The Opening Ceremony of the 11th Beyond Borders
A spectacular start was made to the 11th Beyond Borders festival on the remote island of Kastellorizo!
The 11th Beyond Borders | Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival, an initiative of the Hellenic History Foundation (IDISME) and this year’s main institutional partner, EKKOMED (Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center), was opened yesterday, Sunday 23rd August, with a dynamic ceremony attended by filmmakers, film industry professionals, representatives of diplomatic missions and institutions.
The opening ceremony marked the start of a week dedicated to creative documentary filmmaking, contemporary history, international collaboration, and cross-border dialogue. It also highlighted the unique character of Beyond Borders as an independent, internationally oriented festival which continues to bring filmmakers and cinema professionals from all over the world to Kastellorizo eleven years after its inception, linking cinematic creation with history, culture, and meaningful dialogue.
The 11th edition’s central question, “What remains if you remove the obvious?”, turns the spotlight on what is often overlooked: the human experiences that slip through the cracks of dominant narratives, the subtle nuances of history, and the power of documentary film to facilitate dialogue, critical thinking, and meaningful understanding.
“Despite the dramatic cutbacks, we made it happen”
In her welcome address, the artistic director and founder of Beyond Borders, Irini Sarioglou, spoke of the significant challenges the festival had faced that year and the tremendous response from artists worldwide.
“Despite the dramatic cutbacks we faced, we pulled it off. And here we are. Strong and present. We received 634 films from 156 countries. This year, we are screening 42 films in our competition sections, 35 of which are having their world, international or Greek premieres in Kastellorizo. These figures are not just numbers. They are proof that Beyond Borders has established itself on the international documentary scene,” she emphasised.
Despite this year’s challenges, the staging of the 11th edition is even more significant. It also confirms that Beyond Borders continues to build bridges between artists, countries and cultures. It does this from the easternmost tip of Greece and, at the same time, remains committed to independence, artistic quality and its international orientation.
Rudy Buttignol marks a new chapter of international outreach and vision.
A special highlight of the opening ceremony was the presence of Rudy Buttignol, Beyond Borders’ new Senior Advisor for Strategy & International Outreach, who spoke of the importance of the Festival’s further international development and presented Beyond Borders’ new initiative, the Co-Production Development Forum, under the auspices of EKKOMED. The Forum aims to be a new and significant step towards supporting Greek filmmakers, developing international co-productions and strengthening the presence of Greek documentaries in the international audiovisual industry.
Mr Buttignol emphasised the importance of establishing stable channels of communication and collaboration between Greek filmmakers and the international film community. He highlighted the role of Beyond Borders as not only a documentary festival, but also a platform for development, networking and international film production.
Prominent institutional and diplomatic figures
The opening ceremony was addressed by the General Secretary for Public Health, Christina-Maria Kravvari, the Mayor of Megisti, Nikolaos Asvestis, and the Deputy Mayor for Culture, Stratos Amygdalos, a staunch supporter of the Festival.
The event was marked by a notable international diplomatic presence, with greetings from the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Greece, H.E. Marcela Hanusová, the Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy, Reyes Fernández Bulnes, and the Deputy Head of the Culture and Press Department at the German Embassy, Eila Bessey.
Their presence emphasised the broader cultural and international significance of Beyond Borders, as well as its unwavering dedication to serving as a meeting point for artists, institutions, and cultures.
Switzerland: Country of Honour at the 11th Beyond Borders
Switzerland is being honoured as the Country of Honour at the 11th Beyond Borders, where an extensive tribute to Swiss documentary film and the country’s professionals is being presented, in collaboration with Swiss Films.
The festival will also honour leading international and Greek organisations in the fields of cinema, education, and media: the Academic Partner of Honour is HEAD – Genève; the Festival of Honour is Visions du Réel; the Foreign Media of Honour is Al Jazeera Documentary; and the Greek Media of Honour is Alpha TV.
Special thanks were extended to Swiss Films and Marcel Müller for their excellent collaboration throughout the year, as well as to EKKOMED, the main institutional partner of the 11th edition, for its substantial support during a particularly challenging year.
The jury panels of the 11th Beyond Borders
During the ceremony, the jury panels for the competitive sections of the 11th Beyond Borders were presented, comprising leading figures from the international and Greek worlds of cinema, journalism, and culture. The Jury President for the Main Competition Section is the internationally acclaimed director and producer Christian Frei. The jury comprises Peter Arens, Head of the History & Science Department at ZDF; Thanasis Vassiliou, director; Pimi Fasoula, Director of Communications and Marketing at Alpha TV; and Adel Ksiksi, Planning & Scheduling Manager at Al Jazeera Documentary.
Beyond Borders is once again hosting and presenting the FIPRESCI Award of the International Federation of Film Critics. The jury comprises film critics Paola Casella, Nino Kovačić and Robbie Eksiel.
The μicro competition section, dedicated to short films by young and emerging filmmakers and supported by ZDF, has journalist and ZDF/PHOENIX Programme Director Michaela Kolster as the Jury President. The other jury members are Thanasis Neofotistos, Lefteris Fylaktos, Marcin Kundera and Aurélien Marsais.
‘Where Shadows Rest’: A particularly symbolic opening
The festival opened with the screening of the documentary “Where Shadows Rest” by Marianna Ekonomou. The director spoke to the audience immediately afterwards. The choice of this particular film for the opening was of special significance to Beyond Borders, as the project was completed with the support of the Beyond Borders Co-Production Forum.
This symbolic connection is further strengthened by the fact that both the opening and closing films of the 11th edition are the result of the festival’s development initiatives. In this way, Beyond Borders demonstrates its expanded role in practice: not only as a venue for screening completed films, but also as an active ecosystem that supports the development, production, and international distribution of new cinematic works.
A week of cinema in Kastellorizo
The opening night of the 11th edition took place at Memorial Statue Square, next to the harbour. A DJ party with Robby Eksiel on the decks set a festive tone for the film week that had just begun.
From 23 to 30 August 2026, Kastellorizo will once again become a meeting place for filmmakers, historians, academics, audiovisual professionals, and audiences from Greece and abroad.
For eight days, the 11th edition of Beyond Borders will continue the journey that began eleven years ago at the easternmost tip of Greece, with an unwavering belief in the power of the documentary to record, investigate, preserve memory, and build bridges across borders.
Photos from the Opening Ceremony of the 11th Beyond Borders, you will find HERE.
Video from the first days of the Festival you will find 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
