THESSALONIKI’S INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL AT BIBON
On Wednesday, 29th of April, BIBON welcomes the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival to Naoussa, launching a new series of screenings in partnership with one of Greece’s leading cultural institutions.
The opening film will be “Your Many Mirrors. Winter Swimmers”, directed by Giannis Angelakis and Andreas Siadimas. Director Giannis Angelakis will be present on the evening and will join the audience for a conversation after the screening.
The documentary explores the remarkable journey of an unconventional group of musicians brought together by the vision of Argyris Bakirtzis. Through friendship, artistic curiosity and decades of shared experience, the film captures a creative path that has endured for nearly sixty years.
The screening begins at 20:00.
Over the coming months, BIBON will host seven selected documentaries by Greek filmmakers from the 28th edition of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Based in a beautifully restored landmark building, at 17 Hatzimalousi Street, Greece’s first Wine Library continues to evolve as a space for culture, dialogue and new ideas.
Following the opening night on 29th of April, further screenings will take place on selected Fridays through to late September, offering audiences in Naoussa the chance to discover contemporary Greek documentary cinema and engage with its creators.
Admission is free of charge. Guests who wish to support the ongoing work of the Library may make an optional €5 donation on arrival. Every contribution helps sustain an open cultural space accessible to all.
WEDNESDAY, 29 APRIL 2026
Your Many Mirrors. Winter Swimmers
Directed by Giannis Angelakis & Andreas Siadimas
Start Time: 20:00
Venue: BIBON, 17 Hatzimalousi Street, Naoussa
Running Time: 105 minutes
Due to limited seating, advance booking is essential.
Reservations: +30 23320 24993
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday, 8 May
Exile(s)
Directed by Giorgos Iliopoulos
Friday, 22 May
HillTen
Directed by Giorgos Papastamoulos
Friday, 5 June
Dear Future
Directed by Christianna Cheiranagnostaki
Friday, 12 June
Passing the Torch
Directed by Giorgos Tsivranidis
Friday, 11 September
Tell Me
Directed by Nikos Mengrelis
Friday, 25 September
In the Footsteps of Moments
Directed by Penelope Fatourou
The Words Behind the Zournas at BIBON: A Musical Journey into the Tradition of Naoussa
On February 20, 2026, BIBON hosted the event “The Words Behind the Zournas” before a full house and in a deeply moving atmosphere. Dedicated to the living tradition of Naoussa and organised in collaboration with the Association of Genitsari and Boules of Naoussa, the music-narrative evening offered the audience a rare opportunity: to hear the words that, during the Carnival celebrations, are usually drowned out by the piercing sound of the zournas and the daouli, the traditional wind instrument and drum that accompany the custom.
The lyrics were curated and performed by Christos Tsitsis, who guided the audience step by step through the ritual. By musically isolating the two instruments, he allowed the lyrics to emerge clearly—something that rarely happens during the custom’s live performance. Through his interpretative approach, the songs that come to life each year in the streets of Naoussa revealed their deeper meaning and storytelling.
The audience was transported to the doorsteps of the Genitsari’s homes, listening to the words that accompany the farewell ritual and their initiation into the “Boulouki”. From there, the journey continued to the Town Hall, where the group traditionally asks the Mayor’s permission for the custom to take place. The audience then followed the symbolic route along the old boundaries of the town, making seven traditional stops—each accompanied by a different song performed by Christos Tsitsis.
With the musicians recreating the musical atmosphere of old Naoussa salons inside the Library, the audience discovered real treasures. Songs that many people know only as melodies were revealed as rich lyrical texts, carrying social, historical and even romantic themes. Among those that stood out were “Thourios”, the famous revolutionary hymn of Rigas Velestinlis, as well as Makrinitsa, Chontrosougkla and Tou Nikou.
The evening closed with a surprise. A live rendition of the traditional patinada “of Sanidas”, led by the vibrant and powerful sound of the zournas, conveyed to the audience the festive spirit and collective joy that mark the peak of the Carnival celebrations.
Once again, BIBON reaffirmed its role as a space dedicated to preserving and highlighting the cultural memory of Naoussa, linking tradition with a contemporary lived experience. Through these unique sounds and stories, the audience gained a deeper understanding of the custom—its structure, symbolism and its lasting importance to the identity of the city.
Performance Credits
Christos Tsitsis — Lyrics Curation & Performance
Kostas Varveris — Narration
Giannis Ketanis — Violin
Apostolos Zafeiriou — Lute
Maria Petkou — Vocal Performance (Makrinitsa)
Nikos Dragoumanos — Zournas Instrument
Stavros Pazarentzis — Daouli Instrument
BIBON at the “Naoussa, City of Wine Festival 2026″
The three-day festival “Naoussa, City of Wine 2026” once again concluded with great success, filling the city’s streets with visitors and wine lovers. As part of the programme, ΒΙΒΟΝ — Greece’s first Wine Library — played an active role in enhancing the festival’s cultural character, offering a dedicated space for meeting, learning, and storytelling around wine.
On Saturday, January 17, BIΒON hosted the Greek premiere of the documentary Blood and Wine, directed by Niklaas van Poortvliet. Open to the public and presented with Greek subtitles, the film added a distinct narrative layer to the festival’s programme. Through the stories of three wine-producing families, wine was portrayed not simply as a product, but as the outcome of human continuity — shaped by choices, values, and a deep bond with the land.
The fully booked screenings and the warm response from the local community underscored BIΒON’s role as an active cultural hub for the city, open to contemporary forms of expression and dialogue around wine culture. An experience that reaffirms the Wine Library’s position as a steady meeting point for the wine world, meaningfully enriching Naoussa’s cultural landscape.
