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47th THESSALONICA FILM FESTIVAL Written by Giannis Frangoulis Translated by Konstantinos Vassilaros

THE BEGINNING OF THE FESTIVAL

IT COMMENCED WITH DEMONSTRATIONS

The same day as the national day for the suppression of the Athens Polytechnic University in 1974, 17th of November, the Thessalonica Film Festival had its opening day. Housed at the “Olympion” Theatre, on Aristotelous Square, the first film frames from the 47th Festival Thessalonica were projected on screen and the spectators – by now fanatic supporters - the journalists and the rest of the community of the Greek Cinema and Production were all present to wish a “successful and enjoyable Festival”. Along with the pictures, some bubbles were floating in the air, passing by all the spectators, and finally settled on the screen’s curtain and when it was lifted the bubbles revealed us a silent film. After the ceremony came to an end, we soon realized that those enigmatic bubbles referred to the official sponsor of the Festival, Nokia. A minor detail that annoyed many of the people present, since it was the first time we saw the Festival be presented is such way from its sponsor, consequently selling its identity. Anyhow, we should go back to the ceremony. The opening ceremony officially began with the words of Luis Bunuel: “Cinema is a marvelous, but dangerous, weapon, when handled by a free-minded spirit. It is the best way to express ones world of dreams, emotions and instincts”. This quote was followed by most important personas from the International and Greek cinema community. An actor, it was too dark to see who it was, made some sound effects and voices. This introduction lead to the projection of a silent film made especially for the Festival, and implied that it would be wise for us to escape from the perseverance of the cinema, of the script and of the producer. The opening ceremony was arranged by director and critic, Angelos Frantzis. The two actors from the silent film, Athina Maximou and Giorgos Pyrpasopoulos surfaced out of the silver screen and presented the ceremony in flesh. Throughout their speech we noticed that they either forgot their words or without any success pretended to hesitate saying their lines. We do not know who to blame for this odd behavior. Bad guidance from the director, themselves, who knows? The head of the Festival, Despina Mouzaki, after greeting the public, stressed that “the materials of our celebration are known to everyone. They are our ideas and dreams, our agony and laughter, the people and their myths… They are the materials of the most universal, magic and open-minded art of our times. An art we all have dreamed of its enormity”. She also referred on the 17th November anniversary for the Athens Polytechnic University, as well as the Chairman of the Festival, Giorgos Chorafas, who in addition to commenting on the Anniversary, greeted us with a very personal speech. Its worth mentioning that this year Despina Mouzaki left a very good impression since she was very close to her audience and she had great communication with her public. Whatever the case may be, the opening ceremony tried to be impressive, but with many unnecessary clichés and extravagant rudiments. In my opinion a much simpler direction would help raise the Seventh Art to the greatness it deserves. Unfortunately the commenting on the 17th November anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic University was continued, so much from the Vice President for Culture of the Thessalonica Municipality (Mr. Papageorgopoulos was absent, i wonder why?) the Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, Giorgos Kalantzis, and finally by the General Secretary from the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Zachopoulos. Amidst all those speeches, only the words of Mr. Zachopoulos managed to remain in our heads, for example, his well-phrased and succinct remarks on the Greek cinema. Though, we will avoid remembering the phrase he quoted from Kazantzakis, “we that hushed then, shall hush once again”, commenting on the fatalities from the Athens Polytechnic University riots, because some people from the audience did not hush at all… Generally the words of the guest speakers reminded me of politicians’ speeches, words with no actual meaning, nothing more. Today, Saturday, the screenings of films commence, journalistic or not, we shall pick some and will report on them, and of course we shall focus on the Greek films that interest most of the Greek public wanting to find out were the Greek Cinema is heading. On this crossroad of films we shall remain until next Monday, 27th November. We have enough time until then…

COMMENCING OF THE FESTIVAL Giannis Frangoulis

THE BEGINNING OF THE FESTIVAL