Docs on the Spot

“The Paper Chase” tribute

Bureaucracy (noun): a system for controlling or managing a country, company, or organization that is operated by a large number of officials employed to follow rules carefully // complicated rules, processes, and written work that make it hard to get something done

The perplexing structures of bureaucracy do not differ much from one place to another around the world: long queues, longer delays, a lot of wasted time and uncertainty are some of its most common manifestations. The 21^st Thessaloniki Documentary Festival sheds light to the global phenomenon of bureaucracy through a free-admission tribute titled “The Paper Chase” with 5 feature documentaries of recent production that will have their Greek premiere in Thessaloniki.

The films:

Border of Pain by Ruth Walk (Israel, 2018) World Premiere: The inter-dependence of the Israeli and the Palestinian health services and medical systems is documented through the exchanges between the two sides across various health norms and institutions. Testimonies of patients, law enforcers and doctors expose the intricate network of regulations and constraints that can both save and cost lives.

Crime + Punishment by Stephen Maing (USA, 2018): The film chronicles the brave efforts of a group of active duty officers and one private investigator who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices which have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades.

Goodbye Party by Loghman Khaledi (Iran, 2018) World Premiere: Jalal’s hereditary building, being an Art School, used to train many great artists for more than 60 years. Now he is forced to sell it. As he strives with keeping the memory of the place and managing the state’s diverse limitations, he holds a special goodbye party.

Restless by Bernard Attal (Brazil, 2018) International Premiere: In 2014 a young man from a poor neighborhood in Brazil was arrested by the military police and never seen again. His father had to go through complicated canals to conduct an investigation that led to the indictment of seven policemen. This documentary unfolds his story.

Open to the Public by Silvia Bellotti (Italy, 2017): The premises of an Italian public service -the Independent Institute for Public Housing (IACP) of Naples- reveal the complicated mechanisms of bureaucracy, but also intense discussions, fragile human stories and the struggle to find solutions.

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All venues of the screenings of the tribute “The Paper Chase” are accessible to people with disabilities.

Free Admission - Zero value ticket is required for your admission to the screening.

The tribute “The Paper Chase” is implemented by the Operational Program “Public Administration Reform” and it is co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund) and Greek National Funds.