Thessaloniki Intl. Documentary Festival has unveiled the International Competition lineup for its 27th edition, which runs March 6-16. The selection includes three films that had their world premieres at Sundance, “Coexistence, My Ass!,” “Free Leonard Peltier” and “GEN_,” and one that debuts at Berlin, “Under the Flags, the Sun.” The rest are world premieres.
The top prize, the Golden Alexander, is accompanied by a cash prize of 12,000 euros, and the Silver Alexander is accompanied by a cash prize of 5,000 euros. The festival is an Oscar qualifying festival and the film that wins the Golden Alexander will automatically be eligible to submit for Academy Awards consideration in the Documentary Feature category.
Here’s the lineup of the International Competition:
“Bull’s Heart,” Eva Stefani, Greece (world premiere)
Why do we do what we do? This documentary offers an intimate portrait of renowned choreographer and visual artist Dimitris Papaioannou, exploring his creative process. It follows him behind the scenes and during the tour of his show, “Transverse Orientation,” revealing an existential journey as he seeks meaning in a chaotic world.
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“Sculpted Souls,” Stavros Psillakis, Greece (world premiere)
Swiss dentist Julien Grivel for 26 years treating Hansenites (lepers) for free in Greece. An experience that helped him see the world and life differently. “By adopting the language of the Greeks, I unconsciously adopted their thinking,” he says. His friendship with Manolis Fountoulakis (ex-Hansenite) was a catalyst.
“The Goals of August,” Dimitris Koutsiabasakos, Greece (world premiere)
A kaleidoscope of events, incidents and moments from the everyday life of a village in southern Pindos mountains during an impromptu soccer tournament. The documentary’s aim is to create, through observation, an “impressionistic” portrait of a small community in summer. A portrait with light and shadows, charming and sometimes frightening, which despite its contradictions is, above all, unexpectedly alive and genuine.
“Child of Dust,” Weronika Mliczewska (world premiere)
Sang is one of countless children left behind by American soldiers after the Vietnam War—unwanted, discriminated against, and scarred by a war that took more than just his father. When Sang unexpectedly finds his gravely ill father in the U.S., he becomes determined to meet him, even though it comes at a price. The only way to fulfil this need is to move to the U.S. permanently, leaving behind his beloved wife, daughter and grandson. In this foreign land, he struggles to find his place—not only in a society that sees him as an outsider but also within an American family that never knew of his existence. Cultural barriers collide as the past catches up with the present in the least expected ways.
“Coexistence, My Ass!,” Amber Fares, U.S.-France (international premiere)
“Coexistence My Ass!” follows Israeli activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she builds a comedy show by the same name. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism. She pivots to stand-up and quickly attracts attention across the Middle East. But as her star rises, everything around her falls apart. With biting, warm satire, Noam pushes her audiences to face difficult truths — and offers an inspiring model for the future.
“Free Leonard Peltier,” Jesse Short Bull and David France, U.S. (international premiere)
Directed by Jesse Short Bull (“Lakota Nation vs. the United States”) and David France (“How to Survive a Plague,” “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson,” and “Welcome to Chechnya”), and produced by Bird Runningwater. Leonard Peltier, one of the surviving leaders of the American Indian Movement, has been in prison for 50 years following a contentious conviction. A new generation of Native American activists is committed to winning his freedom before he dies.
“GEN_,” Gianluca Matarrese, France-Italy-Switzerland (European premiere)
At Milan’s Niguarda Public Hospital, Dr. Maurizio Bini leads an inspiring and unconventional mission to transform lives through fertility and gender affirmation care. Balancing the dreams of aspiring parents with the journeys of individuals reconciling their gender identities, he creates a compassionate and empowering space where humor often lightens even the heaviest moments. In a politically charged environment that tests medical ethics, Dr. Bini defies societal constraints to offer hope, humanity, and healing, making a profound difference with both expertise and heart.
“Kick-Off,” Roser Corella and Stefano Obino, Germany (world premiere)
In a small village in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, where conservative traditions confine women to domestic duties, Gazi challenges the status quo by organizing a women’s soccer tournament. As she strives to empower the women and break social taboos, Gazi must navigate through cultural resistance, unveiling a story of resilience, and social change in this unique setting.
“Supernatural,” Bonaventura Durall, Spain-Belgium-France (world premiere)
Mathu, a medical doctor, grew into the complete opposite of his father, Malby, a spiritual healer. When Anna, who believes Malby cured her anorexia, invites Mathu to meet him, Mathu confronts his strained relationship with his father and the divide between their beliefs: science versus magic. In “Supernatural,” two opposing worldviews explore coexistence; sometimes conflicting, sometimes seeking common ground.
“Under the Flags, the Sun,” Juanjo Pereira, Paraguay-Argentina-U.S.-France-Germany (international premiere)
In 1989, the fall of Alfredo Stroessner’s 35-year dictatorship in Paraguay marked the end of one of the world’s longest authoritarian regimes, but also the abandonment of the audiovisual archives that had cemented its power. This footage, crafted to shape a national identity and celebrate the regime, was left to fade from memory. Decades later, a trove of unseen and long forgotten footage has been recovered from Paraguay and abroad, revealing the hidden mechanisms of power behind Stroessner’s rule. “Under the Flags, the Sun” is a visual experience through the history of the media, an archeology of the present in a country where the descendants of the regime’s leaders still rule.
