27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival: “My Sextortion Diary” (Todo Lo Cubre la Sol): A Currency of Threats and Humiliation

Patricia Franquesa, a Spanish filmmaker, meets her ex-boyfriend at a restaurant in Madrid for lunch. Her laptop is stolen by two men as is visible on security camera footage. She reports the matter to the Madrid police. Two months later a hacker informs her three “compromising pictures” on her laptop will be distributed to all those on her contact list unless $2,400 USD (BITCOIN) is paid.

Patricia informs her contacts that her laptop was stolen and the blackmailing hacker may be contacting them with the explicit photos and if so the e-mail should not be opened but not deleted as it may be used for evidence.

Patricia refuses to pay the ransom and the hacker continues off and on with threats as after all the threat is the weapon and the longer the resistance the more desperate the extorter may get and the less currency the threat has. After all sextortion’s currency is the threat secured by fear of humiliation of the victim.

The police in Madrid and Barcelona dutifully take reports but are not making any progress due to a lack of interest or resources. The two thieves are arrested but the hacker is still at large.

Patricia acts as a sleuth and makes progress in finding the IP address of the hacker (in Spain) which VPN has obfuscated but still can prove somewhat useful. Then the hacker makes a beginner’s mistake narrowing down the list of suspects. The mystery deepens when a full security video emerges with a third man at the scene of the theft talking to the two thieves and signalling them to steal the laptop. At this point my strong suspicions as to who the hacker is are bolstered. Considering the fact the hacker knew Patricia was just returning from vacation is a mistake on the hacker’s part exposing a personal connection. Additionally, why has the hacker spent so much time and effort for a paltry $2,400 ransom. It is beginning to sound like a very personal matter perhaps amounting to revenge. 

Patricia defeats the hacker through a bold and unexpected manoeuvre and then makes this documentary about her unpleasant experience. You might want to say for all the anxiety and stress suffered Patricia has her revenge on the hacker.

The documentary throws out a few statistics about sextortion and its true extent is probably greater than published statistics as many of its victims remain silent fearing embarrassment and humiliation if they do so. It assumes even more pernicious dimensions when directed toward adolescents as can be witnessed by the death of Amanda Todd in Canada recently committing suicide in desperation after being sextorted.

The film concludes with an old radio broadcast describing the potential terror of nuclear destruction. Sextortion may have a destructive nuclear effect on its victims.

RKS 202% Documentary Film Rating: 86/100.

27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival: “Small Dogs Bark Loud”: A Recipe for a Successful Children’s Documentary

 The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs until 16March2025.

“Small Dogs Bark Loud” is a Norwegian documentary deserving categorization as a successful children’s documentary and even more appealing as it doesn’t leave the adult viewer drowning in syrupy and overly simplistic platitudes.

Tuni, a twelve-year-old, lives with her family undergoing challenges leaving Tuni with some anxiety and fear. Her older brother she thought so happy and adventurous committed suicide. Her mother’s liver cancer is worsening. Tuni realizing the concept of time as a limited commodity devises a comforting bucket list.

Her companion and confidant to express her emotions is a tiny white Maltipoo Chihuahua mix, Salto acquired a year after her brother’s suicide. Tuni has an attitude and he acts far larger than his size challenging larger dogs and farm animals with a less than ferocious bark which is less a bark and more of a yap!

Salto is cute and immediately attractive to a child and even more attractive as he engages in conversation with Pus the family cat, other dogs and farm animals. His mission is to protect and care for Tuni.

Tuni has difficult issues to manage including suicide, serious illness and her various related anxieties. The importance of family, companionship, loyalty compassion, friendship and adversity are dealt with in the documentary in both a serious manner yet with levity brought about by that cute fluffball Salto. Many children face similar issues and “Small Dogs Bark Loud”  tackles them so very gently any rough edges smoothed out by that loveable Salto. Serious enough to engage adults.

A journey of healing.

My take is that it is attractive to the 8–12-year-old child and parental companions.

This 75-minute Norwegian documentary is directed by Nora Tvedt Nivedita.

RKS 2025 Documentary Film Rating 88/100.

27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival: “9:30”: Finding Some Good from the Depths of Unspeakable Horror

It was just another day in May of 2020 at 09:30 when 34-year-old accountant Ionna Paliospirou parked her car and headed towards the elevator in the lobby that would take her up to her office in suburban Athens.

But it was no ordinary day as she was attacked by the elevator by a mentally disturbed women under the mistaken idea Ionna had stolen a man with whom she had sexual relations with. She was doused with two liters of sulfuric acid.

With her mask on throughout the extended interview Ionna tells her story and it is a chilling one to be attacked and disfigured by an assailant you never met. The attacker received a prison sentence of 15 years.

The surprise and shock, the realization her skin was burning, horrible pain and the injustice of it all. Remarkably during the on-screen interview there is no anger abut the attack and the emotional and psychological trauma inflicted including the pain and a feeling of being imprisoned by having to wear the mask for two years to promote healing.

It is not sheer unending negativity and anger that shines through in the documentary but the resilience to deal with the attack and its aftermath. It is remarkable that Ionna established a foundation to offer support and protection for burn victims. Support of her friends was essential in moving on with life and helping other burn victims to do the same. There may be a silver lining in a ferocious storm cloud.

There is an element of suspense in the documentary as we are presented with Ionna at the outset of the documentary and we only learn the story moving backwards in time with the incessant WHO and WHY dogging our mind. The WHO is a disturbing surprise and the WHY is mental illness of the WHO.

All of us have heard of acid attacks and shake our heads in disgust but the documentary traverses beyond our disgust and permits observation of its physical and psychological effect on the victim.

This Greek 25-minute short documentary is directed by Constantine Venetopoulos.

RKS 2025 Documentary Film Rating: 78/100.

27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival: “Death Plan for a Dog and a Man”: The Oracle of Death in Athens Speaks

The 27th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival runs until 16March2025.

Slice and dice your interpretation of the Greek documentary “Death Plan for a Dog and a Man” and you just may have nailed down the last nail of the coffin. For lack of a more sophisticated descriptor this is a “fun” film but one with deep meaning.

Artsy yes. Obscure and irrelevant no.

An elderly man and his dog Ermis look death proximate. In the haunting backdrop of “High COVID” Athens the man sits on a chair with a weakened Ermis at his side outside their hovel and watch the world go by. There is not much of a world as there are almost no people on the street except for several homeless people sleeping.

Is the elderly man an oracle of death who at one point in the hills overlooking Athens speaks to its citizens about how powerful he is as the strongest made for all times warning those below no mater how you hide evil will find you? His view is that how much a human tries to differentiate himself from animals humans are animals hibernating in fear of COVID’s possible death grip.

I derive my interpretation of the elderly man as an oracle of death by the fact early on he repeatedly speaks with Yiorgos a neighbourhood friend that has died. Who can speak with the dead other than an oracle of death? Another plausible interpretation is the elderly man is in purgatory with Ermis waiting for his final trip across the Acheron. What I will not accept is that this is simply a documentary about COVID. Rather COVID is the background where the oracle of death is omnipresent stating that all have a death plan and you follow the steps starting with a bored soul that notifies your cells it is time they prepare for the farewell.

Death is but a part of life and we all have our death journey with optimism, fantasy, the desire to become rich, the willingness to accept salvation from it all then death.

When death is near the haunting soundtrack is accentuated by the sound of buzzing flies reminiscent of the bloody pig head on a stick in “Lord of the Flies”.

This 66-minute Greek documentary, or short if you prefer, is directed by Christos Karakepelis. Its layered complexity demands your attention and challenges you to make an interpretation of its meaning.

RKS 2025 Documentary Rating 96/100.

Violence Escalates in Porto and the Douro Region: Portuguese Fast Food Chain Windows Riddled with Bullets in Porto: Wine Tanker Overturned and Grapes Destroyed in Paraquat Aerial Attack: Spoof News Services: Lisbon, Portugal: 7March2025

Tensions are escalating throughout Portugal overnight.

 Seven fast food restaurants, “Filipe’s Francesinhas Shack” had their windows shot up early this morning. No injuries were reported. Portuguese ballistics experts identified bullets and shells of American, Russian and North Korean manufacture.

A wine tanker in the town of Regua in the Douro region fully juiced up with Touriga Nacional was riddled with bullets once again identified as American, North Korean and Russian.

Fields of grapes mostly field blend at Quinta Senora de la Gringo on the outskirts of Lamego in the Douro region were sprayed overnight with the herbicide Paraquat. Two Algerian workers have been blinded and are in hospital suffering severe respiratory failure. Portuguese air traffic control reports two helicopters suspected of dousing the grapes were tracked to a small airfield in Spain just over the Portuguese border. 

No group or country has claimed responsibility for the violence on property and grapes.

Kristal Numbhead, Secretary of the United States Homeland Paranoia Department, recently labelled the 5March2025 vandalism of McDonalds and Burger King Restaurants in Porto orchestrated by The Francesinhas Liberation Front (FLF) and Confraria Proud Boys (CPB) as acts of terrorism and designated these two groups as terrorist organizations. Numbhead emphasized threats to The Golden Age of America will not be tolerated. Numbhead stated, “The leader of these two terrorist groups is citizen of Macau. Our New Republican Guard knows his location. We believe his code name is “The Penniless Pensioner”. We terminated Bin Laden and we will terminate this thug.”

Satellite photos may have captured the leader behind FLF and CPB vandalism in Porto pictured here singing Cuban revolutionary songs

Sao Mamedes, the prime minister of Portugal issued the following statement, “Ballistic reports identified the bullets as from the Unholy Alliance of the United States, Russia and North Korea. Our view as a unified government is these vile incursions and acts are in relation to the recent Trade Protection Pact (TPP) agreed to between Canada, Portugal, Panama, Greenland and Mexico. The TPP is a protective mechanism against American aggression manifested by the executive orders of Donald Trump. Our Assembly of the Republic today has censured the governments of North Korea, the United States and Russia and I have summoned their ambassadors to Portugal to express my displeasure. Any further attempts to violate Portuguese sovereignty will not be tolerated.”

Spoof has received unconfirmed reports of American cruise ship passengers most easily identifiable by large stomachs and gaudy clothing roaming the streets of Porto and Lisbon with their ice cream cones profusely dripping on sidewalks as well as empty packets of Ozempic scattered on the roadways have been pelted with Portuguese roast almonds and taunted with shouts of “Go back to your floating hotels and stuff your gullets at the midnight chocolate buffet!”.

RKS 2025 PORTUGUESE Wine: Pedra Cancela Vinha Da Fidalga from the Dão

From Carregal do Sal in the Dão region. The grapes were destemmed. Aged 8 months in French Allier oak barrels and 10 months in the cellar after bottling. At 1 gram of residual sugar a dry wine! The soil is granitic, sandy, slightly acidic and poor in nutrients.

A blend of Touriga Nacional and the omnipresent red grape of the Dão, Alfrochiero

Aroma: Dense and lush bouquet splashing out blueberry, blackberry, violets and smoked meat.

Palate: Obscure tannins. Plush and lush like it couldn’t hurt a fly. Blueberry, cassis and cherry pie on the long pulsating finish.

Personality: I am an excellent example of a top class Dão wine. I am tired of playing second fiddle to the red wines of the Douro. I am not saying I am superior to those wines but I am different and it could be the Alfrocheiro that makes me that way. You will have to struggle to find a Douro wine as silky as me. In terms of texture you might want to compare me with an oaked Washington State Merlot.

Food Match: Red meats, roasts and washed rind cheeses.

Cellarbility: At its peak now but enjoy throughout the remainder of 2025.

Price: $ 28 CDN.

RKS 2025 Wine Rating: 94/100. Roger Voss 93.

(Pedra Cancela 2018, Vinha da Fidalgo, DOC Dão, Lusovini, Portugal, 750 mL, 13%).

Statement by Mable Jolly Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs: Canada, Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Greenland: Trade Protection Pact (TPP): Spoof News Services: Gatineau, Quebec: 6March2025

“The Government of Canada is pleased to announce the imminent execution of the Trade Protection Pact (TPP) between Canada, Portugal, Mexico, Panama and Greenland.

Canada and Mexico are acting in self defence to illegal tariffs imposed upon them by sham executive orders of President of the United States, Donald Trump or as we affectionately refer to him here in Canada as “Donald”. These Donald executive orders are in contravention of free trade agreements executed between The United States, Canada and Mexico.

Threats of annexation or reclamation have been levied by the United States against Canada and Greenland by reason of the United States securing control their natural resources. Panama has been threatened with the seizure of its Panama Canal by the United States.

Portugal’s wine has been barred from entry into the United States by a fabricated claim it violates health standards of the United States being contaminated by toenail fungus. This amounts to a severe and direct insult to Portugal.

Further details about the TPP can be accessed on the Government of Canada website at wws.igloopeoplenation.com but I provide you here with some of its key terms;

 Canadian Oil/Petroleum Products

Canada has agreed to provide tariff free petroleum to Portugal to be transported from Saint John, New Brunswick by way of specialized ISO Tank equipped tankers. Four such tankers will be built by shipyards in Collingwood, Ontario the cost being borne by the Canadian government.

Refining capacities at the Irving Oil Refinery in St. John, New Brunswick will be expanded to increase daily output of 320,000 barrels to 1,000,000 barrels. The cost of the expansion of existing facilities will be borne equally by the Governments of Canada and the provinces of Alberta and New Brunswick. All oil currently being shipped to the Northeastern United States by the Irving Oil Refinery will cease within one month after the signing of the TPP and diverted for shipments to Portugal.

All petroleum products shipped to Portugal must be for consumption in Portugal.

An Alberta to New Brunswick oil pipeline will be constructed such construction to start immediately and be funded by the Government of Canada.

Industrial Goods and Minerals

All industrial goods and minerals shall flow tariff free between TPP signatories.

Portuguese and Canadian Wine

Returning tankers from Portugal to Canada shall transport bottled (not bulk) Portuguese wine, including Port, back to Saint John.

Portugal has agreed to the establishment of Canadian only wine shops in Coimbra, Lisbon, Porto, Albufeira and Regua to be operated by Canadian entrepreneurs.

Produce, Pescatarian Products and Foodstuffs

All produce and foodstuffs, provided they meet standards agreed to by the provisions of the TPP, can flow tariff free between TPP signatories.

Notably this should benefit Greenland’s most important export fish and crustacean products and revitalize Portugal’s sardine exports

Tourism and Culture

Tourism and culture between the signatories shall be encouraged.

Accommodations in the Portuguese network of pousadas shall be offered to citizens of TPP signatories at half the list price.

All tourist visas will be eliminated for travel between TPP signatories’ citizens.

National air carriers shall not pay any landing fees at TPP signatories airports.

Sports

The Lisbon Larks professional hockey team shall be admitted as a team in the newly formed Canadian Hockey League. The Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadians, Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks were expelled from the National Hockey League by executive order of President Trump on 5March2025 and consequently have formed the Canadian Hockey League.

The Toronto Tigers soccer team shall be admitted into Portugal’s Liga 2 soccer league.

Restaurants

Tim Hortons will be permitted to establish 26 locations in Portugal and conversely the Portuguese chicken chain Frango Obrigado shall be permitted to open the same number of establishments in Canada.

Portugal, Canada, Panama and Mexico shall immediately declare Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and McDonald’s outlets operating in their countries as a national health hazard and impose a tariff of 50% on the value of all food going into the gullets of their customers.

Charitable donations To Fentanyl Care Centres in the United States

Due to the fentanyl scourge affecting the United States and its total inability to deal with the societal issues creating and augmenting the problem and its historically irrefutable failure to stop the flow of illegal drugs into it TPP signatories shall make charitable donations to fentanyl care organizations in the United States as they see fit. Supply can never be controlled where there is demand. Fentanyl is not an excuse for economic destruction particularly when it is obvious Canada leaks a miniscule amount if that drug into the United States.

Administration Offices

A jointly staffed central administration office shall be established at Pico Island in the Portuguese Azores.

This is a great moment in history for Canada, Mexico, Panama, Greenland and Portugal. United we stand. United we will not fail.

Massive Free Trade Deal To Be Signed Between Canada, Greenland, Portugal, Mexico and Panama “Tariff Protection Pact (TPP)”: Spoof News Services: Lagos, Portugal: 6March2025

Spoof News Services has learnt Portugal, Greenland, Canada, Panama and Mexico are in the process of executing a massive free trade deal with a goal of escaping economic and physical annexation of these countries as states into the United States of America.

Specifics are unknown but Spoof contacts reveal the deal centres on Canadian oil, Portuguese and Canadian Wines, Mexican and Panamanian produce, mutual tourism and lots of fish. A joint office of trade administration will be established on Pico Island in the Portuguese Azores.

Special envoy orchestrating the wine aspect of TPP is RKS Wine a multinational consulting firm involved in wine distribution and wine tourism. A representative of RKS Wine declined extensive comment other than saying Okanagan Wine Producers will be holding a TPP celebratory tailgate party at Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia as soon as it is warm enough to do so.

Further details will be forthcoming. Portuguese governmental representatives are expected to make an announcement soon.

The Canadian Province of Prince Edward Island Removes all U.S. Alcohol from the Shelves

On March 4, 2025 Hon. Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island and the Cabinet Committee on Trade Relations, announced the Government of Prince Edward Island’s Tariff Response Plan, outlining the province’s strategy to support businesses impacted by newly implemented U.S. tariffs.

“As a province, we did not ask for these tariffs, but we have been preparing for this reality,” said Hon. Rob Lantz, Premier of Prince Edward Island. “Our government has assessed, planned, and advocated—and now, we are taking action to protect our industries and support Island businesses through these challenges.”

The Tariff Response Plan includes immediate and targeted measures to help businesses adapt, maintain operations, and explore new trade opportunities. The first phase of programs, launched today, will provide capital relief, export assistance, and supply chain support. All U.S. products will be removed from the Liquor Control Commission catalogue and all U.S. products will be removed from the shelves immediately.

Canadian Province of Saskatchewan to Cease Ordering United States Alcohol

The Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe announced today that “that the Government of Saskatchewan has directed Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) to stop purchasing US-produced alcohol and has directed that goods and services procured by the Government of Saskatchewan prioritize Canadian suppliers, with the goal of reducing or eliminating US procurement. Liquor retailers will no longer be able to order US-produced alcohol, however they may still choose to sell their remaining inventory. This approach defends the interests of Saskatchewan’s economy while avoiding negative impacts on Saskatchewan’s liquor retailers who have already purchased US products.”