23 Jun 8th BRIDGES LOUTRAKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL – BRIDGES NEREUS FILM AWARDS 2026
PRESS RELEASE
🎬 NEREUS Film Awards Successfully Conclude the 8th Bridges International Film Festival of Loutraki
The 8th Bridges International Film Festival of Loutraki concluded with a distinguished awards ceremony held at the Petrosophy – Petra Terzi International Cultural Center in Agioi Theodoroi, where the annual NEREUS Film Awards were presented to filmmakers from around the world.
This year’s festival showcased 90 films from 26 countries, further reinforcing its international character and commitment to promoting cinematic storytelling, innovation, and cultural exchange.
The ceremony was enriched by musical performances from Nikoleta Strongyli, Angeliki Xydi, Anastasia Vlouti, and Paraskevi Sarri, under the guidance of piano professor Eleftheria Voulgari, who presented beloved songs from internationally acclaimed musicals.
A special artistic touch was added through the visual creations of Susanna Chaviaras, while video messages from award-winning filmmakers across the globe offered a truly international dimension to the evening.
The Festival also honored George Kokkinos, President of the Choir of the Friends of Religious Music Association of Loutraki, whose ensemble participated in the Festival’s opening ceremony with a special musical program.
Among the distinguished guests were Alkiviadis Dritsas, Secretary of the Municipal Council, composer George Michas, filmmaker and advisor to the Hellenic Parliament TV Channel Aris Fatouros, participating artists, and film enthusiasts from both the Festival and the Petrosophy – Petra Terzi International Cultural Center.
🏆 AUDIENCE AWARDS
• Best Audience Animation Film: Soul – Kynthia Kontrorarou
• Best Audience Art Film: Escape – Vassiliki Kannou
• Best Audience Documentary: To The Finish Line – George Daios
• Best Audience Feature Film: About My Mom – Soner Sert (Turkey)
• Best Audience Short Film: January 5th – Yannis Papazachariou
• Best Audience Mid-Length Film: Trigger – Haris Gioulatos
• Cineart Audience Award: The Diary of a Weird Child – Yulie Archontaki
🎞️ SPECIAL CATEGORIES
• Best Animation Film: Play Along – Sonny Farenas (Mexico)
• Best Art Film: Pulp – Andrei Baican (Romania)
• Best New Technologies Film: Euthanasia Legitimacy – Giannis Aikaterinis (Greece)
• Best Artificial Intelligence (AI) Film: The 300 of Sparta – Simos Sophos (Greece)
• Best Virtual Reality (VR) Film: Our Earths VR – Sebastian Pichelhofer (Austria)
🤝 SOCIAL IMPACT AWARD
• Diversity & Inclusion Award:
A Day Through My Eyes – Charalampos Kontopanagos (Greece)
🌍 INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL COMPETITION
• Best International Short Film: Cliodhna – Aaron Ryan (Germany / Ireland)
• Best Greek Short Film: The Frame – Vasilis Nikas
• Best Mid-Length Film: Trigger – Haris Gioulatos
👩🎬 WOMEN IN FILM AWARDS
• Best Women’s Film: Centaurs – Stella Michael (United Kingdom)
• Best Emerging Female Short Film Director: An Ordinary Miracle – Stefanie Susanna Reinhard (Germany)
• Women in Film & Television Cyprus Award: Coming Soon – Liza Themeli (Greece)
The award was announced via a video message from Anna Christofini, President of Women in Film & Television Cyprus, who congratulated the winning filmmaker and thanked Petra Terzi, founder and first President of the organization, for establishing and developing the Cyprus chapter of the international network.
🎥 DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
• Best Short Documentary: The Game of Solidarity: AEK – Partizan 1999 – Ismini Sakellaropoulou
• Best Mid-Length Documentary: Single Headlocks – Panagiotis Papoutsis
• Best Feature Documentary: Homelandsickness – Gülsel Özkan (Germany)
🌟 HONORARY DISTINCTIONS
• “Pantelis Zervos” Honorary Distinction awarded to actor Takis Vogopoulos for his performance in Loner.
• “Anna Synodinou” Honorary Distinction awarded to actress Georgia Anesti for her triple-role performance in Season in Hell.
• “Iason Triantafyllidis” Honorary Distinction awarded to singer-songwriter Nena Venetsanou for her contribution to Season in Hell.
🏆 NEREUS GRAND AWARDS
• Best Theatrical Feature Film:
Season in Hell – Elias Malandris
• Best Feature Film:
About My Mom – Soner Sert (Turkey)
Festival Artistic Director Petra Terzi expressed her gratitude to the filmmakers, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and audiences who supported this year’s edition. She emphasized that the Bridges International Film Festival continues to build bridges of communication between cultures, artists, and societies through the universal language of cinema.
The 8th Bridges International Film Festival of Loutraki concluded successfully and looks forward to welcoming audiences again in 2027. 🎬🌉