Melbourne proudly presents the 29th edition of The Greek Film Festival, running from October 15th to the 29th, showcasing a diverse line-up of contemporary Greek cinema to entice audiences of all ages. Held at multiple resplendent venues, including The Astor Theatre and various Palace Cinemas, the gala includes 23 feature films and seven documentaries exhibiting Grecian antiquity, modern culture, and social issues.
Bill Papastergiadis, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, recommended audiences to view such films: ‘Hear Who’s Talking’, for a delightfully witty and provocatively charming romantic comedy that promises to leave your heart aglow, and the multi-award-winning ‘Murderess’, for a tour de force emphasising the incandescent talent of Karyofyllia Karabeti who is an utterly once in a generation actress.
He extols the virtues of ‘Mary, Marianna, Maria’, a captivating glimpse into the enigmatic life of the legendary Maria Callas, a true doyenne of the operatic sphere. ‘Ange & The Boss’ shares a riveting insider’s view of the golden era when team, South Melbourne Hellas, basked in the phenomenal presence of one of the greatest footballers of all time, Ferenc Puskás. ‘Mermaids and Rascals’ is an enchanting homage to ancient Greek tragedy, providing an alluring scope of pasts simpler, more innocent times.
Finally, to those yearning for a deeper cultural dive, Papastergiadis highly proclaims the evocative documentary ‘ANZAC’, a profound exploration of courage and sacrifice, boasting over 130 hours of compelling veteran interviews. With each poignant recounting of bitter battles and wrenching sorrows of the campaign, audiences are transported back to the tumultuous days of World War II. Enthralled in an immersive tapestry of nostalgia and reverence, the heartfelt narrations effusively honour the brave Greek comrades who fought valiantly beside them.
‘Hear Who’s Talking’, directed by Thodoris Niarchos, commenced the festival last week, depicting the crossroad that endures the central character of Fotis in both his personal and professional life. Once a successful life coach, he has lost sense of direction until his inner voice disparages him with an ultimatum: to discover love. The opening night proved intriguing and fitting, with the production being well received by the crowd as they departed with gleams of hope and laughter. The opening night proved intriguing and fitting, with the crowd receiving the production as they departed with gleams of hope and laughter. Greek culinary delights from local sponsors, amidst giveaways, which included a return flight to Greece, further enhanced the night's elation. As all films are offered in Greek and English through subtitles, the festival is an open invitation encouraged even towards those with non-Hellenic roots.
Closing night will pay tribute to iconic Greek actress, Mary Chronopoulou, with a screening of the classic film, 'Gorgones kai Magkes' (Γοργόνες και Μάγκες). Simultaneously, this date will include the 12th edition of the Greek Student Film Festival hosted at the Palace Cinema Como at 11 a.m. Bestowing a platform for emerging filmmakers, primary and secondary school students are able to utilise their Greek language skills to inherently share stories of their own and inspire the future generation.
The film line-up as follows:
- Africa Star (2024) - Directed by: Adonis Florides
- Aligned (2023) Directed by: Apollo Bakopoulos
- Ange & the Boss: Puskas in Australia (2024) Directed by: Cam Fink, Tony Wilson, Rob Heath
- Animal (2023) Directed by: Sofia Exarchou
- ANZAC the Greek Chapter (2024) Directed by: Peter Ewer, John Irwin
- Arcadia Champagne D’orient (2023) Directed by: Kostas Spiropoulos
- Brando with a Glass Eye (2024) Directed by: Antonis Tsonis
- Broken Sound (2021) Directed by: Fivos Kontogiannis
- Detached House (2023) Directed by: Ioakim Mylonas
- Gorgones kai Magkes (Γοργόνες και Μάγκες) (1968) Directed by: Giannis Dalianidis
- Grief Those Who Remain (2023) Directed by: Myrto Patsalidou, Maria Louka
- Guest Star (2023) Directed by: Vasilis Christofilakis
- Hear Who’s Talking (2023) Directed by: Thodoris Niarchos
- In A Fishbowl (2023) Directed by: Konstantinos Fragkoulis
- Little Things That Went Wrong (2023) Directed by: Haris Vafeiadis
- Love Rewind (2024) Directed by: Demetra Giannakopoulos
- Mary, Marianna, Maria 2024) Directed by: Michalis Asthenidis, Vasilis Louras
- Medium (2023) Directed by: Christina Ioakeimidi
- Mother Of the Station (2023) Directed by: Myrto Patsalidou, Maria Louka
- Murderess (2023) Directed by: Eva Nathena
- Operation Star (2024) Directed by: Vasilis Tsikaras
- Polydroso (2023) Directed by: Alexandros Voulgaris
- The Aegean (2024) Directed by: Jacob Richardson
- The Last Prayer (2023) Directed by: Vicky Arvelaki & Katerina Mpikaki
- The Last Taxi Driver (2023) Directed by: Stergios Paschos
- The Promotion (2023) Directed by: Periklis Hoursoglou
- The Rhapsodist (2023) Directed by: Nikolai Hamel
- Where We Live (2022) Directed by: Sotiris Goritsas
- Yani Spanos: A Life Behind the Marquee (2024) Directed by: Aris Dorizas
For more information and tickets, visit the official festival website:
https://www.greekcommunity.com.au/events/series/greek-film-festival-2024
Photography courtesy of Peter Kakalias (Constantly Flashing Photography).