The next generation of Greek Australian storytellers took centre stage as the 1st Greek Australian Youth Filmmaking Competition made its debut at Palace Cinemas Moore Park, on Thursday, October 23, marking a historic new chapter for the 30th Greek Film Festival of Sydney.
Presented by the Greek Festival of Sydney and the Department of Modern Greek Studies at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with James Bouzios & Associates Accountants and Retirewise, the competition offered a national platform for aspiring filmmakers aged 18 to 30 to share their creative vision.
The evening opened with a warm welcome by MC Dimitri Kallos, who set the tone for a night celebrating creativity, culture, and community. He spoke about the significance of the new collaboration, describing the competition as an important platform for young Greek Australians to share their stories and explore the many facets of their cultural identity.
Passing the torch through film
Chair of the Greek Festival and Greek Film Festival of Sydney, Nia Karteris, described the initiative as the “next step” in ensuring Hellenic heritage remains vibrant through the arts.
“It’s through arts, language, and filmmaking that we’ll keep our culture alive,” Karteris said. “We started with young children 13 years ago – and now we’re seeing those same creative minds grow. This youth competition is how we pass the torch to the next generation.”
She also paid tribute to sponsors and supporters, including James Bouzios, who provided the $2,000 prize for the inaugural winner. “Without sponsors like James and the wider community behind us, none of this would be possible,” she said.
From passion to screen
Four short films were screened as part of the competition, each exploring this year’s theme, The Greek Australian Panorama:
- Stone Lions, Liquid Lions by Georgia Pantzos
- My Dance by Luke Crosson
- TZAM by Theo Lathouras
- It Takes a Village by Amelia Pieri
The evening also paid tribute to acclaimed Sydney filmmaker Kosta Nikas, with screenings of his award-winning shorts Utopia and Bordello.
After the audience applauded the diverse entries, Mr Bouzios took to the stage to present the winner, reflecting on the deeper purpose of the event.
“These films remind us that our culture is alive, evolving and continuously shaped by the voices of a young generation,” he said. “You’ve not only showcased talent, but helped preserve and celebrate our shared identity.”
‘Dedicated to my grandparents’
The night’s top honour went to Luke for his moving short film My Dance, inspired by his family’s love of traditional dance and his late grandparents.
“I wanted to tell a story about family and connection,” Luke told The Greek Herald after receiving his award. “It was inspired by my grandparents and my passion for Greek culture – especially zeibekiko dancing. I wanted to build on their legacy.”
Luke revealed the film took nine months to create, balancing studies and production, but said the new competition gave him something special – the chance to see his work come to life on the big screen.
“Just seeing my film on the big screen was surreal,” he said. “That’s what we make films for – the cinema. Not a phone or computer screen, but for people to experience together.”
As for his $2,000 prize, he’s already reinvesting it in his next project. “I’m going to dedicate that money to my next film and keep going until we see where life takes me,” he smiled.
The future of Greek Australian cinema
As the event concluded, Kallos encouraged the audience to “renew the competition for next year” – a sentiment echoed by all present.
From heartfelt storytelling to the energy of new voices, the inaugural Greek Australian Youth Filmmaking Competition proved that the future of Greek Australian cinema is bright, bold, and deeply connected to its roots.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald
