The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival in Greece has announced its 2026 winners, with Michal Marczak’s Closure taking home the festival’s top honor, the Golden Alexander.
Closure Wins Big
Marczak’s searing documentary follows Daniel, a father desperately searching for his missing teenage son Chris, last seen on a bridge over the Vistula River in Warsaw. The film, which premiered at Sundance, was completed in just 14 months and has already touched audiences deeply.
Marczak revealed that the project was first presented at Thessaloniki’s Forum last year, where he connected with producer Rémi Grellety. “We were super-fast editing as we went, just really trying to stretch our resources and get this movie out,” he said.
The director shared a moving story about a viewer who told him the film helped them overcome suicidal thoughts. “I cried when I heard that message,” Marczak admitted, underscoring the film’s emotional impact.
Birds of War Earns Four Awards
Another standout was Birds of War, directed by Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak. The film won four prizes, including the Silver Alexander. Built from Habak’s extensive footage shot during Syria’s civil war, the documentary captures the devastation of conflict and the resilience of civilians.
Habak, who lived through the siege of Aleppo, said the recognition was deeply meaningful. “It’s a circle of life, it’s a circle of war. That is how our region has been impacted for the past more than 50 years,” he explained. He added that while Syria is trying to rebuild after years of destruction, new conflicts in the Middle East threaten fragile peace.
Global Relevance
The Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival has long been a platform for powerful stories from around the world. This year’s winners highlight themes of loss, resilience, and survival, resonating with audiences far beyond Greece. Closure will serve as the opening night film at Poland’s Millennium Docs Against Gravity festival, while Birds of War continues to spark conversations about war, peace, and humanity.
