The upcoming SBS documentary ‘Greeks Of The Sea’ was launched in Athens last Tuesday, as its production team travelled from Australia to show the program to those featured in the new three-part series.

Co-Executive producers Phil Kiely and Peter Pentz, along with writer and director Tom Nicol welcomed 40 specially invited guests to an exclusive pre-screening event at the Hellenic Maritime Museum in Piraeus on Tuesday.

Honouring the event with her presence was outgoing Australian Ambassador to Greece Ms Jenny Bloomfield.

Ambassador Bloomfield joined prominent Greek shipowner and Mayor of the Oinousses islands Evangelos Angelakos and his family; senior Athens priest Fr Thomas Synodinos; as well as a number of Greek captains, fishermen, naval professors and members of the press, for the event.

The guests watched the first episode of the series – which premieres in Australia on Saturday 19 July, on SBS ONE.

Speaking at the event, director Tom Nicol thanked those featured in the show, ‘for the filoxenia extended to the team during filming last year’.

‘Greeks Of The Sea’, hosted by Greek-Australian filmmaker Nikos Andronicos, is a modern day odyssey through the Aegean Sea to meet the world’s most acclaimed mariners, and to discover the key to their legendary success.

The series intertwines fascinating and moving stories of the sea within a rich tapestry of Greek culture, hospitality, religion, history and mythology. It profiles fishermen, sponge divers, traditional boat builders, patrol officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard, billionaire shipowners and yachting enthusiasts as well as countless other Greeks who say they were ‘born with salty blood’.

Members of audience at the Athens event were moved to tears during the screening.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelmingly positive reception we received. We were so happy to give the first look of the series to the people that helped us most putting it together,” said Co-Executive producer Phil Kiely.

“Now we can’t wait for viewers in Australia to get to see the show on July 19.”

In an emotional address, Shipowner-Mayor Mr Angelakos thanked Ambassador Bloomfield for her service. Ms Bloomfield will now return to Canberra, to be replaced by John Griffin in Athens.

‘Greeks Of The Sea’ premieres on Saturday July 19, at 7.30 pm, on SBS ONE. For more information, visit www.greeksofthesea.com