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Inaugural Vancouver Greek Film Festival celebrates Greek history, culture and language as part of Greek Heritage Month
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies is pleased to support the inaugural Vancouver Greek Film Festival (VGFF), presented by the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC and The Cinematheque. The festival, running from June 16th-19th, 2022, is a celebration of film as art, and will present an eclectic offering of contemporary and classic Greek films. It was co-founded by Canadian director, writer and producer Harry Killas, and local artist Christos Dikeakos. It is also a part of a calendar of events organized by the Congress during Greek Heritage Month, which will culminate this year in the return of Greek Day on Broadway on June 26.
The festival is curated into four streams: From the Archive, a look back on forgotten classics; Celebrating Greek Auteurs and Artists, stories by and about iconic Greek artists; Contemporary Greek Cinema, a selection of recent titles making waves at international film festivals; and Greeks in Diaspora, films made by Greek directors from around the world. As a result, guests can expect to experience a very unique assortment of Greek cinema. One of the films, The Apaches of Athens, based on an operetta of the same title, and allegedly the first Greek sound film, was considered lost for decades until it was discovered at the Cinémathèque Française seven years ago. The restoration was undertaken by a consortium of Greek and European institutions, led by eminent filmmaker Costa-Gavras. Apaches of Athens is notable for its performances and score, as well as for scenes filmed on location amongst the impoverished neighbourhoods of post-war Athens. The digital restoration of the film and its presentation have been made possible thanks to the support of an exclusive grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF).
When:
June 16-19, 2022
Where:
The Cinematheque
200-1131 Howe Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6Z 2L7
How:
Tickets can be purchased in advance online or during screening hours at The Cinematheque's Box Office. Screenings are restricted to 18+ unless otherwise indicated.
Single tickets: General (18+) $14 / Senior (65+) $12 / Student $10
Guests can also purchase a Ticket Pack and see multiple films at a discounted rate!
Ticket packs: 5 pack $50 / 10 pack $90
Find the film festival program below:
Vancouver Greek Film Festival Program
FROM THE ARCHIVE
- Zorba the Greek (1964), dir. Michael Cacoyannis | Opening Film
- Oi Apachides Ton Athinon (The Apaches of Athens) (1930), dir. Dimitrios Gaziades | Canadian Premiere
CELEBRATING GREEK AUTEURS AND ARTISTS
Spotlight on Athina Rachel Tsangari
- Attenberg (2010)
- Chevalier (2015)
- The Capsule (2012)
Maria Callas
- Maria By Callas (2017), dir. Tom Volf
With an introduction by Canadian soprano Lambroula Pappas
CONTEMPORARY GREEK CINEMA
- Digger (2020), dir. Georgis Grigorakis | BC Premiere
- The Distance Between Us and The Sky (2019), dir. Vasilis Kekatos
GREEKS IN DIASPORA
- Greek to Me (2019), dir. Harry Killas | Closing Film + North American Premiere
Screening will be followed by a Q&A with the director
Presenters
About the Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC
The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC fosters education, communication, and cooperation between Hellenic Canadians and other ethnic groups, and promotes the development of just and equitable policies and legislation concerning all citizens. The Congress encourages and promotes the retention and development of Hellenism in British Columbia within the multicultural context of Canada.
About The Cinematheque
Founded in 1972, The Cinematheque is a film institute and media education centre devoted to understanding the art and history of Canadian and international cinema and the impact of moving images and screen-based media in our lives. Public activities include a year-round calendar of curated film exhibitions devoted to important classic and contemporary films and filmmakers; and an array of community outreach programs offering interactive learning opportunities in film appreciation, filmmaking, media literacy, and critical thinking.
For more information about the SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies and its programs, please visit our Media page.
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