The Cinematheque

“The essence of Greek cinema is its diverse and intricate embrace of how to picture life’s experiences.”

Christos Dikeakos

The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC and The Cinematheque present the second Vancouver Greek Film Festival, an in-person event hosted at The Cinematheque. This second edition, like the first, is a celebration of film as art, and we are pleased to present an eclectic offering of contemporary and classic Greek cinema. This year, the festival kicks off a calendar of events organized by the Congress during Greek Heritage Month, the month of June, which culminates in ​“Greek Day on Broadway,” one of Vancouver’s most famous street festivals, on Sunday, June 25.

“When people think of Greek culture, they often associate it with the ancient past,” says Christos Dikeakos, visual artist and co-founder of the VGFF. ​“We hope that the second annual Vancouver Greek Film Festival will continue our tradition of introducing a more contemporary experience of Greek culture to diverse audiences in the Lower Mainland. In particular, Greek cinema has been making breakthroughs in storytelling in recent years, with women directors leading the way. We’re excited to be able to share a tightly curated program that offers a unique chance to discover the riches of Greek cinema.”

From its inception, the festival’s aim has been to focus on the contributions that Greek filmmakers have made—and continue to make—to film history and culture. The program presents a myriad of stories and experiences about the human condition, offering insight into the minds of Greek filmmakers that is at once intimate and universal.

We are proud to highlight Greek women in film, especially emerging and established female directors. Many of their films speak to political, social, and economic issues in contemporary Greek society, all with compassion and humanity.

This year’s festival is again curated into four streams:​“From the Archive,” a look back on classics of Greek cinema;​“Celebrating Greek Auteurs and Artists,” stories by and about iconic Greek artists;​“Contemporary Greek Cinema,” a selection of recent titles making waves at home and abroad; and ​“Greeks in Diaspora,” films made by Greek directors from around the world.

Highlights of this year’s celebration include a rare 35mm presentation of Elia Kazan’s epic America America on opening night; a screening of the recently restored 1970 film Reconstruction, the first feature of famed Greek auteur Theo Angelopoulos; three dramatic features and three dramatic shorts directed by women, many of which won awards at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards; and a closing night tribute to the late, beloved Olympia Dukakis, in the form of a feature-length documentary on her life and legacy, Olympia.

Enjoy yourselves!
καλά να περάσεις

Harry Killas
Curator, Vancouver Greek Film Festival