Thessaloniki film fest woos southeast European talent

By Christine Pirovolakis Nov 26, 2006, 11:25 GMT

Thessaloniki, Greece - The president of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, film star Georges Corraface, hopes the Greek northern port city can serve as a meeting spot every year for people interested in film from south-east Europe.

'I hope that the infactuation with the festival will continue so that it can bring more talents,' said Corraface, who starred in films like 'Not Without My Daughter', 'Impromptu', 'Christopher Columbus' and 'Escape from LA' said.

The festival, now in its 47th year and serving as a major outlook for independent artists and up-and-coming directors, has seen a rise in audience attendance by 40 per cent.

This year's line-up has included 'Bled Number One' a French- Algerian production; 'Day-Night-Day Night' by Julia Loktev; 'The Point' by Canadian Joshua Dorsey; and 'Thicker than Water' by Arni Olafur Asgeirsson.

The festival which opened November 17 was ending Sunday with the seven-member international jury announcing the winners of awards including the Golden Alexander for Best Film, the Special Jury Award- Silver Alexander as well as awards for Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress and Artistic Achievement.

The screening of over 300 films highlighted mainland Chinese cinema production with a tribute on 'New Cinema from China: Another View' comprising of 22 films, and also films from Brazil, with 18 titles including classics and more recent productions.

Acclaimed German filmmaker Wim Wenders headlined the festival with a screening of Stephen Frears's award-winning 'The Queen', starring Helen Mirren.

Festival-goers also enjoyed Chinese master filmmaker Chen Kaige with his screening of 'The Emperor and the Assasin' and Alain Resnais's 'Private Fears in Public Places.'

The Independence Days section of the festival, depicted by many as the most interesting, paid a tribute to Czech Jan Svankmajer with screenings of his five feature and short films, as well as an exhibition of his art work titled 'Imaginative Eye, Imaginative Hand,' which also includes several pieces created by his late wife Eva Svankmajerova.

'Another reason why the festival is so special is that co- production projects which are underway with Crossroads - there is funding for scriptwriters under the Balkan fund which exists for many years now and we also feature two or three countries every year and focus on their recent film production,' said Corraface.

Corraface, who starred in the Greek record breaking box office hit 'A Touch of Spice' in 2003, will return to French theater in the New Year as well as begin work on a French-Greek production film.

Further Info: Official Site