The Thessaloniki Film Festival concluded yesterday (November 10) with the Best Feature Film award, the “Golden Alexander – Theo Angelopoulos Award,” which comes with a cash prize of €10,000. The winner is Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti, who participated in the 65th Thessaloniki Film Festival with his film “Happy Holidays.”
The film is a co-production between Palestine, Germany, France, Italy, and Qatar. According to the summary on the Festival’s website, it follows four interconnected characters who share their realities, highlighting the complexities of gender, generational, and cultural dynamics.
The Best Actor Award went to Mahmoud Bakri for his role in “To a Land Unknown,” while the Best Actress Award was given to Joana Santos for her role in “On Falling.”
The jury described the film as having a “detailed and carefully woven narrative that brings to light the complexities of dynamics related to nation, gender, and class—divisions that shape societies—while also reflecting the future through the eyes of a young woman.”
The “Silver Alexander” was awarded to Belgian director Leonardo van Dijl for the film “Julie Keeps Quiet.” The film, a co-production between Belgium and Sweden, follows the life of the most promising talent at a leading Belgian tennis academy, where the routine is disrupted by the news of a young athlete’s suicide.
“A film with psychological depth that exudes both strength and calm. A beautifully crafted work, featuring equally impressive performances and cinematography,” the jury noted.
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