Thessaloniki — for those who have visited, it’s the city of good living: of sunlight and sea breeze, of streets that never seem to sleep, of music echoing through its alleys and tables overflowing with food you’ve never tried but instantly trust. To all these pleasures, add one more: the Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), the annual celebration that transforms the city into the beating heart of cinema. From October 30 to November 9, 2025, Thessaloniki becomes the place to be.

This year, TIFF lights up the city’s iconic venues — Olympion and Pavlos Zannas cinemas on Aristotelous Square, as well as the beloved Port warehouses (Frida Liappa, Tonia Marketaki, John Cassavetes, Stavros Tornes) and the Makedonikon cinema. Audiences can enjoy 278 films, while for those who can’t make it in person, 86 films will also be available online through the Festival’s digital platform: online.filmfestival.gr.

Thessaloniki’s iconic Olympion movie theater located at Aristotelous square.

Stars, Visionaries, and Masterclasses

The 66th TIFF welcomes an impressive lineup of international and Greek filmmakers, actors, and artists, many of whom will share their craft through free masterclasses.

The Festival will pay tribute to Isabelle Huppert, the acclaimed French actress and one of cinema’s most daring performers. Ranked second on The New York Times list of the greatest actors of the 21st century, Huppert will be honored with screenings of 15 films from her illustrious career and will offer a masterclass exploring the parallels between acting for stage and screen.

French actress Isabelle Huppert is considered one of the greatest actresses of her generation and of all time.

Greek filmmaker Yorgos Tsemberopoulos, recipient of this year’s Honorary Golden Alexander, will discuss how he merges with his characters — professional or amateur — to create nuanced, living cinematic figures.

Renowned cinematographer Frederick Elmes, a long-time collaborator of Jim Jarmusch and David Lynch, will delve into how visual language and aesthetics give films their unique soul.

Other masterclasses feature Saverio Costanzo, on adapting literature for the screen; top casting directors Tanja Grunwald, Yngvill Kolset Haga, and Lucinda Syson, on the subtle art of casting; and Catherine George, on how costumes become narrative anchors. Screenwriter Nikos Panayotopoulos will explore the magic of the plot twist, while stunt experts Sotiris Kraniotis and Kris Radanov will introduce audiences to the demanding craft of cinematic action.

All masterclasses are held in English with free admission, on a first-come-first-served basis. For more info on the TIFF’s Masterclasses please go here.

Jarmusch Opens, Greek-Hungarian-German Film Wraps Up

This year’s festival opens with Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, winner of the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. The screening will take place in the presence of Indya Moore, the acclaimed model and actor named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2019. Jarmusch’s latest comedy-drama anthology follows estranged siblings who reunite after years apart, confronting old tensions and unresolved family ties.

Still frame from “Father Mother Sister Brother” (2025) by Jim Jarmusch. Credit: Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

TIFF will close on November 9 with Hen by György Pálfi, a Greek-Hungarian-German co-production that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival to great acclaim. The film tells the story of a hen determined to raise a family while a human tragedy quietly unfolds in the background.

Greek Cinema Shines Bright

Greek filmmaking takes center stage with 62 national entries — 32 feature films and 30 shorts — 29 of which will premiere in the sections First Run and Crossing Borders. Nine Greek films will also compete in the Festival’s main competitions.

Still frame from Krysianna Papadakis and Stergios Dinopoulos feature film “Bearcave” that takes part in the International Competition section.

A special event will present Electra7, a bold cinematic relay inspired by Sophocles’ Electra and directed by seven distinguished Greek filmmakers: Sofia Exarchou, Christina Ioakeimidi, Babis Makridis, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Elina Psykou, Alexandros Voulgaris (The Boy), and Neritan Zinxhiria. Produced by the Athens Epidaurus Festival in collaboration with the Hellenic Film Academy and supported by PPC, this ambitious project promises a unique collective vision.

Award-winning short films from the 48th Drama International Short Film Festival will also be screened.

Tributes and Special Screenings

This year’s program is rich in retrospectives and thematic tributes.

“Plot Twist: Beyond the Sixth Sense” explores the art of the narrative twist — one of cinema’s most beloved storytelling devices — through a subversive selection of films from 1976 to 2025.

A tribute to the actors of the 1960s, organized in collaboration with Finos Film, will honor legendary performers who defined an era of Greek cinema. The awards ceremony will take place on November 3.

The Festival also celebrates the visionary duo Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani, presenting their complete filmography and hosting them in person for discussions with the audience.

Another spotlight focuses on Marcel Pagnol, one of France’s most beloved auteurs — filmmaker, playwright, and novelist — whose body of work shaped 20th-century French culture.

Finally, a politically charged tribute, Fragilities, examines the limits of human endurance and the cracks within social structures, featured in the Meet the Neighbors+ competition’s Survey Expanded section.

Still frame from the movie “All That’s Left of You” (Germany-Cuprus-Palestine-Jordan-Greece-Saudi Arabia, 2025) , directed by Cherien Dabis. The film is featured as part of the Fragilities tribute.

Competitions and Awards

The 66th TIFF unfolds across four international competition sections, each celebrating daring new voices in world cinema:

• International Competition: 12 films, including three Greek entries, compete for the Golden Alexander “Theo Angelopoulos” (€10,000) and Silver Alexander for Best Director (€5,000, offered by COSMOTE TV), along with awards for acting and screenplay/artistic achievement.
• Meet the Neighbors+: 12 films, three from Greece, vie for the Golden Alexander “Michel Dimopoulos” (€10,000) and the Silver Alexander – City of Thessaloniki Award (€5,000).
• Film Forward: Showcasing bold new filmmakers with the Golden Alexander (€8,000) and Silver Alexander – Special Jury Award (€4,000).
• Immersive Competition: 8 innovative works competing for the Golden Alexander (€2,000), complemented by Drinking Brecht, an experimental multimedia installation by Sister Sylvester.

Useful Information

For screenings and daily program go here.

For the film catalogue please go here.

Tickets can be purchased in this link.

Online screenings: online.filmfestival.gr