The 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), taking place from October 30 to November 9, 2025, reaffirms its role as the most important platform for contemporary Greek cinema. This year’s edition will feature 32 feature films and 30 short films within the framework of the Greek Film Festival, including a record 29 national premieres. Nine titles will compete in official sections, alongside a broad network of initiatives designed to support both emerging and established filmmakers.
In the International Competition, standout titles include Beachcomber by Aristotelis Maragkos, Bearcave by Krysianna Papadakis and Stergios Dinopoulos, and Gorgonà by Evi Kalogiropoulou —the latter after its premiere in Venice.
In the Meet the Neighbors+ competition, the lineup features Life in a Beat (Amerissa Basta), Novak (Harry Lagoussis), and Smaragda – I Got Thick Skin and I Can’t Jump (Emilios Avraam).
The >>Film Forward section, dedicated to innovative voices, includes Female by Konstantinos Menelaou, Regan by Panos Katsimperis, and Zealotis by Stelios Repanis.
Beachcomber (Aristotelis Maragkos, 2025)
National Premieres: Intimate Portraits, Politics, and Experimentation
Among the Greek feature film premieres, many explore social tensions, personal identity, and generational fractures. Highlights include:
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Cries by Petros Sevastikoglou, a portrait of three women seeking liberation.
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Don’t Laugh, They’ll See You (Nicholas Dimitropoulos), a story of motherhood and self-determination.
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Madonnas (The Callas – Lakis & Aris Ionas) is a subversive comedy about sexuality and female solidarity.
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Mahi (Elias Giannakakis), the story of a 75-year-old trans woman returning to Greece after decades abroad.
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Patty is Such a Girly Name (Giorgos Georgopoulos), centered on a young athlete facing desire, betrayal, and emancipation.
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They Come Out of Margo (Alexandros Voulgaris, The Boy), an intimate exploration of fear, fame, and reinvention.
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Volume 7 (Panos Pappas, Despina Charalampous), a dystopian sci-fi on memory and repetition.
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Winter Sea (Nikos Kornilios), a choral drama set in a landscape marked by history.
Additionally, the Crossing Borders subsection includes films shot in or related to Greece, such as Maya & Samar (Anita Doron), Cast Aside the Clouds (Mary Darling), and Tender (Ari Bafalouka).
Short Films and Emerging Talent
As every year, the festival will also showcase the award-winning Greek short films from the Drama International Short Film Festival. These films will be featured in a dedicated section of the Film Market, ensuring international visibility among sales agents and festival programmers.
How Come It’s All Green Out Here? (Nikola Ležaić, 2025)
Independent Awards and Institutional Support
TIFF continues to strengthen the Greek film ecosystem with a wide range of awards:
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Fischer Audience Award.
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EKKOMED Awards: €5,000 for best debut and €1,500 for best location.
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ERT Awards: €3,000 for the FIPRESCI winner and €2,000 for Best Original Music.
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FOS Awards (PPC): two prizes of €3,000 each for best debut performances (actress and actor).
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Finos Film Award and J.F. Costopoulos Foundation Award, each €3,000.
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TSSO Award, for the best orchestral score, including the opportunity to record with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra.
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FIPRESCI and PEKK Awards, from international and Greek critics.
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Youth Jury Awards, by student juries.
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Crew United Award, offering a 5-year premium membership to the professional networking platform.
Additionally, TIFF provides a €3,000 travel grant to directors whose films are selected at top international festivals (Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Toronto, and others).
Patty is Such a Girly Name (Giorgos Georgopoulos, 2025)
Universal Accessibility: Cinema for All
A key priority for TIFF is ensuring universal access to screenings. With the support of Alpha Bank, the films Take Care (1990) and Stelios (2024) by Yorgos Tsemberopoulos will be screened with audio description and SDH subtitles as part of the filmmaker’s tribute.
In total, 30 Greek films will include embedded dialogue-based subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences, with programs available in Braille. All subtitles and descriptions will remain available after the festival to facilitate accessible distribution.
Special Premiere: Electra7
The festival will host the premiere of Electra7 (2025), a collective reinterpretation of Sophocles’ myth directed by Sofia Exarchou, Christina Ioakeimidi, Babis Makridis, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Elina Psykou, Alexandros Voulgaris, and Neritan Zinxhiria, in collaboration with the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the Hellenic Film Academy. The film revisits the tragedy through contemporary lenses, exploring themes of justice, memory, and violence.
Internationalization and Market Strategy
TIFF actively supports the international visibility of Greek cinema through its official selection, Agora Industry, and the Cinando platform, connecting national filmmakers with the global industry. Recent examples include Our Wildest Days (Vasilis Kekatos, Berlinale), Bearcave, and Gorgonà (Venice).
A Thriving Ecosystem for Greek Cinema
With its rich programming, strategic support mechanisms, and international reach, the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival strengthens its role as a key driver of Greek cinema. Beyond showcasing the best of national production, it nurtures emerging talent, promotes accessibility and inclusivity, and amplifies Greece’s presence on the world film map.
As every year, Thessaloniki becomes a vibrant meeting point where Greek cinema dialogues with the world.
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