The beauty of film festivals is that each one, from the smallest to the biggest, has its own character. A character that is determined not only by the organizers and the quality of the program, but also by the location and the audience. The Athens International Film Festival, which took place in the ancient capital of Greece September 21 to October 2 is defined by its lively, enthusiastic and well-informed audience.

Known for its cinephile crowds since the sixties, Athens can boast a young generation that promises to go to anything cultural as well as a mature group of faithful movie-goers. Central cinemas were continually sold-out, the cafes in between them full, the streets never empty. The city, hit hard by crisis, experiences nonetheless traffic jams at two in the morning, especially during the days of the AIFF.
 

Yet it's not an easy audience. It demands the most provocative one can offer. For example, Lucile Hadzihalilovic' Evolution, a dark and beautiful vision of a world ruled by cruel women, and Julia Ducoumau's Raw, a tale of modern cannibalism among veterinary students in France, commanded eager crowds and packed theaters. At the same time, it was no coincidence that the audience awarded one of the most subtle and tender stories seen in this festival – The Red Turtle, an animated masterpiece by Michael Dudok de Wit.
 

Unlike its counterpart in Thessaloniki which becomes a focal point for Balkan cinema, the AIFF turns its attention toward all corners of the world, and especially cherishes independent gems from the West. Operation Avalanche, a US-Canadian mockumentary and directorial debut by Matt Johnson that explores a well-known conspiracy theory about the 1969 landing on the moon, Closet Monster, a Canadian coming-of-age story, or James Schamus' Indignation were prominent features in the international competition.

The festival's "western" tendency was balanced by films that come with a whole other perspective, such as Hedi, a story by Mohamed Ben Attia about the intricate relationships between men, women, sons and mothers in the Muslim culture of Tunisia, or Under The Shadow by Babak Anvari, a cross-genre look at how war influences human interactions.

Since times immemorial, Athens has been considered Europe's gate to the East and vice versa.  AIFF continues this tradition, and I, as a participant in the international competition jury, could not but enjoy standing in the crossroads.