“If These Stones May Talk”, by Palestinian director Hana Elias, which follows the return of a Palestinian to his homeland to restore his family’s ancestral garden, and “Mailin”, by Argentine filmmaker María Silvia Esteve, the painful struggle of a woman to overcome her childhood trauma, received top honors at the Thessaloniki Documentary Pageant commercial awards ceremony on Wednesday night.
During an emotionally charged conclusion to the Agora strand of the contest, in which several filmmakers expressed their strident support for Palestine and called for a ceasefire to the war between Israel and Hamas that has raged for more than five months in Gaza, a tearful Elias took the decision. stage alongside producer Asmahan Bkerat to receive the biggest prize on the Agora discussion board, a €10,000 ($10,900) cash prize from the Worldwide Rising Movie Skills Assn. (IEFTA).
“This movie has been happening for a long time and there is no hope now. But we are very grateful for this award,” she said. “We are grateful to everyone we know here and want to see more Palestinian voices in moments like this. We want everyone to have opportunities to come back and tell their stories. The Palestinians are the ones who should tell their stories now.
“I also want to remind everyone to remember this film, in this devastating time, as we are seeing people actually being ethnically cleansed and forced from their land and killed in… hundreds, we have to keep in mind the beauty of the land that we’re trying to protect and the land we’re trying to maintain. The olive tree that can be burned,” she continued. “This film is saying we love these olive trees. There is a purpose for us to cry over them. There is a reason why we will not allow them to leave. And I hope that happens in this film. And with this award, we will make that happen.”
The director’s debut feature, “If These Stones May Talk” is a deeply personal journey that follows Elijah’s father and his family as they return to their Palestinian hometown of Shefa’Amr, where they work to restore their land and build a home in a search for belonging. There they begin to make use of agrarian practices that have existed for hundreds of years, cultivating a yard that the director calls a testament to Palestinian firmness.
Describing the documentary as “an urgent story that must be defended”, the jury said in its statement: “Discovering where to live, discovering where you belong and what that means to you, is a basic human need. By caring for your homeland, you care for your loved ones and care for those who are suitable for your home. With warmth and authenticity, this project intimately portrays a family’s relationship with each other and their land.
The biggest prize in the Docs in Progress section, both | The 35th Put Up-Manufacturing Company Award in post-production companies went to “Mailin,” by writer-director-producer Esteve, whose previous documentary, “Silvia,” premiered at IDFA in 2018. The film uses a 2D animation collage and domestic archives to tell the story of a woman who suffered abuse for 15 years at the hands of a priest who was arrested and later released. Now fully grown, she rises from her pain to rewrite her story and teach her daughter the power of new beginnings.
He was visibly moved and appeared with producer Alejandra López just to receive the award. “I am so grateful for this film, because through it, I got to know this incredible woman who taught me that no matter the scale of injustice that is committed, no matter how horrible the world we live in, and no matter the price of moving forward , we just have to talk,” she said. “We have to move forward and talk about change. We have to change things, because that’s the only reason we exist.”
Praising his director for “recognizing the importance of breaking the silence,” López said: “Let’s all break the silence. We will not remain silent. Let’s scream and use every platform we have to call for an eternal ceasefire, to call for justice.”
“Mailin” by María Silvia Esteve won top prize in the Docs in Progress section.
Courtesy of Hana Films
The ceremony capped an emotional week in Thessaloniki, which was rocked first by a horrific attack on a transgender couple, then by far-right threats to the premiere of Greek filmmaker Elina Psykou’s documentary “Stray Ourbodys,” which forced local authorities to ban protests in the city. -wide.
The pageant administration was forced to defend itself against protests from political and religious figures over the film’s provocative poster, which depicts a bare-breasted pregnant woman nailed to a cross. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian filmmakers and supporters made numerous interventions throughout the week, with several calling out competition for not taking a stronger role in the war in Gaza.
Opening the awards ceremony, the competition’s basic director, Elise Jalladeau, made an emphatic statement on behalf of her team’s dedication to creating an open and inclusive space for dialogue.
“Our goal is to ensure that professionals can exchange ideas and work in a protected place, a caring space, to encourage dialogue and hear all voices, wherever they come from,” she said. “Once again, we reject all forms of exclusion and intolerance, all acts of hatred and violence, (and stand) steadfastly against war and division, against bloodshed and the massacre of harmless civilians. We want to remain a point of unity and will always stand up for peace, coexistence, understanding and overcoming differences.”
Here is the full list of Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Agora award winners:
Onassis Film Award: “Black Waters”, Marianna Saved
Thessaloniki Pitching Panel Discussion Awards
IEFTA Award for Biggest Growing Documentary: “If These Stones Can Argue”, Hana Elias
ERT – Thessaloniki Pitch Discussion Forum Award: “Survivors”, Nina-Maria Paschalidou, Maria Louka
Eurodoc Award: “Screams from the Mountain”, Lavinia Xausa
Aylon Productions Digital Provider Award: “Women’s Residence Tour,” Stephanie Andreou
Beldocs Networking Award: “Lake,” Nikos Ziogas
Mediterranean Movie Institute Doc Award: “Why the hell am I so unhappy?” Nela Märki
DOK Leipzig Accelerator Award: “Kafka in Belgrade,” Maša Nešković
Sunny Facet of Doc Award: “Lake,” Nikos Ziogas
Documents in Progress Awards
2|35 Main Post Production Award: “Mailin,” Maria Silvia Esteve
Estúdios 119 Marvila Award: “Fear not Sari!” Haragonian Sari
Greek Film Heart Award: “The Secrets and Techniques of the Owl,” Eirini Vourloumis
Neaniko Plano Subtitling Award: “I’m glad you’re here,” Lucas Habte
Agora Lab Awards
United Crew Award: Smaro Papaevangelou
Direction Award: “Exile(s)”, Giorgos Iliopoulo
The Thessaloniki Documentary Competition takes place from March 7th to 17th.