About the Festival
Positively Different Short Film Festival
PDSFF23: Resistances
PDSFF23 – Resistances, 16 – 19 March 2023, Athens (main event), Berlin, Bologna, Zagreb, Malta, Barcelona, Dakar (simultaneous screenings of awarded films).
PDSFF23 is a trans-local cinematographic space of creation and resistance. We collectively negate the existing order that disconnects and confines persons, communities and struggles. We make room for a new space where we can be together in all our diversity – safe and brave at the same time.
We invite filmmakers, documentarists, visual content creators, students and emerging artists to submit their shorts. We are particularly interested in the topic of intersectionality; in the stories of communities and individuals that, due to their identities and life-experiences, remain unseen.
Positively Different Short Film Festival focuses on the multiple facets of oppression and aspires to further creative works, cultural networks and political causes from and about the ‘invisibles’ of modern societies. Our team and audience seek for shorts that reflect personal involvement and urgency. Aesthetic coherence charms us; clarity and simplicity excite us.
Submissions from Africa in PDSFF are fewer than other parts of the globe. This, however, reflects neither the quality nor the quantity of works produced. PDSFF23 gives space and motivation to African filmmakers to share their work.
The festival will feature a curated catalogue of 30 short films that will be screened at TRIANON cinema in Athens from March 16 to 19 competing for 4 prizes – Best Film Award, Audience Award, Best Greek Production, Best African Production. Concerts, workshops and masterclasses, special screenings, poetry-slam sessions and discussions will assemble an intense three-day celebration of diversity and community . On the fourth day, awarded films will be simultaneously screened in special events organised around the world. At least 3 screenings will be organised in Europe and one in Africa.
The festival will support all finalists to join festival events in person.
You can submit your films through the FilmFreeWay platform.
Early bird deadline (free): August 25, 2022
Deadline for regular submission (€5): 31 October 2022
Announcements
Call for volunteers
It’s this time of the year!
As we’re collecting shorts from all around the globe, we’re also looking for our PDSFF23 film selection Volunteers’ team!
What you will gain from joining our team:
- Experience and professional training on:
a. film critique
b. the intersectionality framework
c. event accessibility - Collaboration with an international team of committed and motivated people
- All access to screenings and side events
What we’re looking for:
- Cinema related experience (professional, educational, volunteering)
- Interest in the topic of intersectionality
- Sense of responsibility
- Inclusion mindset
Complete the form below by September 25 & join the PDSFF23 team:
https://interaliaproject.com/participation/pdsff23-volunteer-call/
PDSFF22 x Zagoriwood
On 22/7 #PDSFF22 goes to Zagoriwood! 🐐
Until then, we read what Mel Kalfanti said to Stella Elmatzoglou from 3point magazine about its Positively Different schedule, visibility, and a snowy March weekend ✨ Many thanks to Stella and our friend from the magazine! ✨
PDSFF22
The curatorial team of #PDSFF22 and Inter Alia warmly thank all the people who made this event so unique – guests, creators, volunteers and of course, all of you who attended and filled the TRIANON room for three consecutive days. Over the course of the festival run, 35 shorts were screened competing for three cash awards. The official selection was complemented by the open discussion ‘Symptoms of Masculinity’ and the ‘Living Library’ event. Los Tre band completed Saturday’s program with a full house jazz live. PDSFF22 wrapped with over 20 international guests, 1500 euros in cash prizes and over 1700 visitors and attendees. Stay tuned! #PDSFF23
More photos at: @positivelydifferentff
'Symptoms of masculinity' Round-table Discussion
Trianon cinema was filled with an audience eager to discuss with involved experts from diverse fields, coming together to analyse gender-based violence as a symptom of dominant masculinity and alternative ways to discuss the concept and reexamine its meaning.
The panel involved Anna Kouroupou, director of Red Umbrella Athens, who shared her experience of trans activism and precarity as a trans sexworker; Anna Maria Papacharalambous, an actress that is among the ones who inspired the explosion of the #metoo movement in Greece, coming forward to share her experience of gender based violence in the arts sector; Dimitris Terzis, a journalist with many years of experience, discussing how gender roles have changed in this demanding sector; Aggeliki Serafeim, a lawyer who explained what could be achieved if femicides were recognized as such by the law; and Antonis Poulios, psychoanalyst, sharing his thoughts on the influence of the gender binary in the construction of the human psyche. The panel was facilitated by Mel Kalfanti, member of PDSFF’s curatorial team and doctoral student.
The audience remained invested in the panel discussion and had a lively participation in the following discussion, sharing professional and personal experiences on the topic.
PDSFF22 x Masterclass on Film Critique
The Masterclass on Film Critique with Yiannis Kantea-Papadopoulos was followed up with our final meeting on Saturday the 6th, where we met physically and virtually to talk about intersectionality.
We had the chance to get an insight on the theory behind the festival’s rationale, discuss our experiences related to our multiple and conflicted identities, and learn from each other, through games and discussions. The next phase, that of programming, is about to kick off and we couldn’t be more excited! #PDSFF22
2022 Awards
Positively Different Short Film Festival Best Film Award
Positively Different Short Film Festival Audience Award
Positively Different Short Film Festival Best Greek Production
Bridging the Gap
The market man
To Vancouver
Honorable Mentions
The Old Man
Scars
An Ocean
In the silence of an abyssale sea
Videos
Positively Different Short Film Festival 2022
Positively Different 2022 Trailer
'Symptoms of masculinity' Round-table Discussion
Positively Different Short Film Festival 2021
Positively Different 2021 Trailer
Positively Different Short Film Festival 2020
Positively Different 2020 Aftermovie
Positively Different 2020 Trailer
Positively Different 2020 Teaser
Meet the Team
Organisers
Volunteers
Irini Tampasouli
Jacques
Olina Karagianni
Dimitris Asproloupos
Elena Markopoulou
Christina Mpitzeli
Giannis Andronikidis
Hara Papadatou
Apostolos Nalmpantis
Tzeni Krithara
Marina Bikou
Isobel Phillips
Christos Salikas
Nasia Christoy
Jury Committee
Robbie Eksiel
A journalist and a film critic, Robbie Eksiel was a film writer for the daily newspaper Ethnos from 1993 and its chief film reviewer from 1998 to 2017, a writer at the Greek film magazine Cinema from its foundation in 1989 to its last issue in 2017, and a contributor at several weekly or monthly variety magazines through the years. He has served as artistic director at the Greek Film Center (2007-2009) and as a member of the governing council at the Greek Association of Film Critics (2006-2016). A FIPRESCI, European Film Academy and Greek Film Academy member, he has also served in several FIPRESCI juries (Toronto, Tromso, etc) and as a member of the Discovery Awards Nominations jury for the EFA for three consecutive years. He is a contributor at the film site www.flix.gr, a programming consultant at the New York City Greek Film Festival and the artistic director of the Larissa International Film Festival.
Ines Johnson-Spain
Kostis Theodosopoulos
Venue
TRIANON is not a building where a business struggles to survive.
TRIANON is countless individuals who are struggling to support entrepreneurship in art
Having hosted everybody who is passionate about art.
Having relentlessly supported young Greek filmmakers.
Having resisted the decline of downtown Athens.
Believing every moment that “PATISION Lives”.
More info at: TRIANON.GR
Communication sponsors
Sponsors
Official Logos
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