The Hellenic Canadian Congress of BC and The Cinematheque have announced the dates and lineup for the second annual Vancouver Greek Film Festival from June 1-4, 2023, an in-person screening and cultural event hosted in Vancouver at The Cinematheque. The second edition celebrates the art of Greek cinema, and includes an eclectic offering of contemporary and classic Greek films. The festival is 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 Sunday, June 25, 2023.
“When people think of Greek culture, they often associate it with the past,” says festival co-founder and artist Christos Dikeakos. “We hope that the Second Vancouver Film Festival will introduce a more contemporary experience of the diversity and changes to contemporary Greek culture as new immigrant populations and their diasporas coexist and are evident within the dominant Greek culture. Contemporary Greek filmmakers and artists have always had an international focus and context of their own creative production. This year’s festival will share with our Vancouver audiences the outward-looking focus and interests of current Greek Cinema and contemporary culture.”
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.
“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,” says Co-founder and head programmer Harry Killas. “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 second 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.
The Vancouver Greek Film Festival is generously supported by Omega Travel, Simon Fraser University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies, and Chris Theodoropoulos and Maureen McCann, with thanks to the Consulate General of Greece.
The Vancouver Greek Film Festival is organized by Harry Killas, curator and co-founder; Johanna Killas, assistant curator; Christos Dikeakos, co-founder; The Cinematheque; and 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. The local chapter is a member of the national Canadian Hellenic Congress, an umbrella organization representing 350,000 Greeks across Canada, and a participatory member of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad.
Founded in 1972, The Cinematheque is a film institute and media education center 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 the festival program, full lineup of films, and more information visit the Cinematheque
For further info, visit the following links
Facebook: @thecinematheque
Instagram: @thecinematheque
Twitter: @thecinematheque #VGFF2023
Images – America America and Holy Emy, provided, courtesy of Nicole Pender
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