The Open Horizons section of the 56th Thessaloniki International Film Festival highlights the most recent trends in worldwide independent production, featuring thematically original and aesthetically challenging films. Running in parallel, the Special Screenings section presents the newest additions in the work of renowned auteurs.  

The Open Horizons section includes a variety of films, directed by filmmakers who have already established themselves in the independent film scene, as well as promising newcomers. Louder Than Bombs by Joachim Trier (Oslo, August 31st), Chronic by Michel Franco, Pablo Aguero’s Eva Doesn’t Sleep and Arabian Nights by Portuguese director Miguel Gomes are only few of the films programmed. 

Some of this year’s most anticipated films will be screened as part of the Special Screenings section. Francofonia by Aleksandr Sokurov, Son of Saul by László Nemes (Grand Prize of the Jury, FIPRESCI Prize, Cannes Film Festival), The Treasure by Corneliu Porumboiu (Un Certain Regard-A Certain Talent Prize, Cannes Film Festival) and Jafar Panahi΄s Taxi Tehran (Golden Berlin Bear, FIPRESCI Prize, Berlin Film Festival), to mention some of them. 

The Currents section returns with a selection of experimental offerings, set in several parts of the world. The Brazilian drama Hopefulls by Ives Rosenfeld and Pietro Marcello’s contemporary fairytale Lost and Beautiful from Italy are two of the films included in the program. 

The Films (the full list will be announced at the Festival’s press conference, date TBA)

Victoria, 2015, 140’, Germany, Sebastian Schipper

The Second Mother, 2015, 111’, Brazil, Anna Muylaert

Goat, 2015, 75’, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Ivan Ostrochovský

Body, 2015, 90’, Poland, Malgorzata Szumowska

La Tierra Roja, 2015, 100’, Belgium, Argentina, Diego Martínez Vignatti

Blue Blood, 2014, 119’, Brazil, Lírio Ferreira

Krisha, 2015, 83’, USA, Trey Edward Shults

In Your Arms, 2014, 88’, Denmark, Germany, Samanou Acheche Sahlstrøm

Ixcanul Volcano, 2015, 91’, Guatemala, France, Jayro Bustamante

Queen Of Earth, 2015, 90’, USA, Alex Ross Perry

Children, 2014, 100’, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Jaro Vojtek

Song Of Songs, 2015, 75’, Ukraine, Eva Neymann

Chronic, 2015, 93’, Mexico, France, Michel Franco

Paulina, 2015, 103’, Argentina, Brazil, France, Santiago Mitre

The Here After, 2015, 102, Sweden, Poland, France, Magnus von Horn

Rising Voices, 2015, 90’, Belgium, Bénédicte Liénard & Mary Jimenez

Last Cab To Darwin, 2015, 123’, Australia, Jeremy Sims

Land Of Mine, 2015, 100’, Denmark, Germany, Martin Pieter Zandvliet

Stranger, 2015, 105’, Kazakhstan, Yermek Tursunov

Astragal, 2015, 96’, France, Brigitte Sy

7 Chinese Brothers, 2015, 76’, USA, Bob Byington

A Very Ordinary Citizen, 2015, 100’, Iran, Czech Republic, Majid Barzegar

The Long Way Home, 2014, 91’, Spain, Sergi Pérez

Drifters, 2015, 92’, Sweden, Peter Grönlund

Tikkun, 2015, 120’, Israel, Avishai Sivan

Me And Earl And The Dying Girl, 2015, 105’, USA, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

One Breath, 2015, 110’, Germany, Greece, Christian Zübert 

Looking For Grace, 2015, 100’, Australia, Sue Brooks

Let Them Come, 2014, 95’, France, Algeria, Salem Brahimi

Sabali, 2015,79’, Canada, Ryan McKenna

The Diary Of A Teenage Girl, 2014, 102’, USA, Marielle Heller

Madame Courage, 2015, 90’, Algeria, France, Merzak Allouache

Louder Than Bombs, 2015, 109’, Norway, France, Denmark, Joachim Trier

French Blood, 2015, 98’, France, Diastème 

Summertime, 2015, 105’, France, Catherine Corsini

Arabian Nights, 2015, Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland, Miguel Gomes

Neon Bull, 2015, 101, Brazil, Uruguay, Netherlands, Gabriel Mascaro

Mountain, 2015, 83’, Israel, Denmark, Yaelle Kayam

Very Big Shot, 2015, 107’, Lebanon, Qatar, Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya

Eva Doesn΄t Sleep, 2015, 85’, France, Argentina, Spain, Pablo Aguero

Light Years, 2015, 85’, United Kingdom, Esther May Campbell

 

The Treasure, 2015, 89’, Romania, France, Corneliu Porumboiu

Francofonia, 2015, 90’, France, Germany, Netherlands, Aleksandr Sokurov

Cemetery Of Splendour, 2015, 122’, Thailand, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Malaysia, Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Son Of Saul, 2015, 107’, Hungary, László Nemes

Fever At Dawn, 2015, 110’, Hungary, Sweden, Israel, Péter Gárdos

Taxi, 2015, 82’, Iran, Jafar Panahi

In The Shadow Of Women, 2015, 73’, France, Switzerland, Philippe Garrel

An, 2015, 113’, Japan, France, Germany, Naomi Kawase

Our Little Sister, 2015, 128’, Japan, Hirokazu Kore-eda

 

The Project Of The Century, 2015, 100’, Argentina, Cuba, Germany, Switzerland, Carlos M. Quintela

Hopefuls, 2015, 71’, Brazil, Ives Rosenfeld

Mirinda, Where There Is Shade, 2015, 105’, France,Nathan Nicholovitch

Lost And Beautiful, 2015, 87’, Italy, Pietro Marcello

Sam Klemke΄s Time Machine, 2015, 94’, Australia, USA, Matthew Bate