Closing and Awards Ceremony of the 11th Beyond Borders
Eight days of creative documentary filmmaking, international collaborations, and culture
on the remote island of Kastellorizo.
On Sunday 30 August, the 11th edition of the Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival drew to a close with the Closing Ceremony and awards presentation. This followed eight days of screenings, creative encounters, international collaborations, and educational and cultural activities on the remote island of Kastellorizo.
With the central question “What remains once the obvious is removed?”, this year’s festival turned its attention to what is often unseen: human experiences that slip through the cracks of dominant narratives, different interpretations of history, and the power of documentary film to create space for reflection, dialogue, and genuine understanding. For eight days, Kastellorizo hosted filmmakers, film industry professionals, representatives of international television networks, organisations, and state institutions; academics; and members of the public from different corners of the world.
The 11th edition took place at a particularly challenging time. Despite significant economic challenges and drastic cuts to available resources, Beyond Borders maintained its international and independent profile. The organisation remained true to its values, insisting on the quality of the programme and its support for filmmaking. This year’s event saw 634 films submitted from 156 countries, with 42 documentaries selected for the two competition sections and 35 films screened in Kastellorizo as Greek, international or world premieres. The Main Competition Section comprised 18 medium- and feature-length films, the Micro Competition Section comprised 24 short films, and the Panorama Section presented 14 selected documentaries out of competition.
“We made it!”
Reflecting on the 11th edition of the festival, Irini Sarioglou, the President of the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) and Artistic Director of Beyond Borders, acknowledged the challenges faced this year and the resilience of those who contributed to the success of the festival. “This year, we had to cut back on a great deal: Resources, certainties, and things we’d taken for granted for years. But we didn’t compromise our independence, our belief in what we do, or the quality we owe to our artists and our audience. And we pulled it off! We succeeded thanks to those who believe in Beyond Borders, our partners and supporters, our team and volunteers, and above all, the people of Kastellorizo, who have embraced the festival for the past eleven years. Culture, freedom of expression, historical memory and dialogue are not luxuries. They are a necessity.”
EKKOMED – Main Institutional Partner of Beyond Borders
A key factor in the 11th edition was the collaboration with the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center (EKKOMED), which was the Main Institutional Partner of Beyond Borders. EKKOMED’s involvement was integral to the developmental and educational nature of this year’s event. Under its auspices, the new Co-Production Development Forum took place, while the festival hosted a special information event on institutional funding and broader developments in the Greek film and audiovisual sector. This event was attended by Greek and international professionals. The EKKOMED – Creative Greece Award, worth 1,000 euros, also provided tangible support for Greek filmmaking by recognising the best documentary by a Greek director.
The Co-Production Development Forum marked a new chapter for Beyond Borders.
A key highlight of the 11th edition was the inaugural year of the Co-Production Development Forum, a new pilot initiative by Beyond Borders under the auspices of EKKOMED – Creative Greece. For the first time, Greek creators and producers were able to develop their projects and hold one-to-one meetings with international commissioning editors, sales agents, and executive producers from leading organisations and television networks, including ARTE, Al Jazeera, ZDF, and ERT. The intensive four-day programme, which took place from 24 to 27 August, was led by Rudy Buttignol C.M. and offered participants specialised guidance, development tools and direct contact with the international audiovisual industry.
In its inaugural year, the Forum was dedicated exclusively to Greek productions and co-productions, aiming to boost the international profile of Greek documentary filmmaking and create new opportunities for international collaboration. At the same time, the Audiovisual Pitching Lab, coordinated by Claudia Schreiner, presented 12 projects from around the world online, thereby strengthening the professional dimension of the festival even further.
These two initiatives reflect Beyond Borders’ expanding role: moving beyond screening and discovering new films, the festival now fosters an environment in which film projects can develop and network, and find their place in the international market.
Switzerland – Country of Honour at the 11th edition
Switzerland held a special place at this year’s Beyond Borders festival, with a multifaceted presence across the film, educational and institutional programmes. A tribute to Swiss documentary film was a central theme of the Panorama section, supported by Swiss Films. It featured selected works by renowned filmmakers such as Christian Frei, Jacqueline Zünd and Nicolas Wadimoff.
For the first time, in collaboration with HEAD – Genève, four student short films were also screened, showcasing the new generation of Swiss filmmaking. The Swiss presence was further enhanced by the participation of the internationally renowned director and producer Christian Frei, who presided over the Main Competition Section, and by the inclusion of Visions du Réel as the Festival of Honour and HEAD – Genève as the Academic Partner of Honour.
The Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony brought the 11th edition to a celebratory conclusion, gathering filmmakers, guests, residents and visitors of Kastellorizo for the awards ceremony and the closing of another chapter in the Festival’s history.
Irini Sarioglou expressed her gratitude to the filmmakers, jury members, international guests, institutional partners, sponsors, volunteers and the entire festival team. She also extended special thanks to the people of Kastellorizo for their hospitality and ongoing support.
The 11th edition concluded with the world premiere of Danae Elon’s “Island Me A Film”, a documentary that turns its gaze towards Kastellorizo itself, exploring the island’s history, memory, and changing identity through the lens of cinema. The choice of this film for the closing ceremony was particularly significant, as
“Island Me A Film” is directly connected to the history of Beyond Borders. It was developed and completed through Beyond Storytelling with Danae Elon, Uri Cohen and Liselle Mei participating, before returning to the island for its world premiere.
Thus, the final screening of the 11th edition offered a fitting reflection of Beyond Borders’ own evolution: from a festival that presents films, to a creative environment where new ideas can be developed, where filmmakers and industry professionals can connect, and where projects can progress towards completion and an international life. A film about Kastellorizo, developed through Beyond Borders, returned to the island to meet its first audience. The circle was now complete.
With the 11th edition coming to a close, Beyond Borders is looking ahead to its next meeting with filmmakers, partners, and audiences. In an era where freedom of expression, historical memory, meaningful dialogue and diverse perspectives are more crucial than ever, documentary film remains powerful in illuminating what lies beyond the immediately visible and inviting us to look beyond the obvious.
Because when the obvious is removed, what remains is what truly matters!
THE AWARDS OF THE 11th BEYOND BORDERS
A total of ten awards were presented across the two competition sections of the 11th edition.
Main Competition Section
The Main Competition Section featured 18 medium- and feature-length documentaries. The jury consisted of: Christian Frei (director and producer), Jury President; Peter Arens (Head of the History & Science Department at ZDF); Thanasis Vassiliou (director and professor of cinema); Pimi Fasoula (Head of Communications and Marketing at Alpha TV); and Adel Ksiksi (Planning & Scheduling Manager at Al Jazeera Documentary).
Golden Wreath of Megisti – Grand Prix: €2,000
By highlighting the human consequences of war, the film conveys a profoundly humane and ultimately optimistic message about resilience, compassion, and our shared humanity. The Golden Wreath of Megisti – Grand Prix goes to “FACES OF WAR”, directed by DIDIER CROS.
Silver Wreath of Megisti – €1,000
A deeply authentic and self-authored account of migrants waiting to cross into Europe, in which camera and song become instruments of an absurd Odyssey, moving through hope, despair, humour, survival, resistance and dignity. The Silver Wreath of Megisti goes to “THE TRAVELERS”, directed by DAVID BINGONG.
Bronze Wreath of Megisti – €750
A daughter’s search for her missing father turns into a compelling investigation into dictatorship, political violence, and the legacy of national trauma. The Bronze Wreath of Megisti goes to “MY FATHER AND QADDAFI”, directed by JIHAN.
The Wreath of Megisti, awarded annually to the best films in the Main Competition, is a faithful handcrafted replica of a wreath discovered in an ancient tomb in 1913, dating back to the mid-4th century BC.
EKKOMED – Creative Greece Award: €1,000 for the best Greek documentary
Some places defy borders. Their inhabitants have no choice but to follow the destiny of the place, with consequences. For its incisive, political and deeply sensitive perspective, the EKKOMED Award for Best Documentary by a Greek Director goes to “EXILE(S), STORIES OF AN ISLAND”, directed by GIORGOS ILIOPOULOS.
Odysseas Award: €2,000
Initiated and supported by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy
For its original metaphorical narrative and poetic, deeply felt direction, which explores the emotional and existential dimensions of exile, belonging and identity. Abandoned house ruins are depicted as living organisms, reflecting the need to connect the past, present and future in an ever-changing world. The Odysseus Award goes to “OUR HOMES DO NOT EXIST”, directed by ANNA LAMOUR.
#ThisIsEU Award from the European Commission Representation in Greece
The boundaries between truth and lies are becoming increasingly porous. The #ThisisEU Award for the documentary that best promotes contemporary European values goes to “TRUTH OR DARE”, directed by TONISLAV HRISTOV, for its rare access to both investigative journalism and the manufacturing of false narratives.
FIPRESCI Award from the International Federation of Film Critics
Through a personal cinematic journey, the filmmaker skilfully combines archival material with art, creatively interweaving history, politics, botany, ethnography and family memories. The documentary transcends its specific subject matter, expanding into universal themes such as curiosity, exploration, and a love of cinema. For these reasons, and for the filmmaker’s audacity in experimenting with cinematic language while maintaining the clarity of the narrative and investigating the unique story of her uncle, the FIPRESCI Award goes to “YRUPẼ”, directed by Spanish filmmaker CANDELA SOTOS.
μicro Competition Section (The prizes for the Micro Competition Section are awarded with the support of ZDF).
The jury for the μicro Competition Section consisted of: Michaela Kolster (Jury President, journalist and Programme Director at ZDF/PHOENIX), Thanasis Neofotistos (director and screenwriter), Lefteris Fylaktos (director), Marcin Kundera (director and producer), and Aurélien Marsais (film programmer).
Golden Phoenix: €1,000
This powerful film transforms personal accounts of loss, flight and the struggle to belong into a deeply tangible, sensory experience by pairing audio testimonies of displacement with intricate dance choreography. Separate layers merge to make emotional trauma fully visible. The Golden Phoenix goes to “WHEN THE CHAIR FELL INTO THE VOID” directed by JULIA KUSHNARENKO.
Silver Phoenix: €750
Using an 8mm camera found in her family’s abandoned home, the director paints a poetic and political portrait of Athens. In a city where rampant capitalism and real-estate speculation have produced the ruins we see today, the filmmaker offers a vital reflection on what remains of our collective existence. The Silver Phoenix goes to “OUR HOMES DO NOT EXIST”, directed by ANNA LAMOUR.
Bronze Phoenix: €500
For transforming public fountains into vibrant cinematic spaces through the playful and humorous use of sound and image. Building gradually towards a joyful crescendo, the film reminds us that even the most familiar public spaces still have a voice if we learn to listen. The Bronze Phoenix goes to “HOW TO LISTEN TO THE FOUNTAINS”, directed by EVA SAJANOVA.
Best Pitch Award
The Best Pitch Award of the Festival’s Pitching Lab was awarded to the project “Where is my bed“, directed by Ana Vučićević. Selected by the Jury, the winning project secured free sound post-production services upon completion of the film, courtesy of Eye of the North Studios – Sound Post Production Services. The sponsorship, with a total value of €3,000, aims to actively support the final production stage of the project, ensuring it meets the highest artistic and technical standards.
Photos from the Closing Ceremony of the 11th Beyond Borders, you will find: https://www.swisstransfer.com/dl/01a0567c-5757-72b3-a6ab-526a8f1c56c4
Video from the 11th Beyond Borders, you will find HERE and HERE.
Festival Photos can be found HERE and stills from this year’s films HERE. The trailer for the 11th edition can be found HERE.
For more information you can visit the website www.beyondborders.gr or contact the Festival at info@beyondborders.gr.
Stay tuned for all actions and news of Beyond Borders, by following the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
Organization: Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME).
Under the Auspices of The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Main Institutional Partner Greek Film Center, Audiovisual Media and Creation (EKKOMED)
Supporters Hellenic Parliament, Latsis Foundation
Award Sponsors ERT, ZDF, GGAEDD
Technical Coverage & Catalog Sponsor Ministry of National Defence (YPETHA)
Subtitling Sponsors Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Athens Embassy of Spain in Athens Embassy of Slovakia in Athens Embassy of Norway in Athens, French Institute of Greece
