Onassis Culture at the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Onassis Culture actively participated in the major film festival of Greece with the presentation of the Onassis Film Award, the Greek premiere of “Arcadia” by Yorgos Zois in the festival’s international competition section, and the world premiere of the Onassis Film Award 2023 winner, “Maldives” by Daniel Bolda in the Film Forward Section. The festival took place from October 31 to November 10, 2024.

The Onassis Film Award goes to “African Grey”

Onassis Culture, continuing its long-standing collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, presents the Onassis Film Award for the fourth consecutive year. The award is granted to one of the Greek projects participating in the festival’s ‘Agora’ and is accompanied by a cash prize of 10,000 euros.

This year's Onassis Film Award goes to a project that redefines a beloved genre and promises a satisfying cinematic story with a surprising protagonist. It is a project that shows that sometimes ideas for films can be found as easily as knocking on our neighbor's door.

The award goes to the film “African Grey” by Yorgos Goussis, produced by Plankton.

Two Onassis films have been screened and awarded to the festival

Radiant neurologist Katerina has to confront her worst suspicions as she accompanies Yannis, a former well-respected doctor, to identify the victim of a tragic car accident at an off-season seaside resort. Together, but also on her own nightly excursions to a mysterious rustic beach bar, they unravel a haunting tale of love, loss, acceptance, and letting go. “Arcadia,” the second feature of Yorgos Zois, has ‘haunted’ the most prestigious international film festivals.

It had its world premiere at the Encounters section of the 74th Berlin Film Festival, receiving enthusiastic reviews. Later in its festival journey, Yorgos Zois was honored last August with the Best Director Award in the Official Competition of the Sarajevo Film Festival. The film received two awards at the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award for the International Competition and the J. F. Costopoulos Foundation Award.

“Maldives” by Daniel Bolda―Onassis Film Award 2023

An elementary music teacher living in a secluded town in the mountains with his dog longs to escape the cold in favor of a warmer life by the beach. When his dog disappears, his sanity comes into question, as ringings of the afterlife begin to bring forth visions that shake up his world. This is the synopsis of the debut film by Daniel Bolda, produced by Filmiki, which had its worldwide premiere at the Film Forward Section of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. “Maldives,” the Onassis Film Award 2023 winner, received a Special Mention and the award for Best Original Score by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT).

About the Onassis Film Awards

Over the years, the Onassis Foundation has collaborated with the most prestigious film festivals in Greece, elevating emerging talents during their first steps. Each year, it holds the Onassis Film Awards for Greek filmmakers developing their films. From the international film festivals of Thessaloniki to Athens, and from the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival to the Drama International Short Film Festival, the Onassis Foundation is there at every celebration of cinema held in the country. The winners of the Onassis Film Awards in 2023–24 were Daniel Bolda (“Maldives”), Aristotelis Maragkos (“Kafka’s Collection of Porn”), Nikolas Kouloglou (“Super”), Savvas Stavrou (“Buffer Zone”), and Marianna Economou (“Dark Waters”).