Overview
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival is Greece's leading international film festival and a FIAPF Competitive Specialised event. The 67th edition runs November 5 to 15, 2026, in Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city. The festival focuses on first and second features from emerging directors worldwide, making it one of the most important discovery platforms for new filmmaking talent in Europe. The festival also operates the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TiDF) as a separate event.
The 66th edition (October 30 to November 9, 2025) awarded three Golden Alexander prizes across its competition sections. The "Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos" Award for Best Film in the International Competition went to "Cotton Queen" directed by Suzannah Mirghani. The "Golden Alexander - Michel Dimopoulos" Award in the Meet the Neighbors+ section went to "The Last One for the Chop" by Francesco Sossai. The Film Forward Golden Alexander was awarded to "1001 Frames" by Mehrnoush Alia.
The festival's industry arm, the AGORA, runs the Crossroads Co-Production Forum, which selects 14 projects from 16 countries each year and connects them with financiers, co-producers, and sales agents over a 4-day event. Cash awards at the Crossroads Forum total over EUR 27,000, including the Onassis Film Award (EUR 10,000) and the CNC Award (EUR 8,000). The 67th edition's submission deadline is July 17, 2026, with early-bird submissions at EUR 40 until May 31, 2026.
Submission Details
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival accepts submissions through its official online form. Key details for the 67th edition (2026):
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Early-Bird Deadline | May 31, 2026 |
| Regular Deadline | July 17, 2026 |
| Early-Bird Fee | EUR 40 per submission |
| Regular Fee | EUR 60 per submission |
| Immersive/XR Deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Immersive/XR Fee | Free |
| Festival Dates | November 5 to 15, 2026 |
| Premiere Requirement | National (Greek premiere) |
| Focus | First or second features |
| Greek Film Submissions | Open in June 2026 |
The early-bird fee of EUR 40 represents a EUR 20 saving compared to the regular fee. Immersive and XR project submissions are free of charge with a deadline of August 31, 2026. Greek film submissions open separately in June 2026. The festival requires a national (Greek) premiere for competition films.
Key Sections
- International Competition - first and second features from emerging directors worldwide, competing for the Golden Alexander. The 66th edition's International Competition Golden Alexander went to "Cotton Queen" (dir. Suzannah Mirghani)
- Meet the Neighbors+ - films from Southeastern Europe and the Mediterranean region, competing for the "Golden Alexander - Michel Dimopoulos" Award. The 66th edition winner was "The Last One for the Chop" (dir. Francesco Sossai)
- Film Forward - formally adventurous cinema, competing for the Film Forward Golden Alexander. The 66th edition winner was "1001 Frames" (dir. Mehrnoush Alia)
- Greek Films - new Greek cinema, with awards for Best Greek Film and other categories
- Short Film Programs - curated short film selections
Awards / Accreditation
International Competition
- Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos - Best Film in the International Competition. The Golden Alexander is accompanied by a cash prize and qualifies the winning film for Academy Award consideration
- Silver Alexander - Special Jury Prize
- Best Director
- Best Actress and Best Actor
- Best Screenplay
- FIPRESCI Prize - awarded by international critics
- Audience Award - voted by festival audiences
Meet the Neighbors+
- Golden Alexander - Michel Dimopoulos - Best Film in the Meet the Neighbors+ section
Film Forward
- Film Forward Golden Alexander - Best Film in the Film Forward section
Academy Award Qualifying Status
The Golden Alexander winner in the International Competition is automatically eligible to submit for Academy Awards consideration in the Documentary Feature category, provided the film complies with Academy rules. The Thessaloniki Documentary Festival's Golden Alexander winner also qualifies for Academy Award consideration in the Documentary Feature category.
AGORA: Crossroads Co-Production Forum
The Crossroads Co-Production Forum is the festival's industry platform, selecting projects in development with a connection to the Mediterranean regions and Southeastern Europe. The forum runs over 4 days during the festival, connecting selected projects with a network of financiers, co-producers, and industry specialists from around the world.
The 2025 Crossroads Co-Production Forum selected 14 projects from 16 countries, including projects from Spain, Albania, Tunisia, Poland, and Greece. The jury consisted of Frank Hoeve (BALDR Film, Netherlands), Uljana Kim (Studio Uljana Kim, Lithuania), and Andreas Zoupanos Kritikos (Faliro House, Greece), with Mathilde Hersant (ARTE France Cinema, France) as the ArteKino International Award juror.
Crossroads Co-Production Forum Awards
Jury Awards:
- CNC Award (Centre national du cinema et de l'image animee) - EUR 8,000 for script development
- ArteKino International Award - EUR 6,000
- Finos Film Award - EUR 3,000 to a Greek project
- Producers' Network - Marche du Film Award - free accreditation to Cannes Marche du Film Producers' Network
- MIDPOINT Consulting Award - in-depth online script consultancy with a MIDPOINT Institute expert
- Two Thirty-Five (2|35) Award - post-production image services
Independent Awards:
- Onassis Film Award - EUR 10,000 to a Greek project participating in the Crossroads Co-Production Forum or AGORA Works in Progress
- Greener Screen Consultancy Award - sustainability script and production consultancy
- Sofia Meetings of the Sofia IFF Award - project selection at Sofia Meetings
- Mediterranean Film Institute - George Kalogeropoulos Award - Script 2 Film Workshops scholarship
- THESSALONIKI EAVE Marketing Workshop Scholarship - scholarship to one participant
The total cash awards available at the Crossroads Co-Production Forum exceed EUR 27,000, with the Onassis Film Award (EUR 10,000) and CNC Award (EUR 8,000) being the largest individual prizes.
Past Winners
Recent Golden Alexander winners in the International Competition:
- 2025 (66th edition): Cotton Queen (dir. Suzannah Mirghani, Sudan/Germany/France/Palestine/Egypt/Qatar/Saudi Arabia). Won the Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos and EUR 10,000. The film premiered at Venice Critics' Week and was distributed by MAD Solutions in the Middle East, with theatrical releases in Germany (Jip Film) and France (Wayna Pitch). It also won the TV5 Monde Award at Carthage Film Festival and the Audience Award at Doha Film Festival.
- 2024 (65th edition): Happy Holidays (dir. Scandar Copti, Palestine/Germany/France/Italy/Qatar). Won the Golden Alexander - Theo Angelopoulos. The film premiered at Venice Horizons (winning Best Screenplay) and was distributed by Film Movement in the US (theatrical December 2025, streaming March 2026). Copti previously won the Golden Alexander in 2009 for Ajami, which went on to an Academy Award nomination.
- 2024 Film Forward winner: Universal Language (dir. Matthew Rankin, Canada). Won the Film Forward Golden Alexander. The film premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight (winning the inaugural Audience Award) and was distributed by Oscilloscope Laboratories in the US (February 2025). It was Canada's Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film.
- 2023 (64th edition): Animal (dir. Sofia Exarchou, Greece/Austria/Romania/Cyprus/Bulgaria). Won the Golden Alexander, the first Greek film to take the top prize in 30 years. The film premiered at Locarno and was distributed by Shellac in France. Lead actress Dimitra Vlagopoulou won the acting award at Locarno.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- Ajami (dir. Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, 2009) - won the Golden Alexander at the 50th TIFF. Went on to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (Israel's submission). Distributed by Kino International in the US. The film brought over 200,000 viewers to cinemas in Israel.
- The Last Taxi Driver (dir. Stergios Paschos, 2023) - premiered at TIFF and won the Best Actor award for Kostas Koronaios. The film was part of the Greek film showcase that attracts domestic distributors and critics.
- Riviera (dir. Orfeas Peretzis, 2025) - swept multiple awards at the 66th TIFF including FIPRESCI for best Greek film and the ERT Award. The film represents the festival's role as the primary launchpad for Greek cinema internationally.
- To a Land Unknown (dir. Mahdi Fleifel, 2024) - screened at TIFF 2024 and won the Audience Award. The film premiered at Cannes Directors' Fortnight (winning the SACD Prize) and was distributed by Watermelon Pictures in the US (2025). Lead actor Mahmood Bakri won Best Actor at TIFF.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
Thessaloniki's International Competition is restricted to first and second features, which means the festival is actively looking for emerging directorial voices rather than established names. If your film is a debut or sophomore feature with a strong authorial signature, this is one of the most receptive competitive festivals in Europe. The Meet the Neighbors+ section specifically targets films from Southeastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East, so films from or connected to these regions have a dedicated competition pathway.
The Film Forward section rewards formally adventurous cinema, so experimental or hybrid works that might not fit traditional competition sections should consider this strand. The festival's November timing means it functions as a late-fall discovery platform, so films that premiered at Venice, Toronto, or San Sebastian but did not secure distribution can find a second wind here. For Greek filmmakers, the separate Greek film submission process (opening June 2026) is the primary domestic industry platform, and the Best Greek Film award carries real weight with Greek distributors and broadcasters.
Industry Reputation Notes
Thessaloniki is regarded as a discovery festival rather than an acquisitions market. Sales agents attend to identify emerging talent, but the festival does not generate the volume of distribution deals seen at Toronto or Berlin. Its industry reputation rests on the Crossroads Co-Production Forum, which is considered one of the most accessible co-production markets in Southern Europe. Compared to Karlovy Vary (a peer FIAPF Competitive Specialised festival), Thessaloniki has a stronger focus on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cinema and a more targeted emerging-director mandate. Compared to Sarajevo (another Southeast European festival), Thessaloniki has a larger international competition scope and a more developed co-production market. The festival is particularly well-regarded by FIPRESCI jurors and international critics who treat it as a reliable indicator of new talent.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Thessaloniki's focus on first and second features makes it one of the most targeted festivals for debut filmmakers worldwide. The International Competition is specifically structured around emerging directors, and a selection here provides exposure to an international programming community that treats the festival as a discovery mechanism. The Golden Alexander winner qualifies for Academy Award consideration, which is a significant advantage for documentary filmmakers in particular.
The submission fee structure is straightforward: EUR 40 early-bird (by May 31, 2026) or EUR 60 regular (by July 17, 2026). The EUR 20 savings for early submission is meaningful, especially for filmmakers submitting multiple projects. Immersive and XR projects can be submitted for free with a later deadline of August 31, 2026.
For producers working in the Mediterranean and Southeast European regions, the Crossroads Co-Production Forum is one of the most accessible co-production markets in Europe. The EUR 10,000 Onassis Film Award (restricted to Greek projects) and the EUR 8,000 CNC Award (open to all selected projects) are substantial development grants. The forum's 4-day format provides structured pitching opportunities with pre-arranged meetings, and the market's connection to ARTE France Cinema through the ArteKino Award provides a direct pathway to one of Europe's most important arthouse broadcasters.
The festival's November timing places it after the major fall festivals (Venice, Toronto, San Sebastian) and before the winter festival circuit, making it a viable premiere option for films that missed earlier deadlines. The 10-day festival length provides ample screening and networking time. Thessaloniki itself is Greece's cultural capital, with a significant student population and active film culture.
Greek filmmakers should note that Greek film submissions open separately in June 2026, with different deadlines and processes. The festival is the most important platform for Greek cinema internationally, and the Best Greek Film award carries significant domestic industry weight.
Festival History
The Thessaloniki International Film Festival was founded in 1960, originally as a Greek national film festival focused on domestic cinema. The festival operated continuously through Greece's political upheavals, including the military junta period (1967 to 1974), and evolved from a national showcase into an internationally recognized competitive event. The festival opened to international competition in the 1990s, repositioning itself as a discovery platform for emerging global filmmaking talent.
The Golden Alexander award, named after Alexander the Great (Thessaloniki's most famous historical figure), has been the festival's top prize throughout its history. The International Competition Golden Alexander was later named in honor of Theo Angelopoulos, the acclaimed Greek filmmaker who died in 2012. The Meet the Neighbors+ Golden Alexander was named in honor of Michel Dimopoulos, a longtime festival collaborator.
The AGORA industry platform was developed to support the festival's mission of discovering and nurturing new talent. The Crossroads Co-Production Forum has grown into one of the most important co-production markets in Southeast Europe, with projects presented at the forum regularly going on to screen at major international festivals. The festival also operates the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival (TiDF) as a separate annual event, typically held in March, with its own International Competition and Golden Alexander awards.
The festival is organized by the Thessaloniki Film Festival institution, which operates under the Greek Ministry of Culture. The festival's venues include the Olympion Theater complex, the Pavlos Zannas theater, and other screening spaces in Thessaloniki's waterfront cultural district.
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
Thessaloniki's International Competition is structured around first and second features, making it a discovery platform for emerging directors. The 66th edition (2025) awarded the Golden Alexander to Cotton Queen (dir. Suzannah Mirghani), which had its world premiere at Venice Critics' Week. The film went on to screen at more than 12 festivals worldwide and won multiple awards.
The Meet the Neighbors+ section winner, The Last One for the Road (dir. Francesco Sossai), premiered at Cannes Un Certain Regard and was acquired by Music Box Films for US distribution. The film led the David di Donatello Awards nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
The Golden Alexander winner qualifies for Academy Award consideration in the Documentary Feature category. This qualifying status gives the festival direct awards season relevance for documentary filmmakers, separate from its fiction competition focus.
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
Thessaloniki targets first and second features exclusively in its International Competition. If your film is your debut or sophomore effort, this festival is one of the most targeted submission opportunities in Europe. The submission fee is EUR 40 (Early Bird, by May 31, 2026) or EUR 60 (Regular, by July 17, 2026).
The festival requires a Greek premiere for competition films. Films that have screened previously in Greece are not eligible for competition. Submit through the official Eventival form at vp.eventival.com/thessaloniki/tiff67.
For Mediterranean and Southeast European producers, the Crossroads Co-Production Forum is a separate submission. The forum selects 14 projects from 16 countries and connects them with financiers over 4 days. The EUR 10,000 Onassis Film Award is restricted to Greek projects, while the EUR 8,000 CNC Award is open to all selected projects.
Immersive and XR projects can be submitted for free with a deadline of August 31, 2026. This is a newer category that reflects the festival's expansion beyond traditional cinema.
Industry Reputation Notes
The industry treats Thessaloniki as the most important discovery festival for first and second features in Southeast Europe. Its FIAPF Competitive Specialised accreditation and November timing place it after the major fall festivals and before the winter circuit. The 66th edition attracted 92,000 attendees.
Compared to the Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF), Thessaloniki has a stronger industry infrastructure. The Crossroads Co-Production Forum is one of the most accessible co-production markets in the Mediterranean region. TIFF has a more public-facing atmosphere with outdoor screenings, while Thessaloniki offers deeper industry programming.
The festival's connection to ARTE France Cinema through the ArteKino Award provides a direct pathway to European arthouse broadcasting. This relationship distinguishes Thessaloniki from peer festivals that lack equivalent broadcaster partnerships.
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See Also
Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. Estimate your acceptance probability with the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For festival circuit strategy and planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For understanding the Mediterranean and Southeast European film market, see International Film Markets. Submit through the Thessaloniki TIFF submission form. Read about Crossroads Co-Production Forum awards.
