26th Athens International Film Festival: The Awards of the International Documentaries Competition
“Petit Samedi” by Paloma Sermon-Daï won the Golden Athena for Best Documentary.
The Jury of the International Documentaries Competition section of the 26th Athens International Film Festival was comprised of:
MANI BENCHELAH, Filmmaker and Photojournalist
KONSTANTINOS AIVALIOTIS, Director of Ethnofest
REA APOSTOLIDES, Producer
ROKHSAREH GHAEM MAGHAMI, Documentary Filmmaker
CHLOE TRAYNER, Open City Documentary Festival Director
Golden Athena Best Documentary Award
“Petit Samedi” by Paloma Sermon-Daï
In the jury’s own words:
“From a filmmaker in control of her cinematic language, Petit Samedi is a story told through a tender lens with warmth, humour and stylistic rigour. The film offers a bold perspective on addiction and the importance of family with an honest and measured gaze. The Golden Athena Best Documentary Award is given to “Petit Samedi” by Palom Sermon-Daï”.
Special Mention
“In A Whisper” by Patricia Pérez Fernández and Heidi Hassan
In the jury’s own words:
“A moving and poetic collaborative film from two friends who utilise their cinematic form to reach across time and distance. Weaving together the personal and political with masterful edit, In A Whisper is an intimate reflection on exile and the experience of being a woman, in life and filmmaking. The jury wishes to give special mention to “In A Whisper” by Patricia Pérez Fernández and Heidi Hassan”.
The Golden Athena Award statuettes for Best Film and Best Documentary were designed by George Sepetzoglou and were kindly sponsored by the ZOLOTAS jewellery stores.