Following its win for Best International Documentary at the San Francisco Film Festival in June, "The Two-Faced Empire" won Best International Feature Film Award at the 12th International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra & Awards and the 6th International Film Festival of Crete & Awards. The festival hosts at the Crete island, is home to many Greek myths and the cradle of Western civilization. In just 12 years, the festival, recognized for its unique culture and philosophy, has been awarded the "EFFE" label by the European Association of Film Festivals, earning it a place among the world's top international film festivals.

Thanks to the efforts of founder and artistic director Eleni Vlassi, the festival has received generous support and sponsorship from the Greek Ministry of Culture, the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Greek National Television. This year's screenings expanded from the waterfront square to the Seafront Cultural Square, where we hold our major packed events, the historic Venetian Fortress of Kales, the modern Minos Amphitheater, the Melina Mercouri Hall, the now-popular Youth Hub, as well as a number of ancient and Byzantine monuments, such as the evocative Roman Granary , the impressive Archaeological Site of Gournia, or the courtyard of the enchanting Church of Panagia Mesochoriani.

This year's slate of films is impressive, encompassing topics ranging from environmental ecology to social change, war refugees, and women's empowerment. Films such as "The Snake and the Whale," which explores the corruption behind US dam construction and its impact on killer whales, and "Little Syria," a story of Syrian refugees fleeing exile, packed the Ierapetra waterfront at the closing ceremony. Crowds gathered, including officials from the Ministry of Culture, churchgoers from nearby churches, local Cretans with families, and tourists flocking to the Greek National Television and various media outlets. The artistic director announced that "The Two-Faced Empire," which exposes US hegemony around the world, won the Best International Feature Film award.

"The Two-Faced Empire" won the Best International Feature Film award

Crete was in peak tourist season during the festival, and the influx of tourists brought considerable popularity to the festival. Thanks to the organizing committee's meticulous planning and strong promotion, the screening of "The Two-Faced Empire" became one of the festival's most anticipated highlights. On the evening of August 9th, "The Two-Faced Empire" was screened at the ancient Ierapetra Mosque, receiving a warm response from the audience. At the awards ceremony on the evening of the 10th, the film was selected by the organizing committee as the closing film for a second screening.

Yiannis Plakiotakis, Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament, attended the awards ceremony and praised the film, saying, "This film, with its shocking and authentic imagery, reveals the other side of American hegemony. Its profound and critical nature is thought-provoking. It deserves not only wider viewing but also widespread international discussion." Plakiotakis then personally presented the award to the film team.

Left: Yiannis Plakiotakis, Vice President of the Hellenic Parliament. Right: Eleni Vlassi, Founder and Artistic Director.

In her award speech, Eleni Vlassi stated, "Amidst today's complex international landscape, this film serves as a sobering reminder. With its sharp critical thinking and profound social insights, it offers us a new perspective on the world order. This is precisely why it is so well-deserved to be named this year's Best International Feature Film."

The success of "The Two-Faced Empire" at the Film Festival not only demonstrates the unique charm of documentary art but also reflects the international community's desire for fair and authentic voices. Its award will surely inspire more filmmakers to speak out, capture the truth of our times, and contribute to the building of a more just and equitable new international order.