It was standing room only at Palace Cinemas Leichhardt on Thursday, October 16 as Sydney filmmaker Billy Cotsis premiered his latest documentary, The Greeks of South America, as part of the 30th Greek Festival of Sydney.
For the proud Lesvian Australian, screening in the heart of “Little Italy” carried special meaning. Cotsis has shared his Magna Graecia film series at the same venue in the past – all five screenings sold out – and this latest event was no different.
The night was a celebration of culture, connection and storytelling, attended by NSW Minister for Industrial Relations Sophie Cotsis, Anastasia from the Venezuelan Greek community, and singer Apostolis Fotiadis, who flew in from Perth especially for the occasion.
Following the screening, Cotsis took part in a lively Q&A session, where audience members praised the film’s warmth, humour and humanity.
“The feedback has been brilliant,” he said afterwards. “We were up against two other Greek films screening at the same time, so to have a full house and such great support from Greeks and my Latin American friends means a lot.”
Exploring Greek life across Latin America
The Greeks of South America takes viewers on a 72-minute journey across eight countries – Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Panama, and Cuba – capturing the lives of multigenerational Greek families, businesses, churches and cultural traditions.
“I started coming here just before COVID and the love affair was instant,” Cotsis said. “Every time I visit Brazil and the Americas, I am looked after. I feel like I belong. The friendships, the moments, the engagements – I love it immensely.”
With original music by George Ellis and Tassos Bouzouki, the film is a heartfelt tribute to the enduring spirit of Hellenism abroad. Pieced together with Tim Star at Newtown’s Luna Studio, it was shaped with the encouragement of the Greek Festival of Sydney, which Cotsis credits for inspiring him to bring his footage together as a cohesive feature.
The filmmaker has now visited almost 90 countries and documented over 40 Greek communities worldwide. Known affectionately as the “Greek Diaspora Whisperer”, he continues to uncover stories of Greeks in the most unexpected corners of the globe – stories of migration, identity and belonging that resonate far beyond borders.
Cotsis confirmed that Part Two of The Greeks of South America is already in the works, with a release planned for 2026.
