The 9th Beyond Borders travels to Athens 2025!
The 9th BEYOND BORDERS TRAVELS TO ATHENS!
March 28-30, 2025 | Greek Film Archive
Loyal to its spring rendezvous, the Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival presents its award-winning films at the Greek Film Archive!
As it approaches its tenth anniversary, Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival packs some of the standout films from last summer and brings them to audiences from March 28 to 30, 2025, at the welcoming venue of the Greek Film Archive!
Strategic Partner of Beyond Borders is PPC Group the leading energy company in Southeast Europe. PPC actively supports arts and culture, fostering a dialogue with creativity and innovation. As a vital part of Greece’s social and economic fabric, PPC helps shape a brighter future where culture leads the way.
This year’s selection for the Athens three-day event includes powerful documentaries that shed light on overlooked aspects of history, raise their voices for freedom, justice, equality and inclusion and boldly unfold personal stories—battlegrounds where the sociopolitical map of our era is etched.
A particularly significant moment of the event is the presence of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, who is coming to Athens specifically for the screenings at the invitation of Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival. Dr. Abuelaish is the first Palestinian doctor to work in an Israeli hospital, delivering babies. However, his ethos of forgiveness and reconciliation is put to the ultimate test when an Israeli tank shells his home, killing his three daughters. His story is powerfully portrayed in the Canadian documentary I Shall Not Hate, which captivated audiences at Kastellorizo and was awarded the Bronze Wreath of Megisti. Dr. Abuelaish will attend the festival and engage in a Q&A session with the audience after the screening of the film.
As stated by Irini Sarioglou, the festival’s Artistic Director:
“As we promised, Beyond Borders’ journey to Athens—and to other cities outside Greece—has become an institution. It is a great joy to share with a wider audience the films that mesmerized us last summer in Kastellorizo, films that deserve to be seen by as many people as possible. The festival’s films—many of which premiere in Greece, internationally, or globally before traveling to other festivals or even theatrical releases—stand out for their quality, their social sensitivity and their insistence on refusing to remain silent in dark and dangerous times. With deep respect and admiration for their creators, we are committed to an ever-improving festival, worthy of the films entrusted to us. We want you to be part of this effort. We look forward to welcoming you all to a cinematic three-day event without borders at the Greek Film Archive!”
Screened Films
- Bangarang | Giulio Mastromauro | Italy | 2023 | Greek Premiere
Explores childhood in Taranto, a southern Italian industrial city. - I Shall Not Hate | Tal Barda | Canada | 2024 | Greek Premiere
Follows the extraordinary journey of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, a Palestinian doctor working in an Israeli hospital, whose forgiveness and reconciliation are tested when an Israeli tank bombs his home, killing his daughters and niece. - Koka | Aliaksandr Tsymbaliuk | Poland | 2024 | Greek Premiere
A touching exploration of a father-son relationship in the remote region near the Bering Sea. - Loxi | Dimitris Zachos & Thanasis Kafetzis | Greece | 2024
The story of Loxandra, a young woman with Down syndrome who becomes the first disabled person to sign an acting contract with Greece’s National Theatre. - My Place Ozerna | Karina Będkowska | Poland | 2022 | Greek Premiere
A heartfelt documentary about a woman’s journey from London to Ozerna, a small village in Ukraine. - Searching for Rodakis | Saim Kerem Soyyilmaz | Turkey | 2023
A discovery of the gravestone of 17-year-old Chrysoula during the renovation of an old house near Istanbul. - The Board | Carmen Tortosa | Spain | 2023 | International Premiere
Examines the bureaucratic process of granting extended sick leave or permanent disability status to employees. - Sister of Mine | Mariusz Rusinski | Poland | 2023 | Greek Premiere
A gripping look into the circumstances that led a talented teenage girl into drug addiction, told through music. - Monument | Maksim Avdeev | Russia | 2024 | Greek Premiere
Explores the relationship between a father and his gay son, reflecting on family, identity, and the abyss of ideology.
Event Details
Organized by: Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) in collaboration with the French organization Ecrans des Mondes.
Venue: Greek Film Archive (48 Iera Odos & 134-136 Megalou Alexandrou, Kerameikos Metro Station).
Admission: Free entry, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Find film stills and festival moments HERE.
Watch a short recap video from Beyond Borders 2024 HERE.
Download the detailed three-day schedule in digital format HERE.
Join us for an unforgettable cinematic experience—a journey beyond borders in Athens!
Screening Program:
Friday, March 28
- 19:30 – 19:45 Opening event / Welcome
- 19:45 – 21:15 I Shall Not Hate by Tal Barda (Bronze Megisti Wreath), 90′, Greek Premiere
- Q&A
- 21:30 – 21:45 Monument by Maksim Adveev (Golden Phoenix), 15′, World Premiere
- 5’ break
- 21:45 – 22:45 Searching for Rodakis by Kerem Soyyilmaz, 57′ (Special Mediterranean Friendship Award)
Saturday, March 29
- 19:30 – 21:00 Loxi by Dimitris Zachos and Thanasis Kafetzis, 87′ (Best Greek Documentary Award) – The film will be screened using a universally accessible copy with audio description and SDH subtitles, supported by Alpha Bank as the accessibility sponsor.
- 21:00 – 21:15 Q&A with the directors
- 21:15 – 21:35 The Board by Carmen Tortosa (Bronze Phoenix), 19′ International Premiere
- 5’ break
- 21:40 – 22:53 Bangarang by Giulio Mastromauro (FIPRESCI Award), 73′ Greek Premiere
Sunday, March 30
- 19:30 – 20:20 Koka by Aliaksandr Tsymbaliuk (Golden Megisti Wreath), 47’ Greek Premiere
- 20:20 – 20:25 Break
- 20:25 – 20:55 Sister of Mine by Mariusz Rusinski (Silver Phoenix), 30′ Greek Premiere
- 20:55 – 21:00 Break
- 21:00 – 22:00 My Place Ozerna by Karina Bedkowska (Silver Megisti Wreath), 59′ Greek Premiere
- 22:00 Closing event
About the Festival’s Films:
I Shall Not Hate – Tal Barda, Canada, 2024, 90′ Greek Premiere
From the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza to the University of Toronto and the Israeli Supreme Court, I Shall Not Hate follows the extraordinary journey of Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish, the first Palestinian doctor to work in an Israeli hospital delivering babies. His ethos of forgiveness and reconciliation is put to the ultimate test when an Israeli tank shells his home, killing his three daughters. Despite the tragedy, he transforms his grief into a global campaign to eliminate hatred. Amidst the ongoing war in Gaza, his story becomes even more critical in envisioning a future for both Palestinians and Israelis. I Shall Not Hate is a letter of tolerance from an inspiring individual whose message is more urgent than ever.
Bronze Megisti Wreath, sponsored by ERT, for amplifying a voice of deep humanity that must be heard and a story that demands attention.
Koka – Aliaksandr Tsymbaliuk, Poland, 2024, 47′ Greek Premiere
An intimate story of the relationship between a father and son living at the edge of the world near the Bering Sea. The film captures the harshness of their reality, the simplicity of childhood, and the sternness of paternal discipline, while demonstrating that love finds its place everywhere—even in the hardest of hearts.
Golden Megisti Wreath – GRAND PRIX, sponsored by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust, for a delicate portrait of survival in a culturally and socially challenging landscape of exhausted resources.
Loxi – Dimitris Zachos, Thanasis Kafentzis, Greece, 2024, 87′
Loxandra, a young woman with Down syndrome, becomes the first disabled person to sign a professional acting contract with the National Theatre of Greece. Leaving her hometown and familiar daily life behind, she moves to Athens to join the theatre’s professional troupe. Over six months of rehearsals, she makes friends, falls in love, has fun, faces disappointments, and persistently fights for accessibility, breaking stereotypes one by one.
Best Greek Documentary Award, co-financed by ERT and EKΚOMED – Creative Greece, for a sensitive yet unexaggerated film that invites us to understand the essence of a truly supportive family and educational environment.
My Place Ozerna – Karina Będkowska, Poland, 2022, 59′ Greek Premiere
“I don’t want to live either,” confesses Karina to her aunt Slava, sparking a deep existential reflection between two distant relatives. For Karina, traveling from London to Ozerna, a small village in Ukraine, unexpectedly marks the beginning of a journey to reclaim her vitality. There, she meets her 84-year-old widowed aunt Slava. Both women have lost their will to live, but through their mutual bond, they rediscover meaning. Beautifully shot, this tender documentary is a testament to the importance of intergenerational connection and the shared quest for vitality and purpose.
Silver Megisti Wreath, sponsored by the Michael Marks Charitable Trust, for its stunning cinematography that invites us into a deeply personal world with universal resonance, highlighting the intergenerational loneliness crisis in both rural and urban settings.
Searching for Rodakis – Kerem Soyyilmaz, Turkey, 2023, 57′ Chrysoula, who passed away in 1887 at the age of 17, was buried beneath the floor of her family home in a small village 100 kilometers from Istanbul. Thirty-seven years later, due to a population exchange, Chrysoula’s family was forced to leave her buried beneath the floor when they were displaced to northern Greece. A hundred years later, during the renovation of this old house, the family of a filmmaker living there discovered Chrysoula’s tombstone. Directed by Kerem Soyyilmaz, this film tells the story of the discovery of the tombstone in 2016, the search for the family it belonged to, and the journey that ultimately led to Thessaloniki in 2022, narrated through the experiences of the director and his family. Special Award for Mediterranean Friendship, sponsored by EKKOMED-Creative Greece, for a film that, with cinematic simplicity and depth, presents the forced population exchange between Greece and Turkey—a story of reconciliation, truth, and memory. The film also received a Special Mention from the Jury for narrating a poignant, vulnerable, and gradually unfolding story of the encounter between Greeks and Turks, highlighting the shared experience of both peoples and the human consequences of their violent separation a century ago.
The Board – Carmen Tortosa, Spain, 2023, 19′ – World Premiere
This documentary presents the reality of workers who are on extended medical leave or seeking permanent disability certification. The resolution depends on the opinion of the Medical Board. The process is unpopular, yet unfortunately more common than we might think.
Bronze Phoenix, supported by Phoenix TV, for addressing a global issue—the struggle against bureaucracy, the state, and the systems we live in—while successfully instilling in the viewer a sense of urgency.
Sister of Mine – Mariusz Rusinski, Poland, 2023, 30′ – Greek Premiere
Zuzia, an extremely sensitive and artistically gifted teenager, is currently battling drug addiction. Her brother, who is also the film’s director, attempts to understand the circumstances that led to Zuzia’s descent into addiction.
Silver Phoenix, supported by Phoenix TV, for depicting the impact of drug addiction on family members and their sense of helplessness in the face of it in a realistic and intimate way.
Monument – Maksim Avdeev, Germany, 2024, 15′ – Greek Premiere
In a reflection on family, identity, and the abyss of ideology, filmmaker Maksim Avdeev confronts the harsh parallels and irreconcilable differences with his father. United by blood but divided by opposing beliefs, their relationship exists only within the confines of archival footage. Exiled due to his homosexuality, Maksim breaks the silence and calls his father after 1.5 years. The film emerges as a raw and intimate exploration of familial rifts, as Maksim struggles with the painful realization that his father’s unwavering faith in Russian propaganda overshadows their bond as parent and child. Through this distant dialogue, Maksim embarks on a journey of self-discovery, attempting to bridge the gap between them, navigating the complexities of love, acceptance, and the relentless pull of conflicting truths.
Golden Phoenix, supported by Phoenix TV, for a film that is quiet, minimalist, yet full of love and understanding. The personal narrative it constructs has the power to resonate with the current global political climate, particularly concerning nationalism and identity politics.
Bangarang – Giulio Mastromauro, Italy, 2023, 73′ – Greek Premiere
Children can be loud, carefree, playful, absent-minded, even violent. This is also the case in Taranto, an industrial city in southern Italy, home to Europe’s largest steel plant since the 1960s. By observing their movements and listening to their emotions, we enter the world of childhood while simultaneously losing ourselves in the present of this region—a place at the center of one of the most severe environmental and health disasters in Italian and European history. “Bangarang” is a Jamaican word meaning turmoil, disorder, chaos.
FIPRESCI Award (International Federation of Film Critics), sponsored by ERT, for crafting an outstanding visual essay on innocence and carefree childhood in the midst of an ongoing ecological catastrophe hidden from public view.
For more information, visit www.beyondborders.gr or contact the Festival at info@beyondborders.gr.