Onassis Culture at the 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
Onassis Culture participates in the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival with the world premiere of "The Bull's Heart" by Eva Stefani, featuring Dimitris Papaioannou, in the International Competition section. Additionally, the festival will host the premiere of the short documentary "ALBGRECO" by Ilir Tsouko in the Open Horizons section. Onassis Culture will also present the Onassis Film Award 2025 to a Greek project participating in the Agora industry section and showcase the premiere of Return to Depo by Dimitris Zachos, an Onassis Culture co-production of Onassis Culture.
Bull's Heart by Eva Stefani
An Onassis Culture production
A documentary produced by Onassis Culture, which focuses on the performance Transverse Orientation by Dimitris Papaioannou will premiere at the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. Filmmaker Eva Stefani follows the preparations behind Transverse Orientation and its tour across theatrical stages in Europe, observing from a close distance Dimitris Papaioannou and his collaborators in their effort to give shape and breathe life into the work. For two years, her camera captured scenes from the rehearsals at the Onassis Stegi during the pandemic, as well as performances in Paris, London, Vilnius, and other international destinations, leading to the last show in San Francisco. The central question that runs through the documentary is “Why do we do what we do?” elevating art as a means of resisting the futility of things and a way to reapply meaning to our own lives.
The premiere will take place on Monday, March 10, at 20:00, at Olympion, in the presence of the contributors. A Q&A session will follow.
The second screening will take place on Tuesday, March 11, at 13:00, at the John Cassavetes Hall, Warehouse 1, Port.
ALBGREKO by Ilir Tsouko
An Onassis Culture production
This short documentary directed by Ilir Tsouko, and produced by Onassis Culture, unveils stories that are neither only Albanian nor Greek - but both Albanian and Greek. The children and grandchildren of Albanian immigrants from the 1990s were born and are raised in Greece. Denisa, Dimitris, Stefania, and Orestis share their experience on camera. Not the experience of immigration itself, but their own stories. Stories that are neither only Albanian nor Greek but both Albanian and Greek. A new sense of belonging, pure and hopeful, emerges from this generation. At a time when identity wars are raging all over the world, including Europe and the Balkans, the director's camera illuminates the multiple identities not as burdens of history, but as compasses for a brighter future.
Albgreko” will be screened at the 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival as part of the “Open Horizons” program on Friday, March 7, at the “John Cassavetes” movie theater at 21:00.
The documentary will also be available on the festival’s online platform starting Saturday, March 8, at 10:00.
Onassis Film Award 2025
Onassis Culture has a long-standing partnership with the country's leading film festivals, highlighting the voices of rising creators in their early stages. Every year, it offers the Onassis Film Award to Greek filmmakers who participate in the Agora department of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival for the development and completion of their feature films.
The Agora Awards will be presented on Wednesday, March 12, at 20:00, at Warehouse C, where this year's winner will be announced.
Return to Depot by Dimitris Zahos
An Onassis Culture co-production
A documentary exploring Thessaloniki's historic Depot district, where the abandoned Tram depot reopens for a theatrical performance organised by Parallaxi. Through this cultural intervention, the film examines the forgotten neighborhood's present reality and potential revival of the significant industrial heritage site.
