International Short Film Competition

LAND OF SALVATION

Land of Salvation is a short film set in the evocative environment of the Sotiria Museum — a former sanatorium and one of the most important pulmonary hospitals in Greece. The name Sotiria means Salvation in Greek, capturing the spirit of care and resilience that defines the space. The film was created as part of the museum’s permanent exhibition on the fight against tuberculosis and serves as an extension of its mission: to preserve memory, illuminate hidden histories, and promote collective healing. Conceived as a cinematic challenge that brings together archival material and fiction, the film unfolds through three key layers: the museum’s collection, the patients’ archive, and the site itself. It is structured around four characters who carry fragments of personal and collective memory. As the camera moves through the under-construction building, the architecture becomes a living presence, enhancing the narrative. The film redefines a space of the past, unfolds within the museum’s present, and opens up a space for the future. It honors the legacy of the institution — bearing witness to a place that was more than just land: a land of acceptance, a land of healing, a land of salvation.

SHORTS O’CLOCK II, Saturday, April 18, 18:15 Bucharest Time (EEST)

ENGLISH TITLE:

Land of salvation

Original title:

Τόπος Σωτηρίας

Director:

Ifigenia Dimitriou

Country:

Greece

Genre:

documentary

Year:

2026

Length:

18’

Cast:

Fotini Tentolouri

A quote for the film:

More than land, Sotiria is a space of acceptance, a land of healing, a land of salvation.

Selective list of festivals and awards:

International Premiere

Director’s bio:

Ifigenia Dimitriou is an architect, museologist, and filmmaker. She studied at NTUA, UPC Barcelona, NYFA, and Queen Margaret University. She is pursuing a PhD on space and cinema and writes and directs fiction, documentary, and experimental films recognized internationally.