Thessaloniki: ‘The Secret Of Me' From ‘Three Identical Strangers' Producer Grace Hughes-Hallett Among Titles Set For Newcomers Competition
EXCLUSIVE: Ten films including seven world premieres are set to screen as part of the Newcomers Competition at this year's Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival. Scroll down for the full list of projects.
The competition features films over 50 minutes in length created by young filmmakers. The films compete for the Golden Alexander 'Dimitri Eipides' and the Silver Alexander Award. The Golden Alexander 'Dimitri Eipides' award comes with a €10,000 cash prize. The Silver Alexander Award is accompanied by a €4,000 cash prize.
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The features include Maia Lekow and Christopher King's How to Build a Library, which debuted at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The Kenyan-shot film follows two intrepid Nairobi women who decide to transform what used to be a whites-only library until 1958 into a vibrant cultural hub. Along the way, they must navigate local politics, raise millions for the rebuild, and confront the lingering ghosts of Kenya's colonial past.
Grace Hughes-Hallett, producer of the BAFTA-nominated Three Identical Strangers, will also screen her debut feature The Secret of Me. The film follows nineteen-year-old Kristi discovers a secret her doctor and parents have kept from her all her life. The film's synopsis reads: It's 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a feminist studies class, college student Kristi opens her textbook to discover something that turns her world upside down. For as long as she can remember, Kristi has felt different– now she knows why. Demanding her medical records, Kristi is finally confronted with the devastating truth: she has been lied to all her life by those she trusted the most. What follows is the unearthing of an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond her own life, leading to the discovery of a psychology experiment on a pair of twins – once hailed as a revolutionary success but now revealed to be a terrible lie affecting thousands around the world.
Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs March 6 – 16
Newcomers Competition
Lo, Thanassis Vassiliou, Greece-France, 2025, 70΄ (World Premiere)
A year after the death of his mother, the director returns to his childhood apartment, burdened with debts and memories. Filming its emptiness, he uncovers silences: his estranged father's ties to the dictatorship and his fragmented history. As personal and collective traumas intertwine, he confronts the weight of inherited and unsolved past.
Super Paradise, Steve Krikris, Greece-Germany, 2024, 87΄ (World Premiere)
Over the past 50 years, Mykonos has experienced radical transformations — it was dirt cheap, today it is unaffordable; it was 'off-the-beaten-track,' now it is a top destination; it was a symbol of inclusivity, today it is one of exclusivity. How did a tiny island become a melting pot for such divergent experiences? Was it paradise? Is it still?
Τhey Talk About Worship Here, Byron Kritzas, Greece, 2025, 88΄ (World Premiere)
Poetic, dramatic, and witty, MTV kids hailing from Corfu, Kore. Ydro. were a rare force in the Greek indie pop/rock scene, inspiring both devotion and scorn. This documentary traces their journey, centering on the two core members and the significance of embracing one's uniqueness without shame.
How to Build a Library, Maia Lekow & Christopher King, Kenya, 2025, 102΄ (International premiere)
Two intrepid Nairobi women decide to transform what used to be a whites-only library until 1958 into a vibrant cultural hub. Along the way, they must navigate local politics, raise millions for the rebuild, and confront the lingering ghosts of Kenya's colonial past. Directors Maia Lekow and Christopher King capture the complicated work to restore a library and the deeper challenges of confronting colonial legacies.
My Sunnyside, Matylda Kawka, Poland-USA, 2025, 92΄ (World premiere)
True love can surprise you when you've already lost hope of finding a partner. Allie and Jo knew from the first moment that they would be together. The feeling gave them a strength they never anticipated.
Jo, a trans man, is one of the leading figures in the New York start-up arena, a great speaker, mentor, activist. His partner Allie, a trans woman, is a biology lecturer beloved by her students. When they were in their twenties, coming from small religious communities, they didn't even know the word 'transgender'. Two decades later, their paths cross to create together the family they have always dreamed of and they both begin to transition. We meet them as they prepare for their wedding to the rhythm of family events and celebrations. We witness scenes from the life of an ordinary but unusual family from Sunnyside, Queens, New York. The process of finding their way in their new roles at work and in the community, brings tears as well as an unexpected sense of fulfilment. And just when things are finally starting to look up, Jo receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. Our heroes are faced with questions they didn't expect to come so early on. It turns out that this seemingly unconventional couple manage to create a surprisingly traditional family where everyone feels loved and supported.
Queens of Joy, Olga Gibelinda, Ukraine-France-Czech Republic, 2025, 90΄ (World premiere)
Three Ukrainian drag queens—Marlene, Monroe, and Aura—choose to remain in their war-torn country, fighting for LGBTQ+ inclusion amid Russia's invasion. Spanning from the 2014 Maidan Revolution to spring 2024, their story blends the glamour of drag with the brutality of war. Marlene, a beloved drag icon, hides a vulnerable side as Alexander, grappling with trauma and family obligations. Monroe, a popular influencer, navigates her evolving gender identity while advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. Aura, determined to fight for inclusion in both the military and society, balances the chaos of war with her love for drag. A charity drag show becomes a powerful moment of unity and resilience. The film is a story of self-discovery, love, hope, and the power to find joy even in the darkest of times.
Pet Farm, Finn Walther & Martin A. Walther, Norway, 2024, 83΄ (International premiere)
Joakim chases his childhood dream of breeding pet foxes, but external forces threaten to euthanize his beloved fox pack. Pet Farm is a story of loneliness, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human connections over bonds with animals.
Resilience, Tomas Elsik, Czech Republic, 2025, 80΄ (World premiere)
Pavel and Klara see the position of humankind in a larger context. Pavel has been taking care of spring meadows his whole life, cutting the grass with a scythe and helping preserve rare plant species on this planet. Klára hasn't come to terms with human ruthlessness and together with her dogs she hunts for deadly bait traps.
The Secret of Me, Grace Hughes-Hallett, UK, 2025, 80΄
Nineteen-year-old Kristi discovers a secret her doctor and parents have kept from her all her life. Her search for truth uncovers a radical psychology experiment on a pair of identical twins that led to a global medical scandal. It's 1995 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. During a feminist studies class, college student Kristi opens her textbook to discover something that turns her world upside down. For as long as she can remember, Kristi has felt different– now she knows why. Demanding her medical records, Kristi is finally confronted with the devastating truth: she has been lied to all her life by those she trusted the most. What follows is the unearthing of an extraordinary and disturbing secret that goes far beyond her own life, leading to the discovery of a psychology experiment on a pair of twins – once hailed as a revolutionary success but now revealed to be a terrible lie affecting thousands around the world.
The Treasure Hunter, Giacomo Gex, UK-Philippines-Mexico, 2025, 84΄ (World premiere)
Yamashita's Gold is known today as a mythical war loot allegedly buried by the Japanese Imperial Army across the Philippine archipelago during World War II for future recovery. Legend has it that to this day most of it remains unrecovered. The story has lured treasure hunters from all around the world. Among them, Jack and his father have dedicated their lives and spent millions of dollars to find it. Shot over seven years, this is the story of a son trying to earn his father's love, trust and respect. A dark path that leads to obsession and unhealthy addiction threatening the livelihood of his wife, children and their entire family.
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