The 17th Greek Film Festival kicked off in Melbourne this week, with a sell-out crowd of 740 people gathering to see the hit comedy Nisos.
The opening night crowd filled four cinemas, an increase from last year’s 470 people, and 390 in 2008. State Labor MP Jenny Mikakos congratulated the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) for its ongoing work with the festival.
“When it comes to art, Greeks have a strong influence,” she said. She stressed the Brumby government’s commitment to the Greek community, having pledged more than $3 million to the Greek Community on Lonsdale Street, as well as $70 000 for the Antipodes Festival.
She was joined in the cinema by her colleague in the state Labor party, John Pandazopoulos, and chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, George Lekakis, who was this week announced as a 2011 Australia Day Ambassador. GOCMV President, Bill Papastergiadis, said he was looking forward to the 17th Greek Film Festival’s diverse program.
“This festival shows the two sides of the Greek character,” he said. Mr Papastergiadis praised the darker films, such as the Pantelis Voulgaris film, With Heart and Soul, which is set amid the Greek Civil War. “Then there are other films, like Nisos, which make us laugh at ourselves,” he said.
The festival also kicked off in Sydney this week, with Nisos playing for a crowd of 350 people, festival coordinator Dimitra Lafazanos told Neos Kosmos.
“It was a great success,” she said. The festival continues in Melbourne and Sydney until October 31 and in Brisbane from 29 – 31 October.
