Founded in 1988, the Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival (GFF) has now been running for over a quarter of a century, bringing the best Greek films to cinema-lovers in Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne – the latter boasting the largest Greek population of any city outside of Greece. Australia’s Greek Film Festival is also arguably the largest of its kind, focused on engaging with non-Greek Australians, sharing not only cinema treats, but Greek culture and food, along with post-screening Q&A sessions. Running from 6 October until 27 November, this year’s program promises to offer an engaging cultural experience for all friends of quality cinema across Australia.

Penny Kyprianou, Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture’s programs manager, sat down with Neos Kosmos to discuss what the festival has achieved so far and the committee’s goals for the future.

“To begin with I would like to note how pivotal Kostas Markos’ and Eleni Pestes’ role was in ensuring this sort of film festival existed in the first place, so they should be acknowledged in terms of the birth of the Greek Film Festival,” she says.

“The last few years have seen a real shift in the types of films that are available in Greece and Europe in general, and it’s only natural the GFF has evolved from that time. I would say the new directors are pushing the boundaries, creating edgier and a bit more underground films.”

According to Kyprianou, the emergence of directors such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Constantine Giannaris, whose works have been screened in international festivals and getting rave reviews, have brought Greek cinema in the spotlight. The shift towards a more contemporary style has certainly helped attract international and Australian audiences.

“That’s one of our missions,” she emphasises. “We know we have this core Greek audience which is very loyal and will come back year after year, however, to ensure the survival of the GFF we need to attract those non-Greek-speaking audiences, and I think films that have already appealed to cinephiles around the world will help us achieve that.
“The fact that the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) has also screened films like Suntan, Chevalier and Lanthimos’ The Lobster in the past definitely makes a difference and is important, as it proves that these Greek movies are being recognised worldwide attracting a broad film-loving crowd.
“That’s the beauty of film,” she enthuses, adding that the contemporary issues the films touch on and the convenience of subtitles are making Hellenic cinema accessible to a younger demographic, aiming to connect third and fourth generation Greek Australians. The GFF’s goal kicking does not end there however.

The GFF committee is looking towards boosting the festival to a point where it could attract directors and offer Australian film lovers the opportunity to meet the film creatives and incorporate more Q&A sessions. Moreover, Kyprianou aspires to build an event strong enough to hold world premieres.

“Most of our films are co-productions, which I know is a way Greek filmmakers can actually have their films funded and completed,” she explains.

“We would love the festival to grow to a point where we will be able to approach directors and invite them to Melbourne to present their films. Ideally we would like to be in a position to set up a fund for directors and support their projects, help them realise their dreams.”

“For example, when we screened Dogtooth, it wasn’t the world premiere but it was the first film festival after Cannes to have screened it. There is a lot of competition among film festivals to secure a world premiere, but I believe that if we can be part of someone’s creative process, if we can essentially assist with the completion of films, it is feasible.”

Meanwhile, as much as the GFF is dominated by contemporary Greek cinema, it includes tribute screenings in honour of iconic stars like Thanasis Veggos (for 2016), while there is an array of international short films being screened with a Greek connection, helping the festival to become a platform for both emerging and established creatives to showcase their work.

“One can see several shorts that are either shot by Greek directors or have a Greek story, a connection,” she says.

“Also there are really great documentaries being submitted every year. We would like to look at those as a separate festival and possibly focus more heavily on this genre next year.”

Overall, Kyprianou continues, the intention of the committee is to create a social environment “where one can see a movie with hundreds of other people as opposed to staying home and watching a film on their laptop”.

“Obviously our future depends on the future of the Greek film industry, so as long as our audience comes to support the film we’re screening, that generates more films internationally.”

Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival Melbourne session program:

CHEVALIER 18+/Greece 2015/Comedy-drama
Director: Athena Rachel Tsangari

When: Thursday 6 October, 6:10 pm
Where: ACMI (co-presentation)

WORLDS APART (Ένας Άλλος Κόσμος)/15+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Christopher Papakaliatis

When: Wednesday 12 October, 6:15 pm pre-Film celebration opening night special event & 7:00pm screening of Worlds Apart
Where: Palace Cinema Como

When: Wednesday 12 October, 6:30 pm opening night gala with cocktails & 7:00pm screening of Worlds Apart followed by party
Where: The Astor Theatre

When: Sunday 16 October, 6:30 pm & Thursday 20 October, 6:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

GASFF: AUSTRALIAN SHORTS 18+
– BLACK CAT
Dir. Leonne Savvides, 2015

– DYSTOPIA
Dir. Anna Charalambous, 2016

– HUNTER
Dir. Philip Klimek & Nick Kozakis, 2016

– MILK & HONEY
Dir. Andrea Demetriades & Louisa Mignone, 2014

– MOMENT TO MOMENT
Dir. Darius Devas & Tim Parish, 2016

– MRS. METRO
Dir. Aggelos Papantoniou, 2016

– OLYMPIC NICK: A DONUTUMENTARY
Dir. Ian Tran & Rachel Morsnick, 2015

– OUT OF THE EARTH: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF AJJ LUCAS
Dir. Katrina Lucas, 2016

When: Thursday 13 October, 6:30 pm – Sunday 16 October, 2:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

DREAM OF A SHADOW/15+/Australia, Greece, USA, Cyprus 2016/Drama
Director: Nikita Ballas

When: Thursday 13 October, 9:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

THE LOBSTER/MA15+/Greece, Ireland, UK, France 2015/Drama-comedy
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

When: Friday 14 October, 9:15 pm & Thursday 3 November, 9:00 pm
Where: The Astor Theatre, Part of a double-bill with ALPS

SUNTAN /18+/Greece 2016/Drama
Director: Argyris papadimitropoulos

When: Friday 14 October, 7:00 pm & Saturday 22 October, 9:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

HIGHWAY TO HELLAS/15+/Germany 2015/Comedy
Director: Aron Lehmann

When: Saturday 15 October, 7:00 pm & Friday 21 October, 6:45 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

A LIFE OF ITS OWN: THE TRUTH ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA/15+/documentary/Australia 2016
Director: Helen Kapalos

When: Saturday 15 October, 4:45 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como, follows + Q&A with Helen Kapalos

HOLIDAYS IN VIETNAM (Διακοπές στο Βιετνάμ)/ALL AGES/Greece 1975/Comedy
Director: Panos Glykofrydis

When: Saturday 15 October, 2:45 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

ONE BREATH/15+/Germany & Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Christian Zübert

When: Saturday 15 October, 9:00 pm & Saturday 22 October, 7:15 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

SMAC/15+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Elias Demetriou

When: Sunday 16 October, 9:00 pm & Saturday 22 October, 4:45 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

DICTATOR CALLS THANASIS ALL AGES (Δικτάτωρ Καλεί Θανάση)/Greece 1973/Comedy
Director: Panos Glykofrydis

When: Sunday 16 October, 4:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

INVISIBLE/18+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Dimitris Athanitis

When: Monday 17 October, 7:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

SACRED HEART/18+/Australia 2016/Drama
Director: Kosta Nikas

When: Monday 17 October, 9:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

BENEATH THE OLIVE TREE/15+/documentary/USA & Greece USA 2015
Director: Stavroula Toska

When: Tuesday 18 October, 7:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

BLIND SUN (Καύσωνας)/15+/Greece & France 2015/Drama
Director: Joyce A. Nashawati

When: Tuesday 18 October, 9:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

THE CHARLATAN (Ο Τσαρλατάνος)/ALL AGES/Greece 1973/Comedy
Director: Errikos Thalassinos

When: Tuesday 18 October, 12:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

SILENT/15+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Yorgos Gkikapeppas

When: Wednesday 19 October, 9:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

GASFF: INTERNATIONAL SHORTS/18+

– 3000
Dir. Antonis Tsonis, 2015
– DINNER FOR FEW
Dir. Nassos Vakalis, 2014
– FRAGMENTA
Dir. Elias Charisis, 2016
– PET
Dir. Chris Moraitis, 2015
– STAGNATION
Dir. Alexander Zwart, 2015
– THE CURSE OF DON SCARDUCCI
Dir. Chris Fondulas, 2016
– THE HOCHELAGA CUP
Dir. Panayioti Yiannitsos, 2016
– THE LOCKSMITH
Dir. Militiades Christides, 2015

When: Wednesday 19 October, 6:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

THE CARELESS IDIOT (Ένας Ξένοιαστος Παλαβιάρης)/ALL AGES/Greece 1971/Comedy
Director: Errikos Thalassinos

When: Thursday 20 October, 12:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

SPRING AWAKENING (Το Ξύπνημα της Ανοιξης)/18+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Constantine Giannaris

When: Thursday 20 October, 9:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

PARK/18+/Greece/Drama
Director: Sofia Exarchou

When: Friday 21 October, 8:45 pmWhere: Palace Cinema Como

THIS IS A COUP/15+/UK & Greece 2016/Documentary
Director: Theopi Skarlatos

When: Saturday 22 October, 3:15 pmWhere: Palace Cinema Como

SUMMER LOVERS M/USA 1982/Drama-romance-musical
Director: Randal Kleiser

When: Saturday 22 October, 7:00 pm & 9:15pm Drinks + Dancing as part of the ‘Back to the 80s special event
Where: The Astor Theatre

GREEK STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL/ALL AGES/FREE ENTRY
Theme: From Morning to Night

When: Sunday 23 October, 12:30 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

THANASIS IN THE LAND OF SLAPS (Ο Θανάσης Στη Χώρα Της Σφαλιάρας)/ALL AGES/Greece 1975/Comedy
Director: Panos Glykofrydis & Dinos Katsouridis

When: Sunday 23 October, 5:00 pm
Where: Palace Cinema Como

WHAT IF… (Αν…)/18+/Greece 2012/Drama
Director: Christopher Papakaliatis

When: Sunday 23 October, 6:00pm Pre-Film Celebration for the Como closing night & 7:00 pm screening
Where: Palace Cinema Como

KINETTA (Κινέττα)/18+/Greece 2005/Drama
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

When: Thursday 27 October, 7:00 pm
Where: The Astor Theatre as part of a double-bill with DOGTOOTH

DOGTOOTH (Κυνόδοντας)/R18+/Greece 2009/Drama-comedy
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

When: Thursday 27 October, 9:00 pm
Where: The Astor Theatre, part of a double-bill with KINETTA

ALPS (‘Αλπεις)/18+/Greece 2011/Drama
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

When: Thursday 3 November, 7:00 pm
Where: The Astor Theatre- Part of a double-bill with THE LOBSTER

CLOUDY SUNDAY (Ουζερί Τσιτσάνης)/15+/Greece 2015/Drama
Director: Manousos Manousakis

Sunday 27 November, 7:00 pm Film, 9:00pm Drinks + Live Rebetika
Where: REBETIKA special event at The Astor Theatre