The Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, continued his strong sign of support for the Greek Film Festival (GFF) in Adelaide as he officially opened it for the second year in a row, expressing his view that it is a crucial institution in the state’s cultural calendar.
Malinauskas took part in the gala event held for the opening night of the Film Festival on Tuesday evening (22 October) at Palace Nova Cinemas in Prospect.
The opening night of the GFF, presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia (GOCSA) as part of the Odyssey Festival, sold over 240 tickets with meze and local wine enjoyed before the scheduled screening of Thodoris Niarchos’ comedy “Hear Who’s Talking’.
The successful event marked the beginning of the six-day celebration of Hellenic cinema, and GOCSA President Peter Gardiakos expressed his sincere pleasure in all the special guests and attendees that came out for the opening.
He especially praised the SA Premier for making the time and attending the GFF for the second year in a row, while also thanking all the sponsors and media partners in their pivotal support of the Community’s cultural initiatives.
Malinauskas addressed the attendees at the event, sharing his belief that the GFF stands as an important institution that shares Hellenic culture with the wider South Australian community.
He stated his hopes of having a “single united Greek community representing the future of Hellenic culture in South Australia”.
“For a long time now, the 40,000 plus people in our state who have Greek heritage, have provided so much colour and life to our city. But more than that, your hard work has helped make South Australia the place it is today,” the Premier said.
Dr Alexandra Theodoropoulou, Consul General of Greece in Adelaide, said in her speech that “the Film Festival is another manifestation of the Greek Orthodox Community’s modern, contemporary face.”
“You are expressing the cultural aspect of our community, and this is very important for the new generations. I will add my voice to the Premier and say ‘let us celebrate that in unity’,” the diplomat said.
The opening night featured numerous notable attendees, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia Hon Chris Kourakis; Ms Lucy Hood MP State Member for Adelaide representing the Minister for Small and Family Business, Consumer and Business Affairs & Arts, Andrea Michaels MP and Councillor of West Torrens Zoi Papafilopoulos.
