Programming through a turbulent global moment

The Thessaloniki International Film Festival kicks off today with a program the artistic director says mirrors a world in flux. Organizers framed the Oct. 30–Nov. 9 edition as a window onto uncertainty, balancing risk-taking first features with seasoned auteurs. Industry events aim to connect Southeastern Europe’s filmmakers with international partners amid tighter financing and shifting distribution. Curators say the selection leans into intimate stories that carry political charge—migration, memory, surveillance—without losing craft. The festival’s Agora market remains a key launchpad for regional projects, with training labs and co-production meetings set to run alongside premieres.

What stands out this year

Greek cinema’s resurgence is a theme, but curators highlight cross-Mediterranean voices and diasporas as the year’s heartbeat. Restored prints and debut competitions share space with genre tilts—psychological dramas, slow-burn thrillers, even off-kilter comedies. Programmers hint at stronger ties with streamers while insisting on the primacy of theatrical discovery. For directors and sales agents, Thessaloniki offers timing: late-year visibility before winter awards sprints. For audiences, it’s a chance to see films unlikely to arrive on mainstream platforms soon. The mood may be sober, but the bet is optimistic—that adventurous programming can still cut through a noisy, fragmenting market.