Acclaimed Greek filmmaker Renos Haralambidis is set to stop over in Melbourne during this year’s Greek Film Festival, taking part in a Q&A at Palace Cinema Como on Thursday 23 October.
The event, which is part of the 30th Greek Film Festival’s tribute to Haralambidis, will afford audiences the opportunity to inquire for insights into his career.
The filmmaker will be featured prominently in this year’s program with five of his works to be shown during the festival running from 14-26 October.
The five works span from his directorial debut ‘No Budget Story’ from 1997 to his most recent one ‘Athens Midnight Radio’ (released in 2024).
He shed some light on his films, giving a brief taste of the insights he can offer in the Q&A session.
Speaking on his debut feature that was shot in black and white, Haralambidis said:
“It was my ‘cinema or death’ film. I was 26, filming with friends, family, and neighbours. It remains autobiographical – I still revisit it today.”
He admitted that his 2000 film ‘Cheap Smokes’ (which will also be shown) is “the most autobiographical” of his pictures, stating:
“It captures the essence of a bohemian generation of Athenians at the end of the 1990s. Once overlooked, it has been rediscovered by a new audience and continues to screen in cinemas 20 years later.”
The other films of his that will be screened are ‘The Heart of the Beast’ from 2005, his only feature adapted from a book, and the 2010 release ‘4 Black Suits’ which follows four pallbearers on “a journey towards self-awareness and maturity”.
Following his visit to Melbourne, Haralambidis will also feature prominently in Sydney, where ‘Athens Midnight Radio’ will also act as the closing night film.
Full program details are now available at the festival website.
