In the presence of hundreds of community members and representatives, the Delphi Bank 21st Greek Film Festival opened this week in Melbourne and Sydney to sellout crowds.

In Melbourne and Sydney to present their film and launch the festival were lead actor of the opening film Little England, Andreas Konstantinou, and producer Giannis Iakovidis.

Pantelis Voulgaris’ Little England was this year’s opener, taking audiences on a visual journey of the island of Andros, where two sisters become entangled in a love triangle that develops, with life-shattering consequences.

“This film was made with an enormous amount of love on the island of Andros,” said Konstantinou.

“We’re humbled to be here on the other side of the world presenting our film at this important cultural event. By supporting our films, you give Greek artists the strength and inspiration we need to continue to create beautiful work,” Konstantinou said.

Thrilled with the large crowd, Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria president Bill Papastergiadis noted that “the Greek Community of Melbourne is proud of its initiation of and involvement in this festival for 21 years”.

“The current films on offer are a product of the present economic and social situation in Greece. They tell a particular story about the effect of these social economic factors on the daily lives of Greeks. We witness Greece not in the way that postcards depict Mykonos. It’s worth the journey because it provides a window for us to look at contemporary Greece,” Mr Papastergiadis said at the Melbourne opening.

Following the screening of Little England at Melbourne’s Como cinema, guests enjoyed food and drinks, dancing past midnight to local band Gyftoi Lite.

Taking guests by surprise, Greek Cypriot singer Mihalis Hatzigiannis and partner Zeta Makripoulia snuck into the party, staying to mingle and take photos with fans.

Hatzigiannis is in Melbourne for a unique concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as part of the Melbourne Festival, which was hosted on Saturday at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl.

For the next week-and-a-half weeks, Palace Cinema Como in Melbourne and Palace Norton Street in Sydney will become the home of Greek cinema.

For more information and program, visit http://greekfilmfestival.com.au/