The 12th Greek Student Film Festival returned to Sydney on Sunday, October 27, showcasing the creativity and talent of young filmmakers studying and speaking the Greek language.
Held at Leichhardt’s Palace Norton Street Cinema as part of the 2024 Greek Film Festival, the event once again celebrated the best in student filmmaking, providing a unique platform for students to express their cultural identity through film.
Presented by Metaxas, the Greek Orthodox Community of New South Wales (GOCNSW), and the Greek Festival of Sydney, this year’s festival saw proud families and teachers gather at the cinema to watch a selection of films created by primary and secondary students.
Each film was inspired by this year’s theme, “Young Hearts & Wise Tales,” which encouraged students to explore storytelling through a youthful yet wise perspective. The films also creatively incorporated this year’s signature item, a “Window,” as a visual or symbolic element.
Distinguished guests at the festival included the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Ioannis Mallikourtis, who gave an inspiring speech about the significance of the Greek language and the arts in keeping Greek heritage alive for future generations. He praised the students for their innovative use of film to tell stories that reflect their Greek roots while also engaging with modern ideas.
Vicki Tomaras, GOCNSW Greek Language Schools Coordinator, also delivered a heartfelt speech, emphasising the importance of using creative platforms like the film festival to connect young people with their Greek heritage. She thanked everyone for attending, and encouraged more students to take part in the festival next year.
The screenings featured a diverse range of short films, from fiction to animation, all of which demonstrated the students’ impressive creativity and dedication. Their films reflected their interpretation of this year’s theme, with many delving into the connection between youth and wisdom, as well as the symbolic use of the “Window” as a metaphor for new perspectives.
After the screenings, emcee Dimitris Kallos invited Paris Georgiades from Geocorp Finance, the Consul General, and the President of GOCNSW Harry Danalis to the stage to present awards to the winners.
The ‘First Prize for Primary School’ category was awarded to Phillip Skolarikis from St Spyridon College. This year, a second prize was also given to students from the GOCNSW Afternoon and Saturday Greek School, Summer Hill campus. Third prize went to students from the GOCNSW Afternoon and Saturday Greek School, Clemton Park campus (Year 5).
In the ‘First Prize for Secondary School’ category, students from the GOCNSW Afternoon and Saturday Greek School, Clemton Park campus, took out the top prize.
In addition to these top awards, Certificates of Participation were handed out to all students, in recognition of their efforts and contributions to the festival.
Speaking with The Greek Herald after the event, winning student Phillip Skolarikis expressed his pride in using the Greek language in such a creative way. His film focused on Corfu and his visits to the island every year and how it fostered a strong connection to Greece and his family. His mum Dimitra Chalikia was credited with helping him create the film.
“It feels very good to win. I wasn’t expecting this to happen. I’m very proud of myself,” the six-year-old said.
The Greek Student Film Festival continues to offer young filmmakers a platform to explore the Greek language in innovative ways while encouraging the preservation of Greek culture in Australia. Looking ahead, the festival promises to return with more inspiring films that reflect the voices of the next generation of Greek Australians.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Andriana Simos.
