Drama International Short Film Festival 2026: National Crew Awards and Independent Jury Winners

Summary

• “Wheel to Live” won the €5,000 Onassis Film Award and the O.K.L.E.
• award
• “The Great Organ” won the Cinematography Award and distinctions from P.E.K.K.
• and E.T.E.K.T.-O.T.
• “Free Eliza” earned Alexandra Matheou the Screenplay Award and Grigoria Metheniti the Best Actress Award
• Alkistis Kafetzis won the Greek Documentary Directing Award for “Before the Meal Gets Cold”
• DISFF49 runs from September 6-12, 2026, presenting 157 films including 45 world premieres

The 49th Drama International Short Film Festival announced its National Crew Awards and independent jury distinctions, with “Wheel to Live,” “The Great Organ” and “Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection)” among the films that stood out.

A special awards ceremony at the packed Alexandros open-air cinema presented the crew awards of the National and National Student Competitions, the Greek documentary distinction from the new International Documentary Competition, as well as prizes awarded by independent bodies and juries.

The ceremony is particularly interesting because it highlights not only directors and films but also the professions at the technical and creative core of filmmaking: screenwriting, cinematography, editing, sound, production design, costumes, music, makeup and visual effects. At the same time, independent jury selections brought films addressing disability, employment, social inclusion and difference into the spotlight.

“Free Eliza”: Screenplay and Best Actress awards

Alexandra Matheou received the National Competition Screenplay Award for “Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection),” accompanied by a €3,500 cash prize from EKOME.

The same film also earned Grigoria Metheniti the Best Actress Award for her performance as Eliza, accompanied by a €500 prize. The story follows a tourism-sector employee who cannot smile while her workplace continuously demands that she appear cheerful.

“Free Eliza” already had a notable international presence, having made its world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival before being selected for both the National and International Competitions in Drama.

The other National Competition crew awards

Nikolas Drosopoulos received the Best Actor Award for “Strays” by Anastasia Gkivalou, accompanied by a €500 prize.

The Cinematography Award went to Giorgos Kolios Tsirogiannis for “The Great Organ,” directed by Roxani Krimizi and Michalis Kimonas, also accompanied by a €500 prize.

Giannis Chalkiadakis received the Editing Award for Diamantis Anastasiadis’ “A Small Story of Resistance. Ioulia Bimba.” In addition to a €500 cash prize, the award includes an Avid Media Composer license.

Konstantinos Chaldaios, Efthymis Gronthos and Afroditi Psychouli won the Production Design Award for Anthi Daoutaki’s “Amaranti,” while Marianthi Christodoulou received the “Ioulia Stavridou” Costume Design Award for Chrysianna Papadaki’s “The Candle.”

Alexandros Miaris was awarded for the Original Music of Loukia Tzortzopoulou’s “Good Friday,” receiving Avid Pro Tools Ultimate. The Sound Award went to Stelios Koupetoris for Konstantinos Demis’ “The Dog.”

Ioanna Lygizou received the Makeup Design Award for Thanos Tokakis’ “Against the Rooster,” while Nikolas Kanellopoulos won the Special and Visual Effects Award for Alexandra Delitheou’s “Holterline.” The sound, production design, costume, makeup and visual-effects awards accompanied by cash prizes are worth €500 each.

“Wheel to Live” receives two major independent distinctions

Among the films making the strongest impression on the independent juries was Vicky Anastasiadou’s “Wheel to Live.”

The film won the Onassis Film Award, accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize. The jury highlighted the immediacy of its storytelling and the way the story approaches a person’s relationship with their body and a radical change in their life.

“Wheel to Live” also received the award of the Federation of Greek Film Clubs. Written by its lead actor Nikos Tsoggidis, the film focuses on a person living with severe disability following an accident and his attempt to redefine the course of his life.

Three distinctions connected to “The Great Organ”

“The Great Organ” by Roxani Krimizi and Michalis Kimonas also had a strong presence among the awards.

In addition to the National Competition Cinematography Award for Giorgos Kolios Tsirogiannis, the film received the award of the Greek Film Critics Association.

The association highlighted, among other elements, the film’s use of sound design, its narrative structure and the way it portrays people who have often been marginalized both socially and on screen. The film tells an unusual love story between an autistic worker and a woman with Tourette syndrome, combining human drama with elements of fantasy.

“The Great Organ” also won the Technical Excellence Award of the Union of Greek Film and Television Technicians – Audiovisual Sector. The production includes demanding visual effects, including the creation of a distinctive portal that plays a key visual role in the film.

“Shift” and Konstantinos Kiousis’ cinematography

Ioanna Skylogianni’s “Shift” received an Honorable Mention from O.K.L.E., which highlighted its depiction of the demanding working conditions faced by young people in the food-service sector.

Konstantinos Kiousis also received the GSC Cinematography Commendation for “Shift.” The distinction comes with a complete set of three next-generation STORM LED lights valued at €2,500. The Greek Society of Cinematographers also gave a special mention to Giorgos Vlassis’ visual work on “The Monsters of the City” in the National Student Competition.

Emerging producer award for “Horizon” and “Shift”

The Association of Independent Audiovisual Producers award went to Kostas Mavrias, Ioannis Koutouzis and Maria Archonti for the films “Horizon” and “Shift.”

The jury stressed that the prize is intended to provide recognition to young producers taking their first substantial professional steps in cinema.

A special mention was also given to Roxani Krimizi for her production work on two demanding films in this year’s programme.

From Drama to Clermont-Ferrand for Ioanna Digenaki

Ioanna Digenaki won the “From Drama to Clermont” award with her film “The Desert.”

The distinction enables a young Greek director to travel to the next Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and participate in the “Road to Clermont-Ferrand” networking programme. The winner was selected by an institutional committee representing the French Institute of Greece, EKOME and the Drama International Short Film Festival.

The National Student Competition winners

In the National Student Competition, Eugenia Papazisi won the Screenplay Award for “Meltdown,” which she also directed. The award is accompanied by a €2,000 cash prize from ANT1 Media Lab’s screenwriting school.

Giorgos Tzoulio Katsis won the Best Actor Award for Akis Stavropoulos’ “Solountrania,” while Georgia Liosi received the Best Actress Award for Nikolas Kostis’ “A Moment in Her Life.”

The “Dinos Katsouridis” Cinematography Award went to Nelly Evangelidou and Giorgos Vlassis for “A(N)OIKIA” and includes technical support for the production of the director’s next film.

Pavlos Papadopoulos received the Editing Award for Silva Tsoumana’s “My Cousin’s Wedding,” while RECTIFIER won Production Design for Sofia Priovolou’s “From 1 to Blue.” The Sound Design Award was presented to HYDRAMA for Vasilis Georgoulas’ “Game Farm.”

The first year of the International Documentary Competition

2026 marks a milestone for the Drama International Short Film Festival, as documentary filmmaking has received its own international competition section for the first time. The programme features 17 documentaries from around the world, including five Greek productions.

The Greek Documentary Directing Award went to Alkistis Kafetzis for “Before the Meal Gets Cold.” The prize includes €1,000 from the Greek Directors Guild as well as laboratory and post-production services worth €2,500 from Stefilm.

A festival with 157 films and 45 world premieres

DISFF49 takes place in Drama from September 6 to 12, 2026, as the festival approaches its 50th anniversary.

This year’s edition presents 157 films from around the world, including 45 world premieres. Its programme comprises the National, International, National Student and International Student Competitions and, for the first time, the new International Documentary Competition.

The International Competition includes 26 films representing 20 countries, while the Drama International Short Film Festival is an Oscar-qualifying festival and is also connected to the European Film Academy awards framework, giving particular significance to its leading distinctions.

What we think

This year’s awards demonstrate the breadth of contemporary Greek short-film production: distinctions are not concentrated on a single film or genre but range from social realism and documentary to fantasy cinema.

The multiple distinctions for “Wheel to Live” and “The Great Organ” are particularly noteworthy, as is the trajectory of “Free Eliza,” which combines an international festival presence with awards for writing and performance. Equally important is the establishment of documentary as an autonomous competitive strand at DISFF49, expanding the scope of the Drama festival in the year leading up to its 50th edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the 49th Drama International Short Film Festival taking place?

DISFF49 runs from September 6 to September 12, 2026, in Drama, Greece.

Which film won the Onassis Film Award?

The Onassis Film Award went to Vicky Anastasiadou’s “Wheel to Live” and is accompanied by a €5,000 cash prize.

Who received awards for “Free Eliza”?

Alexandra Matheou won the Screenplay Award, while Grigoria Metheniti received the Best Actress Award.

Which film won the Greek award in the new documentary competition?

Alkistis Kafetzis won the Greek Documentary Directing Award for “Before the Meal Gets Cold.”