Thessaloniki has now come back to its usual quietness (and shiny sun, today 29th november, 17 degrees), but for nearly two weeks of mid autumn (4-13 november) the city was transformed in a Cinema Mecca, crowded with Cinema freaks, journalists, artists, directors, producers and so on. The film festival was going.

More than 140 movies, 5 sections, 5 retrospectives, a selection of short movies, experimental screenings and screenings for youngsters and schools.

I personally watched nearly 40 movies, so i can give a detailed summary of the originality and beauty of this event, both from the organizing side, the illustrious guests and the public.

All the screenings were packed, no matter at what time, and queues of connoisseurs were forming in front of the cashiers to get the last tickets every day. With a card and some will, you could always enter.

There was no theme for the festival, but surely a big eye was given to new waves, new directors and with the Balkan Section, the cinema of Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia was shown.

Big surprise for the new wave of Bulgarian Cinema, represented in Thessaloniki by the movie “Ave’”, by Costantin Bojanov, at his first feature. An autobiographic story of pureness, adolescence, hitchhiking and more; portrayed with a light and dreamy touch.

And, among all the Latin American movies shown (thanks!), a mention goes to “El estudiante” by the young Argentinian director Santiago Mitre, present at the screenings; a witty critique on the world of politics in the universities, namely in the new world capital Buenos Aires.

So, good cinema to all!

THE AWARDS:

Golden Alexander: Twilight Portrait by Angelina Nikonova (Russia 2011)

Silver Alexander: Eighty Letters by Vaclav Kadrnka (Czech Republic 2011)

Bronze Alexander: Porfirio by Alejandro Landes ( Colombia-Spain-Uruguay-Argentina-France 2011)

Best director: Mark jackson for Without (USA 2011)

Best screenplay: John Mcilduff (UK 2011)

Best actress: Stefania Goulioti for J.A.C.E. (Greece-FYROM–Portugal-Turkey-The Netherlands 2011)

Best actor: Wotan Wilke Mohering for The fire (Germany 2011)

Audience awards:

The Flood by Guy Nativ (Israel-Canada-Germany-France- 2010)

Super Demetrios by Georgios Papaioannou (Greece 2011)

The Enemy by Dejan Zecevic (Serbia-Bosnia&Herzegovina-Croatia-Hungary 2011)

Tyrannosaur by Paddy Constantine (UK 2011)