Greek Cinema Gains International Momentum and Recognition

Greek cinema is gaining momentum internationally, according to filmmakers who recently participated in the “When East Meets West” forum in Trieste, Italy, one of Europe’s leading training and networking events for audiovisual professionals.

“I see tremendous interest in Greek cinema, and it’s wonderful. People want to watch films from Greece,” said Ioanna Davi, CEO and producer of Indigo View, speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency. Producer Konstantinos Vassilaros of StudioBauhaus confirmed the trend, noting that many Greek projects travel abroad and are well received. “The work in Greece is appreciated because it tells stories that can travel beyond our borders,” he said, emphasizing the role of young filmmakers and improved funding for audiovisual productions.

Director Dimitris Gotsis traced the rise of international interest in Greek cinema to the 2009 economic crisis and the global recognition of Greek films, particularly after Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Dogtooth” won awards at Cannes. “This wave created conditions for a new generation of filmmakers to produce highly engaging content,” he said, while noting that funding remains more limited than in other countries.

At the Trieste forum, participants presented projects, sought collaborators, attended lectures, and exchanged ideas with international colleagues in a safe environment. Davi highlighted that such forums allow creators to step back from daily pressures and evaluate their work with a fresh perspective, fostering co-productions across cultures.

Indigo View continues to focus on stories that spark conversation and human empathy. The company recently produced “The Island,” which addressed the stigma of leprosy, and “The Word You Don’t Say,” exploring autism. Davi also revealed that the feature film Recrucified, based on Nikos Kazantzakis’ Christ Recrucified, is in post-production, aiming to present the classic literary work with a modern and dynamic approach to a new generation.

Vassilaros presented Alexis Koukiá-Pantelis’ Macramé at the forum, a project selected from 200 applications for co-production opportunities. Gotsis also showcased a documentary in development aimed at completion in the near future.

The forum hosted 12 Inspirational Labs designed to train producers at various stages of professional development. The Greek Film Centre (EKKOMED) financially supported Greek producers’ participation in workshops on series production, animation, co-production, genre projects, and investor collaboration.