In view of the 39th edition of the European Film Awards, which will take place in Athens on January 16, 2027, for the first time in Southeast Europe, a vast and detailed program of initiatives, events, workshops, and screenings has been developed to take place across the country and at major international festivals, with the aim of preparing for and worthily celebrating this fundamental moment for the country’s cinematographic heritage.
The program is organized in collaboration with the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center (ΕΚΚΟΜΕD), in coordination with various cultural partners, foremost among them the European Film Academy, with whom, says Leonidas Christopoulos, CEO of EKKOMED, “there is a shared commitment to celebrating European cinema, artistic excellence, and cross-border cooperation.”
“Athens and Greece have long been a source of inspiration for European culture and its narrative tradition. For this reason, bringing the European Film Academy there for the first time is a significant and necessary act. This year-long program we are building together is not simply a countdown to the ceremony, but an invitation to filmmakers, audiences, and cultural communities across Europe to connect, share, and celebrate what makes European cinema such a vital art form.” adds Matthijs Wouter Knol, CEO and Director of the European Film Academy.
The kick-off took place at this year’s Berlinale, with the announcement of the initiative during the reception at the Greek Embassy. The first event on “Greek soil” was instead the Documentary Think Tank organized last week at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, which brought together voices from the European documentary scene with the aim of establishing priorities and a common vision for the European Film Academy Documentary Chapter, which will be launched in 2027.
The next international stops will be Cannes and Venice.
In Greece, the appointments will include the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in November, the Drama International Short Film Festival (in April and September in Drama), the Animasyros International Animation Festival (in September in Syros and Athens), and the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People (in December in Pyrgos and Amaliada).
Partner organizations in Greece include the Greek Film Archive, Athens International Film Festival – Premiere Nights, Athens Film Office, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Panorama of European Cinema Festival, and the Athens International Children’s Film Festival.
The Hellenic Film Academy will curate a special program, within a Memorandum of Cooperation and a support fund provided by ΕΚΚΟΜΕD, to highlight the complex and fascinating relationship between Greek and European cinema.
