The 10th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival continues with screenings and side events

The 10th DFNP has started, and Kalamata is already living in the festival rhythm of the grand celebration of the documentary. Daily appointments are made in the darkroom—always with free admission—allowing the public to interact with the cream of the world's documentary production.

Educational seminars with professional filmmakers and students of film schools and the Fine Arts have started. At the same time, many schools participate in the big celebration with projections, Game Design and Creation, and animation creation with the guidance of experts.

Screenings & Events Programme-Theodoros Angelopoulos Amphitheatre

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27th
17.00 Last Song From Kabul, by Kevin MacDonald (34')

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan – music was banned, and the penalty was death. The young girls who belonged to a quiet music school had to go into hiding, fearing for themselves and their families. Directed by Oscar-winner Kevin MacDonald (One Day in September, Whitney, The Mauritanian), the documentary tells the riveting, heroic story of these girls, who, now orphaned with broken hearts, must escape to Portugal.

18:00 Seize the Summit, by Arwa Jabiri Damon & Binnur Karaevli

(75') PRESENCE OF DIRECTOR/EDITOR

Four young people, strangers to each other and all war refugees, unite by accepting the challenge of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the seven summits and the highest peak in Africa. The INARA charity has brought them together to shed light on the effects of war on children. This is a story of physical and emotional adventure, a roller coaster ride of life, and all the possibilities that arise when we walk together.

19.30 In the Mirror-Father Stamatis and Stamatis, by Lena Voudouris (73') PRESENCE OF THE DIRECTOR

The meeting of two people of the Image, who are entirely different to each other. The one is father Stamatis Skliris, priest, physician, theologian and well-known iconographer-painter who has painted many churches and many painting exhibitions with exceptional work for modern iconography. The other is Stamatis Giannoulis, an influential cinematographer of many essential films in Greek cinema. The film follows the friendly relationship between them while filming a documentary about the paintings of Father Stamatis. It is a relationship violently interrupted by the sudden death of Stamatis Giannoulis, and this film is one of the last of this important filmmaker.

21:00 Stray Bodies, by Elina Psykou (109')

(The screening in collaboration with the New Film Club of Kalamata - FilmHouse)

Robin is pregnant, but she doesn't want to be a mother. Katerina wants to but can't. Kiki just wants to die with dignity. But abortion, IVF and euthanasia, respectively, are not legal in their countries. Stray Bodies explores bodily autonomy in a Europe where you are allowed to travel, work, and consume freely but not necessarily live or die as you wish.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28th
15:00 Presentation of the result of the seminar True Narratives: Mastering the Documentary

17.00 La Malavita/ The Underworld, by Paolo Colangeli (79')

A former young gangster returns to Naples to direct Macbeth. Looking for actors in the city's narrow streets, he meets new gang members and people stigmatised by crime. As he prepares them for the project, he discovers shocking similarities to the reality of the Camorra and struggles to convince a young girl to give up a life of crime.

18:30 Tribute to Lia Beltrami

19:00 Guardians of the Rainforest, by Lia and Marianna Beltrami (52')

The Amazon River, the Congo Basin, Borneo. A trip to the rainforests. It is a collective song from the voices of indigenous women as they share their stories: what the forest means to their very existence, their fears in a reality of socio-ecological destruction, and their hopes to build something different.

20:00 Alganesh: All ' orizzonte una speranza /Alganesh: On the horizon, a hope, by Lia Beltrami (60')

On the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, after decades of war, another battle is now being fought: that of the survival of thousands of Eritrean refugees fleeing the dictatorship.

21:00 Pol Pot Dancing, by Enrique Sánchez Lansch (102')

A leading dancer in Cambodia's royal court lovingly raises her husband's little brother as her own son. Decades later, as a worker 

under the oppressive yoke of the Khmer Rouge, she discovers that her stepson is none other than Pol Pot, who, from 1975 to 1979, wiped out 25% of Cambodia's population.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29th
17.00 A.T.H.E.N.S, by Giorgos Danopoulos (70')

The filmmaker moves around the big city, observing and recording daily activities. However, it focuses on two people: Panagiotis, a character who creates arguments in a neighbourhood, and Apostolis, a gentle figure who tries to convey the message of Christianity in the streets of the city.

18:30 The Carnation Revolution, Portugal from dictatorship to democracy/ The Carnation Revolution, Portugal from dictatorship to democracy, by Einar Braathen, Anne Kjersti Bjoern (50') PRESENTATION OF DIRECTORS

It has been 50 years since the Portuguese people overthrew their fascist leaders and ended the colonial wars. Young Einar experienced the turmoil, so he goes back and records it.

19:30 When Woman Came to Earth/ When Woman Came to Earth (6'), by Anne Kjersti Bjoern DIRECTOR APPEARANCE

As punishment, Pandora was given to humans. Her dowry, a box filled with the worst disasters, such as war, poverty and death, came to earth. Later, René Descartes sought advice from Sigmund Freud.

20:00 A Day, 365 Hours, by Eylem Kaftan (82') PRESENCE DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Three young women are united by their shared experience of abuse. Their unexpected meeting creates a strong bond that gives them the strength to face their abusers in court and help other young women seek justice.

21.30 The Eternal Memory, by Maite Alberdi (84')

Augusto Gongora, a veteran Chilean journalist and prominent chronicler of the crimes of the Pinochet regime, and Paulina Urrutia, actress, activist and politician, have been a beloved couple for twenty years. Gongora was diagnosed with Alzheimer's eight years ago and now faces the inevitable and accelerating decline of his physical and mental strength.

SATURDAY 30th NOVEMBER
11.30 Book presentation of Fotini Nikolaidou and Stathis Valoukos

15:00 Atirkül in the Land of Real Men, by Janyl Jusupjan (65')

Men engage in a team sport with a long tradition in the vast plains of Kyrgyzstan. The object of the buzkashi game is to steal a dead goat as a trophy from the opposing team of riders while still riding the horse. Into this harsh man's world enters Atirkul, a woman with an entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of humour. The ethnographic perspective alternates with a purely personal one, gradually revealing the possibilities of transcending gender roles.

16:00 KAUGERE: A Place Where Nobody Enters, by Stephen Dupont (60')

A father fights to save his sons from crime through rugby in one of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Papua New Guinea. Despite hardships, police brutality and poverty, the family tries to find hope and redemption in sport.

17.15 A burst of song by Lia Beltrami (30') PRESENT

In Calcutta, three women born and raised in extreme poverty find refuge in a charity home. There, they manage to overcome difficulties and pursue their dreams, finding hope for a better future.

18:00 Searching for Rodakis, by Kerem Soyyilmaz (57') PRESENCE OF DIRECTOR AND PROTAINER

In 1887, Chrysoula, who died at 17, was buried on the floor of her house in a small village 100 kilometres away from Constantinople. Thirty-seven years later, Chrysoula's family, due to an exchange of people, left her buried on the floor of the house and was expelled to Northern Greece. A hundred years later, the director's family, who lives in this old house, found Chrysoula's grave during the floor repair.

19:15 "Nicasio" musical event with Nicasio Moreno /cello

19.30 Nicasio: Wood does not listen to reason, by John Petrizzelli and Marina Vera (16') PRESENCE OF DIRECTOR AND STARRING

Nicasio, an Andalusian cellist of humble origin and strict upbringing, reached the heights of flamenco showbiz before COVID-19. The pandemic unexpectedly paused his career, leading him to become a street musician. This decision changed his understanding of music and the world. Undeterred, despite the harsh conditions, he plays daily on what he now considers the best stage in the world.

20.00 Abel Azcona The Triggering Artist / Abel Azcona: The Ambiguous Artist, by Karlos Alastruey (62') PRESENT DIRECTOR

Abel Azcona gained international fame through a series of performances that caused enormous controversy and raised questions about the Western world's social, political, and ideological challenges.

21.30 Fighting Demons with Dragons, by Camilla Magid (91')

Three children on the cusp of childhood and adolescence attend the Esterkoff boarding school, one of the most special schools in the world: here, the lesson is taught through RPGs (role-playing games), and the children learn through disguise and transformation to come to terms with trauma and their personality fluctuations.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 1st
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

12:00 Citizen Nobel, by Stéphane Goël (90')

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry transforms the life of Jacques Dubochet. Passing from the shadow of obscurity into the light, he is invited everywhere to speak. What can he do with that voice that everyone can now hear? How do we define the matches to be given? How can one become a "Citizen Nobel" aiming to take responsibility as a researcher and member of the human community? A speech by Greta Thunberg turns everything upside down…

13.30 North Circular, by Luke McManus (85')

A multi-award-winning music documentary that travels along the mythical north side of Dublin, where local characters share their intense and emotional stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music. The film conjures ghosts of the past while dealing with the conflicts and celebrations of today, with a dash of Dublin humour.

MAIN ZONE

15:00 Photophobia, by Ivan Ostrochovsky & Pavol Pekarcik (71')

On a cold February morning, 12-year-old Niki and his family arrive at the Kharkiv metro station to seek refuge from the terrifying war raging outside. For Nicky's family, daylight is synonymous with mortal danger, and the boy is not allowed to leave the station premises, living under the constant glow of neon lights. While aimlessly wandering the abandoned cars and platforms, Nicky meets Vika (11,) and a new world opens up before him. As their bond grows stronger, the children once again find the courage to feel the sun on their faces.

16:30 Manifesto, by Angie Vinchito (alias) 67'

"Manifesto" is a chilling documentary made entirely of social media videos shot by Russian teenagers. The film reveals a dark reality of classroom violence, social control and fear, posing the terrifying question: How does a society's aggression quietly pass to its youth?

18:00 Baghdad on Fire by Karrar Al-Azzawi (60')

A young Iraqi woman, Timba, is fighting for freedom and equality in her country, actively participating in the 2019 protests. Despite hardships and disappointment, Timba continues to dream of a better future for Iraq, claiming her right to education and independence.

19.00 Slaves of the Empire, by Rajesh James (52') DIRECTOR APPEARANCE

The film unfolds against the backdrop of colonial-era Fort Kochi, a picturesque town in Kerala, India. This gripping film delves into the daily lives of a local community of laundry workers who the Dutch enslaved during the colonial period. Through the fascinating journeys of four central characters - Rajan, Prati, Rajasikhara and Selvaraj - the film crafts a vivid portrait of their remarkable stories, depicting their trials and triumphs and their unwavering spirit of resistance and perseverance.

20:00 "Cities - Roots" (20') PRESENCE OF DIRECTORS

Vertebrate documentary - result of the PeldocFest - Faito Fest competition

It consists of the works "Terre distante" by David Muñoz Álvarez - 5' (Bel), "Walk this Way" by Alexandra Vanousi 5' (Ger), "The City of Faces" by Christos Angelidis, Stavroula Samaras, Avra ​​Stavroula Sotiropoulou- 5' (Gre) and "Omonoiares" by Stathis Galazoulas 5' (Gre).

21:00 CLOSING CEREMONY

21.30 "MULTI CULTI" CONCERT

Multicultural concert dedicated to Peace!

10th Peloponnese International Documentary Festival

Organisation: Creative Documentary Centre of Kalamata
Co-organiser: Region of Peloponnese, Municipalities of Kalamata, Xylokastro-Eurostin, Nafplio and Elis, film clubs of Sparta, Gytheio and Monemvasia, Naked Eye of Patras, Cultural clubs of Leonidio and Akrata, PIOP, Iliopoulos Filiatra Museum, Music School of Tripoli

Artistic Director: Gina Petropoulou

Artistic Advisor: Kleoni Flessa

The 10th DFNP is carried out with financial support and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

Support: EKKOMED (Creative Greece)