9th Beyond Borders Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival

For the 9th consecutive year, “Beyond Borders” Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival renews its rendez-vous (25/08–01/09/2024) with the cinephile audiences and creators from all over the world.

On the occasion of the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey, a century ago and the mass exclusion of people from both sides of the borders, the Festival turns its gaze beyond the obvious, questions and reflects on people and lives that were left behind. On personal stories that could not, or did not want to, fit or be assimilated by dominant ideologies and perceptions and were forced into a ceaseless search for acceptance and reconciliation.

Paying a spiritual tribute to these people, who may belong to the past, present or future, the 9th edition of Beyond Borders aspires through its film program -but also through book launches, art exhibitions, educational programs, lectures and musical performances- to emphasize those subtle nuances of solidarity and humanity and to bring back, through its artistic program, the issue of defending all human rights at every corner of the world.

9th Beyond Borders Festival

The Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival’s 9^th edition, running from August 25 to September 1, 2024, brings thrilling films and numerous premieres from around the world, enhanced awards to support filmmakers, collaborations, activities, and new programs.

Beyond Borders focuses on documentary films that deal with historical events and personalities as well as socio-political issues. As Irini Sarioglou, the festival’s artistic director, states: “On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne, and with the world plagued by war conflicts, this year’s Beyond Borders theme focuses on the wounds of displacement, forced expatriation, and the bitter feeling of being twice a stranger. Knowledge, research, and the outcry of documentaries are more necessary than ever to awaken consciences and promote dialogue and reconciliation.”

The festival is organized by the Hellenic History Foundation, in collaboration with Écrans des Mondes, and co-organized by the Region of South Aegean, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME), Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, the Greek Film Centre, the Embassy of Australia in Athens, the Embassy of Germany in Athens, the Embassy of Austria in Athens, and the Embassy of Spain in Athens.

This year, the festival received 763 documentary submissions from 95 countries, many of which have been showcased at major international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Amsterdam (IDFA), and Copenhagen (CPX DOX). The screening program includes 37 world, international, and Greek premieres. Organized by the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) in collaboration with Ecrans des Mondes (Paris), the festival is supported by renowned global entities such as ZDF, ARTE, BBC, RAI TV, Movies that Matter, IDF Prague, PHOENIX, FIPRESCI, and Ecrans des Mondes.

Beyond Borders will feature three distinct screening sections: the Main Competition, which includes 18 medium and feature-length documentaries; the μicro Competition, which includes 23 short documentaries; and the Panorama section, which will host daily thematic film tributes outside the competition.

Awards

The two competitive sections of the festival will present a total of 11 awards:

Golden Wreath of Megisti – GRAND PRIX: €10,000, sponsored by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust for the best film addressing historical events and personalities, current socio-political issues, and the promotion of human rights in any form and manner.

• Silver Wreath of Megisti: €5,000, sponsored by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust for the second-best film addressing historical events and personalities, current socio-political issues, and the promotion of human rights in any form and manner.

• Bronze Wreath of Megisti: €3,000, sponsored by ERT for the third best film addressing historical events and personalities, current socio-political issues, and the promotion of human rights in any form and manner.

• Best Greek Documentary Award: €2,000, co-sponsored by ERT and the Greek Film Center for the best documentary by a Greek director.

• Special Award of Mediterranean Friendship: €500, sponsored by EKOME for the best documentary promoting common values and peaceful dialogue among Mediterranean peoples.

Vladimir Nikolouzos, *The Land of Forgotten Songs*

• “Odysseus” Award: €2,000, initiated and supported by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, and sponsored by Lady Marina Marks and Alex Sakalis for the best documentary by a Greek director of the diaspora.

• #THISISEU Award: €1,000, sponsored by ERT, awarded by the Delegation of the European Commission in Greece for the documentary that best promotes contemporary European values.

• FIPRESCI Award: €1,000, sponsored by ERT for the best film selected by the International Federation of Film Critics.

In the μicro Competition Section, which includes 24 short documentaries, the awards are as follows:

• Golden Phoenix: €1,250, supported by Phoenix TV for the best short documentary by a debut director.

• Silver Phoenix: €1,000, supported by Phoenix TV for the second best short documentary by a debut director.

• Bronze Phoenix: €750, supported by Phoenix TV for the third best short documentary by a debut director.

Learn more about the films that will compete at the 9th Beyond Borders

Taliya Finkel, *Anna and the Egyptian Doctor*

Parallel Cultural Activities

In addition to film screenings and workshops, the festival organizes parallel cultural events, turning Kastellorizo into a global cultural meeting point.

Throughout the week, musical interludes by Aeolian Duet (Michalis Kontos and Rea Moraiti) will feature piano and cello sounds, offering romantic melodies from Chopin’s nocturnes to operatic arias and retro-inspired romantic pop songs.

Workshops for all ages will include: EKOME’s experiential film workshops “And yet… we move!” in collaboration with the French organization Films pour enfants. “Cine(summary) in the classroom”, shadow theater performances, traditional dances from all over Greece for children and fairy-tale musical journeys for children up to 10 years. There will also be a sculpture exhibition by artist Alexandros Zygouris.

Daily presentations of books with historical, literary, and cinematic content by journalist and author Pavlos Methenitis and academic Matteo Compagnolo include: Bruce Clark’s book “Twice a Stranger”; the reissue of Tatiana Stavrou’s book on the Greek Literary Society of Constantinople (1967) by IDISME; the historical album “At the Edge of the Aegean – Kastellorizo, 1890-1948” by N. Papanastasiou and N. Vogiatzis.