For its 10th anniversary, “Beyond Borders” Kastellorizo International Documentary Festival celebrates with a special edition dedicated to Greece and its creative powers. This year’s festival, which will take place on August 24-30, on the history of Greek documentaries, and their efforts to record reality, comment on it and reshape it in the most imaginative and direct way.

The Festival's visual identity, designed by the creative agency Polkadot Design, draws inspiration from the art of weaving - an art that represents memory, narrative and continuity. Just as the women weavers of 1905, protagonists of the first film recording to be made in the Balkans, wove their present through art, so contemporary documentary filmmakers weave a tapestry of our own reality with images and sound. Greek documentary thus becomes a cinematic loom, where past and present are tightly woven together, creating a narrative canvas that extends into the future.

The festival is organized by the Hellenic History Foundation, in collaboration with Écrans des Mondes, and co-organized by the South Aegean Region with the support of the Hellenic Parliament, the Ministry of National Defense, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Secretariat of the Aegean and Island Policy of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A.-Creative Greece (H.F.A.C.-Creative Greece), the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the Greek National Tourism Organization and the embassies of Australia, Germany, Austria, Spain, and Switzerland in Athens. The festival is also supported by renowned global entities such as ZDF, ARTE, BBC, RAI TV, Movies that Matter, IDF Prague, PHOENIX, FIPRESCI, and others.

This year the Festival received a record 907 submissions from 92 countries (600 feature films and featurettes, and 307 shorts). Of the 42 films that have been selected to compete in the festival, 35 are screened in Greek, international and world premieres, while many have been showcased at the world's biggest film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Amsterdam (IDFA), Copenhagen (CPX DOX), etc.

Beyond Borders will feature three distinct screening sections: the Main Competition, which includes 18 medium and feature-length documentaries; the micro Competition, which includes 24 short documentaries; and the non-competitive Panorama section, which will present daily screenings of thematic tributes and standout films.

This year’s Panorama focuses on a Tribute to Greek Documentary, featuring eight selected works—including films and television episodes by both acclaimed directors and emerging voices; a polyphonic mosaic of Greek documentary production, capturing the genre’s evolution, audacity, and creative renewal.

Awards

The two competitive sections of the festival will present a total of 10 awards:

• Golden (Grand Prix), Silver and Bronze Wreath of Megisti Awards (€7,500, €3,000 and €2,000 respectively), sponsored partially by ERT, will be given to the best documentaries that explore historical events and figures, current sociopolitical issues, and the promotion of human rights in any form or expression.

• The H.F.A.C.-Creative Greece Award will be presented to the best Greek-directed documentary.

• The “Odysseus” Award, initiated and supported the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, will honor the best documentary directed by a Greek filmmaker of the diaspora.

• The #THISISEU Award (sponsored by ERT), presented by the European Commission Representation in Greece, will go to the documentary that best promotes contemporary European values.

• The FIPRESCI (sponsored by ERT) will be given to the best film selected by the International Federation of Film Critics.

In the micro Competition Section, which includes 24 short documentaries, the best short documentaries by emerging directors will be presented with the Golden, Silver, and Bronze Phoenix Awards (€1,250, €1,000, and €750 respectively), supported by ZDF/Phoenix TV.

The micro Competition Jury features prominent figures from journalism, literature, and film. Jury President is Michaela Kolster, journalist and Program Director of ZDF/PHOENIX. The jury also includes:

• Bruce Clark, author and long-time contributor to the international press;
• Alex Sakalis, author and journalist;
• Gilles Perrin, professor of French literature and cinema;
• Vasilis Loules, award-winning director in both documentary and fiction.

The FIPRESCI Jury includes film critics Jan Storø, Elli Mastorou, and Nikolaos Alettras.

Learn more about the films that will compete at the 10th Beyond Borders

Special events and initiatives

During the festival, the Critics’ Corner initiative will also take place. Every morning, the three FIPRESCI jury members will engage in open dialogue with professionals and the general public about the films screened the night before in competition. This event celebrates the 100th anniversary of FIPRESCI and will be held as part of the 10th anniversary edition on Friday, August 29.

For the second consecutive year, the successful Co-Production Forum “Meet Your Co-Producer in Kastellorizo” returns. Fifteen senior-level film professionals—directors, screenwriters, producers, and executive producers—will present their work, share case studies of completed films, and mentor at least one documentary project through in-person and online meetings aimed at co-production.

As part of the Panorama section, a special event titled The Future of Documentary will take place on Saturday, August 30, dedicated to the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking. The award-winning documentary Ending Wars and Making Peace by Jobst Knigge will be screened, followed by a discussion with the director on his creative process.  He will be joined by a panel of directors, academics, producers, and decision-makers will join to explore the present and future of documentary creation, from artistic trends and production ecosystems to audience engagement.

A core part of the festival is the two-day Audiovisual Pitching Lab, where 12 selected projects from around the world are presented online and discussed with leading figures in the film industry. The winning project will receive a free professional color grading package for its final cut.

Emphasizing not only film screenings but also education and career development, the festival has also created a pioneering Film School Network, partnering with top institutions from Southeastern and Central Europe, the Middle East, and South America.

Alongside the main program, Beyond Borders, in collaboration with the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A.-Creative Greece (H.F.A.C.-Creative Greece), will host a special informative event on the Audiovisual Sector Outreach Program. Aimed at both the general public and industry professionals, this initiative is part of EKKOMED’s new cultural policy tools, designed to strengthen the presence of Greek audiovisual creation both domestically and internationally.

Parallel Cultural Activities

In addition to film screenings and workshops, the festival organizes parallel cultural events, turning Kastellorizo into a global cultural meeting point.

Throughout the screening week and during breaks, musical interludes will be performed by the Athens String Quartet, featuring members of the Athens State Orchestra. During the festival week, documentaries by children for children will be screened as part of a partnership with the Chania Film Festival. The children’s program will also feature workshops, chess classes and acrobatic shows.

The concert “Nocturnal Confessions” will bring together two distinguished Greek soloists: conductor and pianist Miltos Logiadis and composer-accordion virtuoso Christos Zerbinos. The program includes selections from the albums “Spring Equinox” (traditional pieces) and “From the Keys to the Heart,” dedicated to Manos Hadjidakis.

In parallel with the screenings, a sculpture exhibition by visual artist Alexandros Zygouris will be presented, while every day, journalist and author Pavlos Methenitis and academic Matteo Compagnolo will recommend selected books spanning history, literature, and cinema. The Festival will conclude with a concert by Kostas Triantafyllidis.

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The Cycladic Identity initiative, launched by the Museum of Cycladic Art last year, is an inspiring effort to safeguard the cultural and natural heritage of the Cyclades, as well as to preserve, restore, and reveal their unique identity. By focusing on Culture, Biodiversity, and Intangible Heritage, it serves as a vital platform for resource allocation to various programs implemented by organizations operating on the islands.

With seven new programs rolling out across five islands— two on Amorgos, one on Antiparos, one on Sikinos, one on Sifnos, one on Syros, and one inter-Cycladic — this initiative transitions into its second phase of funding. Poised to make a lasting impact, it will further enhance the unique identity and resources of the Cyclades, benefiting local communities and preserving their heritage for future generations.

The initiative’s structured approach, involves a Scientific Committee for proposal evaluation and an Advisory Board for strategic decisions, ensures thoughtful support for local organizations. Based on predefined criteria, the following programs were selected for this year:

Photo Fivos Tsavaropoulos © Museum of Cycladic Art

Inter-Cyladic: “Greek Islands Trail – Cyclades”

Organization: Social Co-operative Enterprise of Collective and Social Benefit “Paths of Greece”

The “Greek Islands Trail – Cyclades” is a proposal to connect the best hiking trails of each island in the Cyclades into a unified hiking route. The goal is to create a long-distance trail (estimated to be around 150-200 kilometers) passing through all the islands of the Cyclades. This route will consist of the most "rich" in nature and culture trail of each island. The hiker will be able to experience the nature, biodiversity, geology, and history (both tangible and intangible), as well as have a genuine experience passing through the settlements. The planned activities include: organizing a conference to present the project and engage local stakeholders for support; collaborating with local hiking groups to identify the top trail on each island; launching a photography competition via social media and email, with the top 5 photos per trail showcased on the project website; developing a website featuring detailed trail information and transportation options between islands based on maps from world's largest adventure tourism platform Outdooractive; promoting the trail to tour operators involved in hiking tourism in Greece.

Photo Roberto Cortese © Museum of Cycladic Art

Amorgos: 3^rd Dry Stone (Xerolithia) Workshop  “The Amorgian Craftsmanship”

Organization: The Mitato of Amorgos

The program aims to transmit knowledge of dry-stone walling and raise public awareness of its cultural and environmental significance. The workshop will focus on three main axes: restoration of Kalopotama's retaining walls on Amorgos, an area of exceptional beauty and cultural value, with remarkable dry-stone terraces, once completely cultivated; educational activities for the 20 participants engaging in hands-on restoration and construction of dry-stone structures, supervised by local masters; a theoretical part attended by experts, including representatives from the Ministry of Culture and members of the dry-stone community from Ireland, discussing efforts to include dry-stone craftsmanship in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Photo Antonis Vekris © Museum of Cycladic Art

Amorgos: “Games through the passage of time”

Organization: Parents & Guardians Association of the Students of the Primary School and Kindergarten of Katapola Amorgos, Cyclades Prefecture

Key Activities include research and documentation of local games inspired by Amorgos' nature and lifestyle and teaching sessions at schools, involving interactions with elders to learn traditional games.

Photo Kostas Platis © Museum of Cycladic Art

Sikinos: “Recording and highlighting the flora of Sikinos”

Organization: Sikinos Union

The proposed study aims to document the island's flora, particularly its aromatic and endemic plants, engaging 22 students in order to raise awareness of the island's biodiversity and encourage them to become future guardians of this natural heritage. Key objectives include: recording a comprehensive inventory of the remaining plant species on Sikinos, covering its 41,000 acres, of which about 4,500 acres have historical cultivation; identification and classification of the collected species; a herbarium exhibition to educate residents and visitors about local flora and biodiversity conservation; a plan for cultivating native aromatic plants that are likely to thrive on the island.

Photo Giannis Kontos © Museum of Cycladic Art

Sifnos:“Digital repository of Sifnian Songs and Carols”

Organization: Cultural Association of Sifnos

The action aims to preserve and revitalize the cultural expressions of Sifnos, focusing on the island's poetic and musical traditions as reflected in three key social events: the Sifnian Traditional Feast, Sifnian Carols, and Sifnian Carnival Dances. The program's specific objectives include: preserving the local linguistic idiom through documentation; providing material for ethnographic and anthropological research; encouraging young students and scholars to engage with the repository. The program will create a comprehensive archive of songs and carols (printed, digitized, and audiovisual), featuring a searchable database and educational resources. The repository will be continually updated, allowing external users to contribute material for evaluation and inclusion.

Photo Inbulb © Museum of Cycladic Art

Syros: “The weavers and their memories”

Organization: Hermoupolis Heritage

The program aims to celebrate and preserve the industrial textile heritage of Hermoupolis, which significantly contributed to the island's economic and cultural development over 140 years. At its peak, Hermoupolis housed 68 factories, including 24 textile factories that primarily employed women. The objectives of the program are: to highlight key aspects of Hermoupolis' identity, showcasing the daily life and professional activities of its working class; to preserve authentic testimonies and experiences of ordinary people, enriching the recorded history; to document important cultural materials for public access via the Hermoupolis Heritage website; to utilize these materials to promote industrial culture; to identify additional individuals who can contribute to the collection of this material.

Photo Goulielmos Orestidis © Museum of Cycladic Art

Antiparos: “Study of Architectural Documentation/Surveying of Antiparos Castle”

Organization: Society for the Protection and Development of Antiparos – Despotiko

The program focuses on the architectural documentation and surveying of the Venetian Castle of Antiparos, a key example of fortified architecture from the Venetian period (13th-16th century). Traditional archaeological research indicates the castle featured a central tower surrounded by three-story buildings, forming an enclosed settlement. However, recent excavations suggest that the tower may predate the settlement. The study aims to: document new findings; create a definitive architectural plan for the castle's protection, restoration, and promotion. The overarching goals are to safeguard the monument, integrate it into the modern social life of Antiparos, and preserve the island’s cultural heritage for future generations.

The call for the 3rd funding phase of the programs for the year 2025-2026 is available on the Initiative's website.

With the aim of raising public awareness, Cycladic Identity a conference titled "Tradition vs Evolution: The Coexistence of the Past with the Future in the Cyclades" was organizing on October 30.

Read more:

“Cycladic Identity: keeping alive the heart of the Cyclades”

“Hiking Greek Islands: explore off-the-beaten track treasures!”

“Cycladic architecture, stunningly blending with the endless blue of the Aegean sea”

I.A.

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