The Greek Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in Australia, and it turns 24 this year. Being staged nationally, the Palace Cinemas Adelaide component features five films in five sessions over four days of eclectic Greek cinema at Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas from 12-15 October (presented nationally by Delphi Bank).

Adelaide’s opening night gala is being held on Thursday 12 October at Palace Nova Cinemas. Greek cinema lovers will feel the vibe at the launch with the opening blockbuster film Roza of Smyrna, a ‘Greco-Turkish Romeo and Juliet’ based on the novel Ismael and Roza by Giannis Gianellis and featuring two original songs by Haris Alexiou.

As we prepare for the film event of the year, here’s a quick look at this year’s films.

Roza of Smyrna by George Kordellas (2016)
(Opening night) Thursday 12 October at 6.00pm

A captivating film, Roza of Smyrna brings the story of an enigmatic old woman Rosa from Izmir who lives for decades with the weight of a well-kept secret. An avid collector of Greek objects in Asia Minor, Dimitris, prepares an exhibition in a renowned museum in Athens on Culture of Nationalities who cohabited in Izmir before the genocide. In a trip to Izmir with the curator of the museum and his girlfriend Rita, he accidentally finds in a small antique shop a Greek wedding dress that is stained with blood. An old photograph, a wedding dress soiled with blood and a letter, become the reason to retract their story from the past.

The Other Me by Sotiris Tsafoulias (2016)
Friday 13 October at 6.30pm

A professor of criminology tries to solve five completely unrelated murders whose only link is quotes from Pythagoras. Alongside him on this journey is a maths professor. Will they manage to solve this mystery? An intense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!

The Bachelor by Antonis Sotiropoulos (2016)
Saturday 14 October at 6.30pm

A mistake made by the bride rejoins 4 old friends of disaster and a father in law! 5 guys go to Thassaloniki to tear everything down. A father in law gets in a hearse in order to kill a love in the making. An ex-girlfriend dances tango with her memories as a partner. A cancelled wedding and a relationship that starts with the brides vail floating at the wind of independence.

Xamou by Clio Fanouraki (2016)
Saturday 14 October at 9.00pm

A love letter to the island of Crete, this gentle Mediterranean pick-me-up posits a back-to-the-land solution to Greece’s economic crisis and boasts breathtaking cinematography, haunting, original music and mouth-watering food and wine.

Cloudy Sunday by Manousos Manousakis (2015)
Sunday 15 Οctober at 7.00pm

During World War II in Greece, under the submission of Germans, one Christian, Giorgos, falls in love with a Jewish lady named Estrea, something completely forbidden. Can they and their families overcome all the obstacles, along with racial discriminations and hardship? The story mainly takes place in an ouzeri, in which Tsitsanis works, one of the greatest Greek composers, librettists and singers of the 20th century.

Tickets to the opening night gala are $35.00 and includes the opening night event with mezedes and wine. Session ticket prices for other screenings are: adults $19.50, concession $16.50.

Where: CBD, Rundle Street, Adelaide For more call (08) 8125 9312 or go to palacecinemas.com.au