Beyond Borders travels to Athens 2026!
For the fourth consecutive year, Beyond Borders Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival returns to Athens, bringing award-winning documentaries and masterclasses by leading international professionals to audiences in an exciting three-day event.
From Friday, March 27 through Sunday, March 29 2026, the Greek Film Archive (48 Iera Odos & 134–136 Meg. Alexandrou St., Kerameikos Metro Station) will host a powerful selection of films that shed revealing light on key aspects of history and contemporary society from around the world.
All screenings and activities are free to the public and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alongside the screenings, the festival will host a preliminary working session for the launch of its new Co-Production Development Forum, under the guidance of internationally acclaimed strategist Rudy Buttignol C.M , as well as a masterclass on the art of pitching led by Dr. Claudia Schreiner, Head Moderator of the Beyond Borders Pitching Lab and former Head of the Masterschool at Documentary Campus (Berlin & Munich), bringing extensive experience in the international documentary field.
As stated by Irini Sarioglou, Artistic Director of the Festival:
“Beyond Borders is far more than a festival organized on an island. It is a platform for the free and ongoing circulation of ideas, creativity, uninhibited expression and coexistence—extending beyond specific spatial and temporal boundaries. Our mission is to create the most fertile conditions both for the presentation of work by established and emerging filmmakers from Greece and abroad—often overlooked elsewhere—and for the development of new ideas, collaborations and productions, professional networking and direct audience engagement. In this direction, we work tirelessly so that this handmade festival continues to transcend borders—and even itself—growing on ever more meaningful and significant levels.”
About the Co-Production Development Forum
During its 11th edition (August 23–30, 2026), Beyond Borders will launch a Co-Production Development Forum, a pilot initiative designed to support film professionals in securing international funding and connecting Greek documentary projects with global audiences.
Participants selected for the Kastellorizo Forum will benefit from in-depth professional guidance and have the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with European and international commissioning editors and streaming platforms, which will be officially announced during the Athens event.
Preparatory Meeting with Rudy Buttignol
Friday, March 27, 2026 | 17:00–18:30 | Greek Film Archive
To ensure that this initiative responds effectively to the real needs of the Greek independent production community, directors, producers and industry professionals are invited to contribute their insights during a dedicated professional session (17:00–18:00), followed by a 30-minute open discussion.
From 18:30 to 19:30, participants are invited to a Networking Grab & Meet in the foyer of the Greek Film Archive, prior to the evening screenings.
The Forum will be guided by Rudy Buttignol, internationally respected media executive and Senior Advisor for Strategy & International Outreach of Beyond Borders, bringing decades of experience in public broadcasting, international co-productions and documentary development.
This meeting marks the first step toward shaping a new development framework aimed at strengthening international visibility, creative exchange and sustainable production for Greek independent documentary filmmaking.
Registration is mandatory and you can register HERE.
Masterclass: “Pitch It!” with Dr. Claudia Schreiner
Saturday, March 28 | 18:00–19:00
Dr. Claudia Schreiner will share her extensive expertise and guide participants through the key elements of a successful Pitching Lab presentation: concept, storytelling structure, audience positioning, market awareness, financing strategies and delivery techniques.
Registration is mandatory and you can register HERE.
You can find the online programme HERE.
You can find the promotional video of the event HERE.
Highlights from the 2025 Festival week in Kastellorizo are available HERE and film stills can be found HERE.
Watch the video celebrating 10 Years of the Festival HERE.
Organized by the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME).
The screenings and masterclasses in Athens will take place at the Greek Film Archive (48 Iera Odos & 134–136 Meg. Alexandrou St., Kerameikos metro station).
Free admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, please visit: www.beyondborders.gr
PROGRAMME
Friday, March 27
• Opening Welcome, 19:30–19:45
• Lo (Golden Wreath of Megisti – Grand Prix & Odysseas Award), by Thanasis Vasileiou, 19:45–20:55
• Q&A with screenwriter and author Christos Chryssopoulos (15’)
• The Longer You Bleed by Ewan Waddell (FIPRESCI Award), Greek Premiere, 21:10–22:15
• My Land is Burned by Abdulrahman Alshowaiki (Bronze Phoenix μicro), Greek Premiere, 22:15–22:45
Saturday, March 28
• Sculpted Souls by Stavros Psillakis (EKKOMED Award for Best Greek Documentary), 19:30–21:00
• Q&A with director Stavros Psillakis (15’)
• Letters from Wolf Street by Arjun Talwar (Silver Wreath of Megisti), Greek Premiere, 21:15–22:55
• Simply Divine by Mélody Boulissière & Bogdan Stamatin (Silver Phoenix μicro), 23:00–23:15
Sunday, March 29
• The Lost Season by Mehdi Ghanavati (Bronze Wreath of Megisti), International Premiere, 19:30–20:35
• Clear Sky by Marcin Kundera (Gold Phoenix μicro), Greek Premiere, 20:35–20:55
• Closing Remarks, 21:00
FILM DESCRIPTIONS
Lo
Thanasis Vasileiou | Greece | 2025 | 70’
One year after his mother’s death, the director returns to the now-empty apartment of his childhood in Athens to confront a difficult inheritance. From the bare surfaces of the house emerge fragments of family memory, intertwining personal history with the collective trauma of the Greek military dictatorship.
The Longer You Bleed
Ewan Waddell | Ukraine | 2025 | 65’ | Greek Premiere
A personal documentary following displaced Ukrainians in Berlin as they grapple with the traumatic paradox of watching their homeland burn in real time through Instagram pixels. As emotional distance grows, absurdist humor emerges as a survival mechanism, through which the film critiques post-industrial society’s processing of trauma.
My Land is Burned
Abdulrahman Alshowaiki | Belgium | 2024 | 30’ | Greek Premiere
Set in Arsal, Lebanon, the film reveals the multifaceted challenges faced by Syrian refugee children and their families. Amid hardship, the quiet acts of hope by a compassionate teacher echo the bold desire for a brighter future.
Sculpted Souls
Stavros Psillakis | Greece | 2025 | 90’
For 26 years, Swiss dentist Julien Grivel traveled twice annually to Athens to treat former leprosy patients free of charge. His friendship with former patient Manolis Fountoulakis became transformative, embodying the belief that hardship can beautifully sculpt the human soul.
Letters from Wolf Street
Arjun Talwar | Poland | 2023 | 97’ | Greek Premiere
A sharp and intimate portrait of Poland through the eyes of a migrant filmmaker documenting life on a central Warsaw street. Exploring belonging, alienation and identity, the film offers a nuanced reflection on contemporary Europe.
Simply Divine
Mélody Boulissière & Bogdan Stamatin | France | 2024 | 14’
Romania, 1939. A love story begins before being torn apart by war. In 2014, 91-year-old Noucha recounts the secrets of a forgotten era. What remains of love three-quarters of a century later?
The Lost Season
Mehdi Ghanavati | Iran | 2024 | 63’ | Greek Premiere
In drought-stricken Sistan, teenage Kosar dreams of attending university, defying traditions that expect her early marriage. As dust storms intensify and Lake Hamoun dries up, her aspirations seem increasingly distant.
Clear Sky
Marcin Kundera | Poland | 2024 | 21’ | Greek Premiere
Wowa and Roma wander through Kramatorsk, Ukraine, savoring the last days of summer. War hums in the background, shaping a childhood never truly carefree, as they attempt to live under a sky shadowed by conflict.
For promotional video, stills, and additional material, please visit the official links provided on the festival website.