Scandar Copti’s “Happy Holidays” Wins Golden Alexander at Thessaloniki Festival in Greece
The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF) concluded on November 10, 2024, with an emotional awards ceremony that paid tribute to Yannis Boutaris, the festival’s former president and a transformative mayor of Thessaloniki, who passed away during the event. Boutaris was remembered for his visionary leadership and profound influence on the city’s cultural and political life. The festival’s artistic director, Orestis Andreadakis, described him as a pioneering figure who embraced multiculturalism and environmentalism, profoundly shaping Thessaloniki’s identity. His contributions to the film festival were also celebrated, as attendees reflected on his legacy of progress and innovation.
The festival’s top honor, the Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos Award for Best Feature Film, was awarded to "Happy Holidays" by Scandar Copti. The jury praised the film for its intricate portrayal of societal divisions through the lens of a young woman’s experiences. The Silver Alexander for Best Director was given to Leonardo Van Dijl for "Julie Keeps Quiet," a psychological drama that delves into themes of trauma and resilience. Mahmood Bakri won Best Actor for his role in "To a Land Unknown" by Mahdi Fleifel, while Joana Santos was named Best Actress for her performance in "On Falling" by Laura Carreira.
In the Meet the Neighbors+ section, which focuses on films from Southeast Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, the Golden Alexander - Michel Demopoulos Award was bestowed on "Vittoria" by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman. The Silver Alexander went to Laila Abbas for "Thank You for Banking With Us," noted for its inventive narrative. The Best Actor award in this section was given to Volodymyr Kravchuk for "U Are the Universe" by Pavlo Ostrikov, while Antonia Zegers won Best Actress for her role in "The Exiles" by Belén Funes. Special mentions were given to Elvira Lara for her debut in "The Exiles" and the ensemble cast of "Killerwood" by Christos Massalas.
The >>Film Forward competition section highlighted bold and experimental filmmaking. The Golden Alexander was awarded to "Universal Language" by Matthew Rankin, which stood out for its unique narrative blending humor and cultural critique. The Silver Alexander went to Noaz Deshe for "Xoftex," recognized for its vivid depiction of refugee life. A special mention was given to "Maldives" by Daniel Bolda.
The Immersive: All Around Cinema Award, celebrating virtual reality projects, was awarded to "Play Life" by Žilvinas Naujokas, Vilius Petrauskas, Mantas Pronckus, and Donatas Ulvydas. A special mention was given to "Journey of Piraeus" by Filippos Tsitos.
Greek films received significant attention, with "Riviera" by Orfeas Peretzis earning the FIPRESCI Award for Best Greek Film, the ERT Award, and the Best Location Award. Kostis Charamountanis’ "Kyuka Before Summer’s End" received the Youth Jury Award, the Fischer Audience Award, and the Creative Greece Award for debut filmmakers. Dimitris Nakos’ "Meat" was honored with the PEKK Award, a Youth Jury Special Mention, and the Crew United Award. The Finos Film Award was also given to "Kyuka Before Summer’s End," while "Arcadia" by Yorgos Zois earned the J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award and the FIPRESCI Award for Best International Film.
Ray Yeung’s "All Shall Be Well" won the Mermaid Award for LGBTQIA+ representation, and Leonard Mink’s "Tremolo" received the Alpha Bank Accessibility Award for its authentic portrayal of disability. The Best Original Music Award was given to Yannis Veslemes for his work in "Maldives."
Agora Awards celebrated emerging voices and sustainability in filmmaking. "Bearcave" by Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis won the Authorwave Post-Production Award, while "Lifelike" by Ali Vatansever received the 119 Marvila Studios Award for sound mixing. The Onassis Film Award went to "African Grey" by Yorgos Gousis, while "Wake (Agrypnia)" by Thelyia Petraki won the Finos Film Award for script development.
The Fischer Audience Awards highlighted audience favorites: "To a Land Unknown" by Mahdi Fleifel (International Competition), "The Mohican" by Frederic Farucci (Meet the Neighbors+), "Kyuka Before Summer’s End" (>>Film Forward), "Ghostlight" by Alex Thompson and Kelly O’Sullivan (Official Selection), and "Wishbone" by Penny Panagiotopoulou (Greek Film Festival).
Complete List of Awarded Films – 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival
International Competition Awards
- Golden Alexander – Theo Angelopoulos Award (Best Feature Film): "Happy Holidays" / Scandar Copti
- Silver Alexander (Best Director): Leonardo Van Dijl / "Julie Keeps Quiet"
- Best Actor: Mahmood Bakri / "To a Land Unknown" / Mahdi Fleifel
- Best Actress: Joana Santos / "On Falling" / Laura Carreira
Meet the Neighbors+ Awards
- Golden Alexander – Michel Demopoulos Award (Best Feature Film): "Vittoria" / Alessandro Cassigoli & Casey Kauffman
- Silver Alexander (Best Director): Laila Abbas / "Thank You for Banking With Us"
- Best Actor: Volodymyr Kravchuk / "U Are the Universe" / Pavlo Ostrikov
- Best Actress: Antonia Zegers / "The Exiles" / Belén Funes
- Special Mention: Elvira Lara / "The Exiles" / Belén Funes
- Special Mention (Ensemble Cast): Cast of "Killerwood" / Christos Massalas
>>Film Forward Awards
- Golden Alexander (Best Feature Film): "Universal Language" / Matthew Rankin
- Silver Alexander (Best Director): Noaz Deshe / "Xoftex"
- Special Mention: "Maldives" / Daniel Bolda
Immersive: All Around Cinema Awards
- Golden Alexander: "Play Life" / Žilvinas Naujokas, Vilius Petrauskas, Mantas Pronckus, Donatas Ulvydas
- Special Mention: "Journey of Piraeus" / Filippos Tsitos
Podcast Competition Awards
- Best Podcast Award: "Friends in Liminal Spaces" / Anastasia Sotiropoulos
- Special Mention: "A Story Told by the Mountains" / MASH (Christos Kapenis & Katerina Anastasiou)
Mermaid Award (Best LGBTQIA+ Film)
- "All Shall Be Well" / Ray Yeung
Smart7 Award
- "It’s Not My Film" / Maria Zbąska
FOS Awards (Best Debut Performance in Greek Films)
- Best Actor: Yannis Karampampas / "Wishbone" / Penny Panagiotopoulou
- Best Actress (ex aequo):
- Eva Samioti / "Riviera" / Orfeas Peretzis
- Myrto Meitani-Kastrinaki / "Riviera" / Orfeas Peretzis
Alpha Bank Accessibility Award
- "Tremolo" / Leonard Mink (Director) and Ben Kermer (Actor)
ERT Awards
- Best Original Music Award: Yannis Veslemes / "Maldives" / Daniel Bolda
- Best Greek Film (FIPRESCI): "Riviera" / Orfeas Peretzis
Human Values Award of the Hellenic Parliament
- "Julie Keeps Quiet" / Leonardo Van Dijl
Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece Awards
- Debut Director Award: Kostis Charamountanis / "Kyuka Before Summer's End"
- Best Location Award: Marios Dimopoulos & Niki Saliagopoulou / "Riviera" / Orfeas Peretzis
J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award
- "Arcadia" / Yorgos Zois
Finos Film Award
- "Kyuka Before Summer's End" / Kostis Charamountanis
FIPRESCI Awards
- Best International Competition Film: "Arcadia" / Yorgos Zois
- Best Greek Film (Premiere): "Riviera" / Orfeas Peretzis
PEKK Award (Greek Association of Film Critics)
- "Meat" / Dimitris Nakos
WIFT GR Award (Women in Film & Television)
- "Sugar Island" / Johanné Gómez Terrero
Crew United Award
- Dimitris Nakos / "Meat"
Youth Jury Awards (Greek Films)
- Best Film: "Kyuka Before Summer's End" / Kostis Charamountanis
- Special Mention: "Meat" / Dimitris Nakos
Fischer Audience Awards
- International Competition: "To a Land Unknown" / Mahdi Fleifel
- Meet the Neighbors+: "The Mohican" / Frederic Farucci
- >>Film Forward: "Kyuka Before Summer’s End" / Kostis Charamountanis
- Official Selection: "Ghostlight" / Alex Thompson & Kelly O’Sullivan
- Michalis Cacoyannis (Greek Film): "Wishbone" / Penny Panagiotopoulou
Agora Awards
- Authorwave Post-Production Award: "Bearcave" / Stergios Dinopoulos, Krysianna Papadakis
- 119 Marvila Studios Award: "Lifelike" / Ali Vatansever
- ERT Award: "Patty Is Such a Girly Name" / Giorgos Georgopoulos
- Onassis Film Award: "African Grey" / Yorgos Gousis
- Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award: "The Hunchback" / Ahu Ozturk
- CNC Script Development Award: "Passport" / Rakan Mayasi
- Greener Screen Award (ex aequo):
- "The Hunchback" / Ahu Ozturk
- "The Appalling Human Voice of the Animals" / Neritan Zinxhiria
- ArteKino International Award: "Fog" / Denis Spiridonov
- Finos Film Greek Project Award: "Wake (Agrypnia)" / Thelyia Petraki
- Producer’s Network Accreditation (Cannes Marché du Film): Ares Shporta / "Bleach" / Kaltrina Krasniqi
- Mediterranean Film Institute Award: "Passport" / Rakan Mayasi
- MIDPOINT Consulting Award: "The Side Effects of Trusting Life" / Ahmad Ghossein
- EAVE Thessaloniki Marketing Scholarship: Konstantinos Koukoulis / "African Grey"