Thessaloniki Documentary Festival Announces Competition Lineups

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The 28th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece has announced the films that will compete in two of its major competition sections: The Newcomers Competition and the Film Forward Competition. The Newcomers Competition features 14 films by young filmmakers, with the top prize being the Golden Alexander 'Dimitri Eipides' award accompanied by a €10,000 cash prize. The Film Forward Competition showcases 10 films that 'challenge conventions and utter a bold and daring cinematic language,' with the top prize being the Film Forward Golden Alexander and a €6,000 cash award.

Why it matters

The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival is one of the most prestigious documentary film events in Europe, drawing filmmakers and audiences from around the world. The announcement of the competition lineups highlights the festival's role in discovering and supporting emerging documentary talent, as well as its commitment to showcasing innovative and boundary-pushing nonfiction storytelling.

The details

The Newcomers Competition features films by young directors, while the Film Forward Competition focuses on works that push the boundaries of documentary form. Both competitions offer significant cash prizes to the winners, underscoring the festival's commitment to nurturing the next generation of documentary filmmakers and rewarding bold, experimental approaches to the genre.

• The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs from March 5–15, 2026 in the Greek port city.
• The winners of the Newcomers and Film Forward competitions will be announced during the festival.

What’s next

The winners of the Newcomers and Film Forward competitions will be announced during the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, which runs from March 5-15, 2026.