After a three-year hiatus, the Greek Film Festival made a much-anticipated return to Canberra from October 25-27, drawing in audiences eager to celebrate the best of Greek cinema.
The event, organised in collaboration between the Greek Festival of Sydney and the Hellenic Club of Canberra, featured three screenings from the 29th Greek Film Festival line-up, captivating the local Greek community and film enthusiasts alike.
The festival kicked off with an exciting Opening Night on Friday, October 25, at Palace Electric Cinema, where Thodoris Niarchos’ hilarious comedy Hear Who’s Talking brought the house down with laughter. The atmosphere was festive and full of anticipation as guests were treated to speeches from prominent community figures.
Attendees included the President of the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, Pana Tsironis, and Hellenic Club of Canberra Director, John Loukadellis.
Among the speakers was Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Film Festival, who emphasised the festival’s broader mission to promote Greek culture beyond New South Wales.
Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), echoed these sentiments, stressing the significance of preserving Greek culture and language through films and other events, especially appealing to young people.
In his address, the then-President of the Hellenic Club, Andrew Satsias, praised the collaboration between the Greek Festival of Sydney and the Hellenic Club of Canberra, expressing optimism for a continued partnership in the coming years.
The Ambassador of Greece to Australia, Stavros Venizelos dedicated a few words to Peter Giannoudis and Stavros Raftopoulos, who he considers pioneers in distributing Greek films in Australia. He also highlighted the importance of Greek cinema in connecting immigrants to their heritage.
The film festival continued on Saturday with a screening of Murderess by Eva Nathena. The festival wrapped up on Sunday, October 27, with Christoforos Papakaliatis’ romantic drama What If, leaving viewers with a blend of hope and nostalgia as the credits rolled.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
