David Strathairn at the Opening Night Ceremony and My Blueberry Nights Screening (11/16/2007) - photo copyright © Thessaloniki International Film Festival

Overview: David Strathairn attended the 48th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which ran from November 16 - 25, 2007, in Thessaloniki, Greece. David, along with longtime friends and co-workers John Sayles, Chris Cooper and Maggie Renzi were onhand for the festival's tribute to the work of John Sayles. Multiple screenings of all of Sayles's films took place and, in addition, Sayles received a Golden Alexander Award and screened his new film, Honeydripper. David's film, My Blueberry Nights, also served as the opening night film for the festival.

The following overview of the Opening Night Ceremony comes curtesy of the following Press Release:

The 48th Thessaloniki Film Festival started off in a splendid display of lights, colors and sounds. In the packed Olympion Theatre, the audience counted down the start of the Festival through the Festival logo and the pulsating sounds of Nikos Touliatos and his percussion group, as the sounds synced the rhythm of the entire theatre.

Those that attended the opening ceremony (which was directed by Thanos Anastopoulos) had the chance to experience an atmospheric, cinematic universe. Scenes and images from European avant garde cinema were shown on the Olympion Theatre's screen as well as on four huge, whitish balloons that were suspended from the ceiling. Through the "eyes" and words of Ingmar Bergman, the audience learned about the great director's first experience in cinema. When the narrator's evocative voice stopped, Konstantinos Kontovrakis stepped up to the stage and greeted the audience mentioning that the 48th Thessaloniki Film Festival focuses on young directors and discovering new and fresh cinema. "However, we are proud to honor those who have taken their art to new heights, renowned artists such as John Sayles, Costas Gavras, William Klein, Fatih Akin, David Strathairn and Chris Cooper who are visiting us today, here in Thessaloniki to share their experiences and especially their art with us..."

Also speaking at the ceremony was actor David Strathairn of Wong Kar Wai's My Blueberry Nights, which was screened at the end of the ceremony. Mr. Strathairn considers the film's screening at the 48th Thessaloniki Film Festival rather important, since, as he explained, "it is screened in a country which has been dealing with the very difficult topic of humanity and the search for love for millenniums, which is also the main subject of My Blueberry Nights."

Related Links:
48th Thessaloniki International Film Festival (off site)