The first day of the Kalamata Short Documentary Film Festival offered the audience six captivating conversations with filmmakers, revealing the stories behind their films, their sources of inspiration, the challenges they faced, and the messages they aim to convey.

"The Future of Clay": A Bridge Between Cultures

Konstantinos Potamianos, director of "The Future of Clay," shared his unique experience filming in China, describing his effort to understand and capture the culture of a distant land. “This trip and documentary was a unique experience for me,” he stated. “It was my first time visiting China, I was in a culture shock with everything around me, and I didn't know what to shoot first.” The connection with the protagonist, a Chinese potter seeking his artistic voice, proved crucial for the film's development.

"Sticks and Stones": The Dark Side of the Internet

Georgios Gkoris, director of "Sticks & Stones - The Truth of Cyberbullying," analyzed the impact of cyberbullying on young people, emphasizing the need for awareness and intervention. “Adolescents build social circles and lifelong relationships through their time at school,” he pointed out. “During this time, bullying can weaken their purpose and lead them to disconnect from their community.”

A following extensive discussion was further enriched by the contributions of Kalliopi Spyropoulou, a lawyer and mediator for the Ministry of Justice, and Panagiotis Petropoulos, an educator and director of the 5th General Lyceum of Kalamata. Their legal and educational perspectives on addressing this complex issue enhanced the dialogue significantly.

"Arkadia": Harmony with Nature

Andra Ion, director of "Arkadia," shared her experiences filming in the Pyrenees, following Victor, a young shepherd who chooses a lifestyle in harmony with nature. “The idea of the lonely nomad shepherd has always intrigued me,” she stated. "Being a nomad shepherd is a commitment that involves all aspects of one’s life and making this commitment in 2022 is no small feat, as it goes against the ways in which most of us have been used to live."

"Hantush - a fairytale": A Cry for Palestine

Alexia Tsouni, director of "Hantush - a fairytale," highlighted the situation in Palestine and the impact of the Israeli occupation. "The images we saw in the film have worsened, and the Israelis have further altered the desert landscape, using all the water in the area for pools and new houses, leaving the sheep with no water to drink," she denounced.

"Open Wings": A Message of Optimism

Taxiarchis Deligiannis, director of "Open Wings," discussed the animation and the allegorical story of the two birds. "Amidst the everyday harshness of Athens, an unexpectedly tender image of a small bird playing harmoniously with a larger one... sparked the first seeds of an allegorical story," he mentioned.

"OMI-DO": The Power of Will

Nikolas Papadimitriou, director of "OMI-DO," described the story of Dimitris Omiridis, a 76-year-old athlete who defies aging stereotypes. “Exercise remains the central axis around which Dimitris organizes his daily life, despite his advanced age,” he pointed out. "Through exercise, Dimitris claims his autonomy and freedom."