Memories of 2009

Pheline Roggan - one of the stars of Soul Kitchen, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken at the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival on the opening night. Great party.

Portraits from the last day of the Thessaloniki Film Festival

Portraits from the last day of the Thessaloniki Film Festival, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

50th Thessaloniki Film Festival 2009

Werner Herzog - Wild Blue Yonder

Werner Herzog - Wild Blue Yonder, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

German director, Werner Herzog at the 50th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

Werner Herzog at the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival

Werner Herzog, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Veteren German film maker, Werner Herzog was in Greece today to accept a Golden Alexander award at the 50th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

Herzog, director of 53 movies and documentaries such as Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, The Wrath of God and Wild Blue Yonder will also be holding a masterclass tomorrow as part of the Greece's most prestigious film event.

More photos on Demotix.com

Shadow of Ourselves

Shadows, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Urban Screen project at the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival

Urban Screen project at the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The Urban Screen project outside the Olympion cinema in Thessaloniki. Part of the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Jane Birkin

Jane Berkin, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Although Birkin arrived over an hour late she quickly won over the restive audience when it turned out that her luggage had been lost somewhere in Athens airport and that she was wearing dress given by a festival volunteer who'd literally given her the clothes off their back. The British born actress, most famous for her collaborations with French film maker and song writer, Serge Gainsbourg was attending the 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival to receive a life time achievement award and present her latest film, 36 vues du Pic Saint Loup directed by Jacques Rivette

Dionysis Fotopoulos

Dionysis Fotopoulos , originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Dionysios Fotopoulos, the award winning set designer was in Thessaloniki last night to open a new exhibition of his work hosted by the city's museum of cinematography. The exhibition which is part of 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival will continue until until December.

Greece's film festival opens with glamour, politics and protests

Amidst boycotts, rows over funding and worries over the future of cinema as a whole the 50th Thessaloniki film festival opened last night bringing a touch of silver screen glamour to the northern port city of Thessaloniki.

However, ongoing disputes of how the Greek government's funds the country's movie maκing industry have meant that most local films have nor been entered for competition this year. The protest by a group calling itself Film Makers in the Mist made up many of the country's leading directors was organised in order to demand more transparency over how money raised through taxation on cinema tickets is spent by the government.

Recently elected Pavlos Geroulanos, minister for culture and tourism however, used his speech in the opening ceremony to launch a thinly veiled attack on the previous government's funding policies which he said discouraged pluralism and had helped create a culture of silence and complicity.

In addition to local concerns this year's festival slogan, "Why Cinema?" reflects deeper worries within the European film industry over what the future holds for movies in an era in which new technologies are sweeping away older certainties.

Despite these concerns Greece's largest movie event started off confidently with Soul Kitchen, the work of leading Turkish director Fatih Akin who was later to be seen manning the decks as he DJed the first night party which only finished towards dawn.

The festival which lasts till 22nd November will feature hundreds of full length features, shorts and documentaries as well as a number of concerts, street performances and master classes by film makers such as the veteran German director, Werner Herzog.

For more photographs see Demotix.

50th Thessaloniki Film Festival - opening night

50th Thessaloniki Film Festival - opening night, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Managed to get crash the Thessaloniki Film Festival twice last night and had a great time, didn't get home to way past my bedtime. As you can see from the photo the opening day party last night was enjoyed by all.

50th Thessaloniki Film Festival

The 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival opens tomorrow and click here to see the program in English and here to see it in Greek. My pictures below from previous film festivals.