festival became an international film festival, acknowledged by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The Greek movies competed in a different section of the festival with the name Greek State Film Awards, until 2008. Nowadays Thessaloniki International Film Festival is an annual event focused on the discovery and promotion of new directors from all over the world. For ten days in mid-November, audiences numbering approximately 70,000, as well as hundreds of Greek and foreign Festival guests, attend screenings of more than 150 films in the city's cinemas.

##Best film award until 1992

##List of Golden Alexander Winners

Conference with John Malkovich and current president of the Festival Georges Corraface.