62nd Thessaloniki International Film Festival

11/04/2021

Festival Reviews

Lost Flowers

by Ben Nicholson | Jan 19, 2022 | Featured, Festivals, Morelia, Thessaloniki, Transilvania

In his diaristic portrait of grief during the isolation of lockdown, Fabrizio Maltese has crafted a personal documentary full of universal poignancy.

Drive My Car

by Deborah Young | Jan 13, 2022 | Antalya, Buenos Aires, Busan, Cannes, Festivals, Karlovy Vary, Mar del Plat, Oscar shortlist, Rotterdam, San Sebastian, Tallinn, Thessaloniki, Toronto

Winner of the Academy Award for best international feature, Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Drive My Car’ is the story of how love survives death in a long, measured, ultimately mesmerizing examination of the human soul.

Holy Emy

by Jay Weissberg | Nov 22, 2021 | Festivals, Locarno, Thessaloniki

A young Filipino immigrant in Greece with special healing powers is the focus of Araceli Lemos’ assured drama delving into questions of spirituality, belonging and sisterly bonds with a distinctively creepy edge.

Moneyboys

by Jay Weissberg | Nov 19, 2021 | Busan, Cannes, Festivals, Jerusalem, Thessaloniki

A high-end gay sex worker in China longs for the family affection he felt as a child in C.B. Yi’s beautifully crafted if not always satisfying debut that showcases the talents of actor Kai Ko.

Sisterhood

by Jay Weissberg | Nov 17, 2021 | Festivals, Thessaloniki

The hypocrisy of high school slut-shaming is the core theme of this strong feature debut boasting two exceptional performances and a layered script that’s distinctly Macedonian but with international resonance.

Vera Dreams of the Sea

by Jay Weissberg | Nov 17, 2021 | Festivals, Thessaloniki, Tokyo

Kosovo’s Kaltrina Krasniqi makes an impressive feature debut with this beautifully measured drama about a once-compliant 60-something widow who attempts to deflect the malevolent traditional patriarchy in a nation on the edge of change.

Thessaloniki 2021: The Verdict

by Jay Weissberg | Nov 17, 2021 | Festivals, The Festival Verdict, Thessaloniki

The sense of relief that suffused the 62nd Thessaloniki International Film Festival could be felt throughout the city’s repurposed old port, not just in the festival locations but in the favorite bars, restaurants and hangouts of the cinema crowd who palpably relished...

Awards Corner

Thessaloniki

Golden Alexander for
Softie (France)
Samuel Theis
Special Jury Award for
Clara Sola (Costa Rica)
Director: Natalie Alvarez Mesén
Special Jury Award for
The Box (Mexico)
Lorenzo Vigas
for
Moon, 66 Questions (Greece)
Sofia Kokkali
for
Softie (France)
Aliocha Reinert
for
Pilgrims (Lithuania)
Laurynas Bareisa
Golden Alexander for
Small Body (Italy, France, Slovenia)
Laura Samani
Golden Alexander for
Magnetic Fields (Greece)
Yorgos Goussis