The 2025 edition of the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival (TIDF) came to a close on 16 March. Running in the picturesque Greek coastal town and unfolding in and around the port area and the iconic Aristotelous Square, the gathering has, since 1999, gained prominence in the global non-fiction scene, becoming a powerful platform for documentaries from Europe and beyond. TIDF, which kicked off with the screening of Piotr Winiewicz’s Polish-Danish co-production About a Hero, also runs a well-oiled industry sidebar known as Agora (7-15 March), the Nordisk Fim & TV Fond reports.

This year’s Golden Alexander — the top prize handed out in the international competition — went to the Sundance-premiered documentary Coexistence, My Ass! by Amber Fares (USA/France), which sees comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi crafting a one-woman show tackling inequality and conflict amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war. The second most prestigious accolade, the Silver Alexander, went to Jesse Short Bull and David France’s Free Leonard Peltier(USA), whilst Weronika Mliczewska’s Child of Dust gained a Special Mention. The pic was produced by Poland, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic with Sweden’s Ginestra Film and the backing of the Swedish Film Institute.

Two Nordic titles were also awarded: Finn Walther and Martin A. Walther’s Pet Farm (Norway) scooped a Special Mention in the Newcomers International Competition, and Olivier Sarbil’s Viktor (Denmark/Ukraine/France/USA) nabbed the Alpha Bank Accessibility Award in the Film Forward International Competition. Sold internationally by Cinephil, Viktor offers an intimate account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, while Pet Farm explores the deep bond between humans, animals, and nature.

During the Agora Days, a raft of European and Mediterranean projects were presented in the Pitching Forum and during the Docs in Progress sessions to the 422 industry professionals in attendance. One production with Nordic involvement, Lucas Paleocrassas’s Bugboy, received a Special Mention and won the Onassis Film Award (worth €5,000). Showcased in the Pitching Forum, the jury — comprised of producer Leonidas Konstantarakos, EURODOC Head of Programme Nora Philippe, and producer Marianne Ostrat — billed the creative doc as “a unique, joyful and tender coming-of-age film”.

The pic follows a 16-year-old called George, who struggles to make friends. His misaligned eyes and his parents’ divorce have left him disillusioned with human relationships. To survive, he immerses himself in nature, finding unexpected comfort in the world of insects. When he befriends an adventurous cricket, whom he names Isabella, George realises that if such a tiny creature can find the courage to spend time with him, he too can find the strength to change his own life for the better.

The project, now at an advanced production stage and filmed over the course of three years, is seeking sales agents, pre-sales, distributors, and impact partners. It is budgeted at around €440,000. Backers include the Danish Film Institute, DR, ARTE, the Greek Film Centre, and ERT. Slated for delivery next year, it is being produced by Greece’s Anemon Productions, Denmark’s Toolbox Film, and France’s Flach Film. It will be presented in two formats: a 52-minute feature-length film and a 7x10-minute series.