2024 Greek Film Festival announces full program

One of the documentaries on show will be about Ange Postecoglou and Ferenc Puskas’s time at South Melbourne

Murderess is an adaptation of Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis' original novel of the same name, and stars actress Karyofyllia Karabeti in the lead role. Photo: George Tatakis/Supplied

4 September 2024 12:55pm

Instagram

The 29th Greek Film Festival has announced its full program, with a vast selection of films and documentaries that celebrate Greek culture through cinema.

Presented by the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), this year’s festival will run from October 15 to 27 in an expanded venue offering that includes Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Balwyn Cinema, and for the first time Palace Cinemas Pentridge.

The festival opens with comedy ‘Hear Who’s Talking’, starring Meletis Ilias (To Soi Sou, To Proxenio Tis Ioulias), setting the tone for the rest of the program that includes 23 feature films and seven documentaries.

The award-winning film ‘The Murderess’ will also have its Australian premiere as part of the cinema event.

Based on the classic novel by Alexandros Papadiamantis, this film takes place on a remote island in Greece, circa 1900.

Hadoula, trapped in her own mother’s rejection, struggles to survive the dictates of a patriarchal society.

‘The Murderess’ has been praised by critics, winning 12 awards and receiving 14 nominations at Film Festivals world-wide. The leading role is played by Kariofylia Karabeti (Eftihia).

A documentary on Ange Postecoglou will feature at the festival with the Australian made ‘Ange & The Boss – Puskas in Australia’.

The great Hungarian striker Ferenc Puskas’s storied playing and coaching career ended in Melbourne, where he coached a South Melbourne Hellas team captained by current Tottenham Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou. It also tells the story of Australia’s ethnic football heritage and how it sustained new arrivals.

The South Melbourne Hellas squad with their legendary manager Ferenc Puskás back row, second from right. Photo: Supplied

Another standout documentary is the feature-length ‘Anzac: The Greek Chapter’.

When Hitler launched his invasion of Greece in 1941, people across Australia and New Zealand feared what lay ahead for their loved ones sent as part of the Allied force to defend Greece.

This documentary tells the story of that valiant defence, drawing on over 130 hours of veteran interviews, viewers can see and listen to the story of the campaign from the veterans themselves. Watch them make their way north to stand alongside their Greek comrades as part of the Allied defence force. Listen to them recount the bitter battles and sorrows of the campaign and hear them praise their Greek hosts who fought with them and helped them.

Contemporary cinema is the mainstay of the program but closing night this year will pay tribute to a giant of the golden age of Greek cinema Mary Chronopoulou with screening of the 1968 classic GORGIONES KAI MAGKES.