25TH GREEK FILM FESTIVAL

By Mark Morellini

The Greek Film Festival returns for its 25th presentation with a program of 10 contemporary titles and a comedy retrospective from the past 10 years. This festival’s purpose is not only to entertain and challenge avid movie-goers, but primarily to celebrate Greek culture.

Pamela Proestos who has been the Festival Director for the past four years (and National Festival Director since July), said that there is still a struggle within the Greek film industry since the country’s economic downfall in recent years. “There doesn’t seem to be as much content coming out of Greece as there has been in the past, but in spite of that they are still producing incredible films and I think the quality is definitely still there from what we’re seeing. The films are slowly growing from strength to strength every year, even though the financial crisis has hit them pretty hard.”

The opening night of the festival promises to be a hit with a cocktail party providing Greek food, beers and wines prior to the launch of the festival and the premiere screening of The Last Note which was a box office hit in Greece. “It’s quite rare for a Greek film these days to top the local box office, because the blockbusters are the American films and it’s just this one Greek film that will come along every so often and stifle the competition. It is a bleak film but we thought the quality was so high – it’s such an incredible film and we know that audiences are going to cry and just love it. We have no doubt in that. For the opening night film we could have gone for something lighter, but we’re confident this is the film that’s going to stun audiences.”

Directed by award-winning Pantelis Voulgaris, The Last Note is a heart-wrenching World War II drama which details the lead-up to the senseless mass execution of 200 Greek war prisoners in Chaidari concentration camp, to avenge the killing of four Nazi offices.

“It’s a story that is very important to Greek people because it is so much a part of our history. It’s very moving and because it is based on real life events it is so much more compelling.”

Proestos said that The Last Note is an absolute must-see film at the festival and her two other favourites are Smuggling Hendrix and Pity.

“Smuggling Hendrix is a Cypriot film which has just arrived from Tribeca Film Festival. This film is about a guy who has lost his dog and how he crosses the border is search of his pet. It’s a laugh out loud film which should be a lot of fun. Pity is a black comedy which centers on a guy living his life in an attempt to get pity from other people. It’s very tongue-in-cheek and there is some bleakness and the humour is very dry.”

Oct 9-20. Palace Norton St & Palace Central. $20-$80+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au