One of the most successful film festivals in Australia returns on 11 October for 12 big days and nights. The Delphi Bank 23rd Greek Film Festival will aim to delight audiences with an array of superb film, documentary and special events.

The Sydney edition of the festival will showcase 17 films and 16 shorts, including many award-winning features and documentaries. Modern storytellers from Greece and Australia will demonstrate their ancient forebears’ theatrical edge in a range of exhilarating productions.

It will kick off with the screening of Christopher Papakaliatis’ World’s Apart. If you enjoyed the smash hit What If in 2012 then you will enjoy Papakaliatis’ second feature, which consists of three different narratives in three separate countries. Each represents romance and love between a Greek and a foreigner set against the backdrop of economic turmoil and social upheaval in Europe.

As always, Sydney will play host to a star-studded opening night, with an array of Greek identities and community members attending the cocktail party which will include canapés from David Tsirekas of 1821, Raw Vine Estate wines and Mythos Beer, and a chance to indulge in traditional Greek sweets by Athena Cakes. Already two cinemas have sold out.

If that is not enough to whet your cinematic tastebuds, the following night will see the Australian premiere of acclaimed Sydney filmmaker Kosta Nikas’ Sacred Heart. Taking the sub-genre of psychological drama on an existential odyssey, this is a multi-layered film tackling controversial issues including abortion, religion, celibacy in the clergy and the sanctity of confession.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Nikas and actor David Field. Nikas told Neos Kosmos that he is excited to bring his film to Australia after a successful international debut in Asia.

Other notable picks to look out for include The Lobster, icy thriller Blind Sun, Helen Kapalos’ documentary − A Life of its Own: The Truth about Medical Marijuana, and a retrospective on Thanasis Veggos.

A tribute to our own Charlie Chaplin, the festival will feature five classic films seldom screened outside of Greece, from the subversively political to the outright ridiculously hilarious. All generations will enjoy seeing him on the big screen.

“We are extremely proud to present to our audiences the most exciting films and filmmakers from storytellers of Greek heritage at the Delphi Bank Greek Film Festival,” festival chair Nia Karteris told Neos Kosmos.

“This year’s program is a rich tapestry of themes, perspectives and great stories to delight, excite, inform and ultimately entertain our festival audiences.”

Another pick is our own road trip documentary Lesvos: Fall in Love, which documents all that is unique and wonderful about the Greek island of Lesvos.

Produced by London-based Basil Genimahaliotis, the documentary is set against the backdrop of the refugee crisis and will screen with a documentary by another London-based filmmaker, Theopi Skarlatos’ This Is Not a Coup. The latter is a continuation of the socio-political doco Love in a Time of Crisis.

Another worthwhile element is the Student Film Festival, which provides a platform for students to use the Greek language in short film. Entries have made use of the topic ‘from morning to night’ and the signature item ‘clock’, and will screen on Sunday 23 October at 12.30 pm.

The project is presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW and the Education Office of the Greek Consulate General, and with the support of the NSW Department of Education. The president of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, Mr Harry Danalis, has enthused about his anticipation of the film work from these young people.

Cinemagoers in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne should eagerly await what promises to be an engrossing film festival. Tickets are now on sale for all film screenings in Sydney at Palace, Leichhardt. For the rest of the host cities visit online at www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

* Billy Cotsis is the director of ‘Lesvos: Fall in Love’.