The Thessaloniki Film Festival announced its competition winners across three sections, with Jacqueline Lentzou’s “A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra” receiving the top prize in the Arrivals category. The film, which previously won best director honors at the Venice Film Festival’s Horizons strand, has circulated through several major festivals including New York, London, and Busan. The feature centers on a 15-year-old protagonist navigating an ordinary day that transforms following an encounter with a classmate, drawing inspiration from real events. Lentzou’s work earned multiple recognitions at the festival, including a special mention for supporting actress Evia Andriopoulou.
In the Arrivals section, French filmmakers Pauline Julier and Nicolas Chapoulier received the Silver Alexander for best director for their Venice Days premiere “Les Indes,” a historical drama set in 1652 following men transporting a painting across war-torn Europe. Acting honors went to Brazilian film “The Riverbank” and Japanese feature “Titanic Ocean,” which received recognition for performances by its leads and supporting players respectively.
The Meet the Neighbors+ competition, dedicated to films from Southeastern Europe, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern nations, awarded its Golden Alexander to Kosovan filmmaker Blerta Basholli for “Dua,” a coming-of-age narrative centered on a young girl amid conflict. Palestinian-themed “Chronicles From the Siege” secured the Silver Alexander for directing. French production “Flesh and Fuel,” about long-distance truck drivers, garnered acting and screenplay recognition at both Thessaloniki and the earlier Zurich Film Festival.
The Film Forward section, highlighting experimental and innovative approaches, presented its top award to “I Plant My Hand in the Garden” by Hoda Taheri and Boris Hadžija, while Rob Rice’s “Ponderosa” received the Silver Alexander distinction. Additional accolades distributed across the section recognized achievements in artistic direction and acting performances.
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