Culture 3 min read By Trevor Kendall
Thessaloniki Film Festival Sets International Competition With Walter Thompson-Hernández's 'If I Go Will They Miss Me'
Walter Thompson-Hernández's indie feature 'If I Go Will They Miss Me' is among 10 titles selected for the International Competition at this year's Thessaloniki Film Festival, following its Sundance debut and a theatrical release from James Shani's Rich Spirit.
Walter Thompson-Hernández's independent feature «If I Go Will They Miss Me» has been selected for the International Competition at this year's Thessaloniki Film Festival, where it will screen alongside nine other titles. The film's inclusion places it in one of the Greek festival's most closely watched sections, giving the project a further international platform after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The feature debuted at Sundance earlier this year and was released theatrically by Rich Spirit, the company led by James Shani. The Thessaloniki selection marks another step in the film's festival run, bringing Thompson-Hernández's work to European audiences and to industry attendees gathering in Greece for the event.
The International Competition lineup comprises 10 films in total. The festival has positioned the section as a showcase for filmmakers from a range of backgrounds, and this year's slate mixes established names with newer voices. For «If I Go Will They Miss Me,» the slot follows a period of growing attention around the title, which has been described as one of the more talked-about independent releases of the season.
The cast includes Danielle Brooks and J. Alphonse, among others. Further details about the film's plot and production have circulated alongside its festival appearances, though the Thessaloniki announcement has focused on its place in the competition rather than new material about the project.
Thessaloniki has long served as a launchpad and meeting point for international cinema, drawing programmers, distributors and press alongside local audiences. A berth in the main competition can raise a film's profile ahead of awards season and help secure additional territory sales, particularly for independent titles that have already completed a domestic theatrical window.
For Rich Spirit, the selection extends a release strategy built around festival visibility. Shani's company has positioned itself as a backer of director-driven work, and «If I Go Will They Miss Me» fits that profile as a feature that moved from Sundance to theaters and now to a European competition slot.
The full International Competition roster and the festival's complete program are expected to be confirmed in the run-up to the event. The inclusion of Thompson-Hernández's film places it among the 10 titles vying for the section's top honors, with the festival set to draw international attention to the slate as screenings begin.
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