The 13th Greek Student Film Festival – staged within the 30th Greek Film Festival of Sydney – filled the cinema with laughter, pride, and plenty of Greek as students premiered short films made in classrooms and community schools across Sydney.
Emcee Dimitri Kallos opened with acknowledgements to presenting partners and guests, including Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW), Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Festival of Sydney and Film Festival, Lucia Johns, from the NSW Federation of Community Languages, and Geocorp Finance owner Paris Georgiadis.
Kallos underscored how the festival gives young people a chance to “be creative, think outside the box and showcase Greek in new and exciting ways,” while keeping language and culture thriving.
The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW (GOCNSW) President Harry Danalis praised the initiative as a practical way of promoting Greek language and culture through student-led storytelling.
Backed by Geocorp Finance (prize pool: $500 for first, $400 for second, $300 for third in each category) and supported by RAW Vines Estate for participating teachers, the event also highlighted an international learning link: Zoom workshops with Greek children’s educational centre Naniko Plano, founded by filmmaker Dimitris Spyrou (The Flea), whose work featured as part of the festival’s 30-year celebrations.
After the formalities, Kallos invited the audience to grab their popcorn – “Let’s enjoy what these students have made for us” – and the reels began.
2025 festival focus: Democracy
This year’s theme, “Democracy,” invited students to treat democracy not just as a political system but as a value, a right, and a shared responsibility – explored through fiction, documentary, or animation.
Prompts ranged from decision-making at school or home, to youth voice, rights and equality, history or imagined worlds without democracy, and what happens when people can’t make their own choices.
All films screened on the festival’s closing day at Palace Cinema Moore Park on Sunday, 26 October 2025, showcasing how Greek language learning can thrive through creativity and collaboration.
A newcomer triumphs: Greek School Central Coast
A standout success story came from the Greek School Central Coast, which won First Prize in the Primary School Category for its short film Η Δικτατορία του Αρακά (The Dictatorship of the Pea).
The film used humour to explore the year’s theme, imagining a school where one pupil declares that everyone must eat peas – a light-hearted way to spark discussion about freedom, fairness and choice.
School Principal Constantina Kottaridis, who helped establish the school just a year ago, said the win was both emotional and affirming.
“We tied it into the vocabulary they already knew. Most of the children in our school are learning Greek as a second language,” she told The Greek Herald.
Kottaridis added that seeing her students perform in Greek was the most rewarding moment of all.
“It’s very exciting and rewarding,” she said.
“To be honest, I feel we had already won in our students’ hearts because when we finished the film and showed it to them, every time their part came up [on the screen] you could see their faces light up because they were so proud of themselves. Keep in mind that just one year ago, all the kids didn’t speak a word of Greek so for them, it was a big achievement.”
Ten-year-old student Terry Tsolakis said the experience made him feel like a star. “I felt proud to see myself on the big screen,” he said. “It felt good to win. I now officially have bragging rights!”
Winners who spoke the language of freedom
In the Primary School Category, Clemton Park Tuesday Greek Afternoon School (GOCNSW) claimed second place for Το Τηλεσκόπιο της Δημοκρατίας (The Telescope of Democracy) under the direction of Elena Matsouka, while Clemton Park Thursday Greek Afternoon School (GOCNSW) took third for Η Δύναμη της Φωνής (The Power of Voice), led by Konstantina Rizou.
The Secondary School Category top prize went to Clemton Park High School for Η Τάξη της Σιωπής (The Class of Silence) – also guided by Elena Matsouka – praised for its mature handling of the theme and powerful reflection on self-expression and solidarity.
A Special Documentary Award was presented to Phillip Skolarikis from St Spyridon College for Δημοκρατία για Όλους (Democracy for All), a remarkable solo project edited with the help of his parents Tom Skolarikis and Dimitra Chalikia, recognised for its creativity and technical skill.
Community, craft and confidence
From meticulous thank-yous to judges and teachers, to the emphasis on family support and classroom collaboration, the festival’s message was consistent: film is a powerful vehicle for language, identity and belonging.
As Kallos noted, these student shorts keep Greek “alive and thriving” by letting young creators experiment, perform and present in Greek – with professional standards and cinematic flair.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos
