Hellenic Culture Abroad - Festivals and Events

3rd Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, 25 to 28 June 2009

8th Edinburgh Greek Film Festival, February 20 – March 1

Gotham goes Greek when the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce presents the second annual New York City Greek Film Festival in October.

Among the award-winning films to be shown is "Eduart," a Dostoevskian story of a killer's struggle for personal redemption. "The Homecoming" tells a story of marital infidelity and personal betrayal.

The festival will also pay tribute to Jules Dassin by showing his 1960 landmark film "Never On Sunday" in its first theatrical showing in many years.Other special events include Other special events include a tribute to Greek American filmmaker Richard Ledes and screening of "Song of Life," a documentary on saving the jews of Zakynthos during the German Occupation. Read more...

The Verdict: Overwhelmingly Not Guilty

2,500 years ago, in 399 B.C., the Athenian Assembly found Socrates guilty on two charges: (i) corrupting the youth of Athens, and (ii) impiety, i.e., failure to respect the City’s gods. Socrates was sentenced to death, but he is now appealing his conviction; the appeal, while long overdue, appears timely, not least because of the many open and hidden issues posed by the most famous free-speech case of all time, still tantalizing modern society.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company organized the Appeal Trial, under the auspices of the Ambassador of Greece and Mrs. Alexandros Mallias. The event was sponsored by the Doric Column – a partnership supporting Greek culture at the Theatre.

For the presentation of their arguments to the audience/court, the advocates relied on the version of events presented by Plato in the “Apology of Socrates and Crito” and  by Xenophon in the “Apology of Socrates and Memorabilia of Socrates”.

After listening attentively to both sides, the Jury, i.e., the audience themselves, issued their verdict by an overwhelming majority: Not Guilty.

Each year, the organizers of the L.A. Greek Fest try to bring a touch of the "Zorba spirit" to their celebrations. Just as Quinn was a Mexican American actor portraying a Greek character, the once heavily Greek area surrounding the festival's site, is nearly 90% Latino.

To create an event that's inclusive of the overall neighborhood, the festival will feature a "Margaritaville" booth as well as evening salsa performances. "In the beginning it was viewed as very unorthodox to fuse two cultures like that, but after the first couple years, the concept took hold. People loved the whole idea," co-producer Pastras says.

But for those seeking a Hellenic experience, the festival remains devotedly Greek. Guest hosted by Tom Hanks and his wife,  Rita Wilson, there's Greek food, music, dancing and theatre. "We offer people an opportunity to come and be Greek for a day," says Nick Begakis, the festival's official chef. Read more...

Dirmitris Papaioannou, director of the 2004 Athens Olympics opening ceremony, is to bring his adapted version of ancient Greek tragedy Medea to Beijing early August. Papaioannou told Xinhua in an exclusive interview in Athens that most of the techniques adopted by the Athens Olympics opening ceremony were first tried out in the performance of Medea in 1993.

Medea was named "Best Choreography" at the Greek National Awards for Dance in 1994. Papaioannou directed Medea 2 based on the 1993 version specially for the "Cultural Year of Greece in China." The play will be performed in the newly-built Grand National Theatre in Beijing. Read more...

The 26th annual Greek Festival of Sydney will launch with a special two day long celebration at Darling Harbour on the 29th and 30th of March.

The Greek Festival of Sydney is one of Australia's largest and longest running annual cultural events. Over the last years the Festival has played a key role in providing a forum for showcasing a multitude of Greek and multi-cultural expressions by featuring the finest Greek-Australian talent alongside the most acclaimed Greek artists in the world today. Read more...

The Embassy of Greece, in cooperation with the Finnish-Greek Association in Tampere, the Pirkanmaa Film Centre and the Greek Film Centre, is organizing a Greek Film Festival that will take place at Niagara Cinema (Kehräsaari, B-Talo, 33100 Tampere) 24-28 February 2008, which includes the following films:

Sun 24th February, at 16.30, THE KING (O VASILIAS ), by Nikos Grammatikos (2002) 130min (pictured left)

Mon 25th February, at 18.30, IT’S A LONG ROAD (OLA INE DROMOS ), by Pantelis Voulgaris (1998) 118min

Tue 26th February, at 18.30, LEAP AND UNCLE LAMPROS,  (TO PIDIMA TOU KATSANTONI KE O BARBA LAMPROS KATSANTONIS) by Giorgos Kolozis  (2005) 70min

Wed 27th February, at 18.30, THE VALIANTS OF SAMOTHRACE, (I GENEOI TIS SAMOTHRAKIS) by Stamatis Tsarouchas (2003), 85min

Thu 28th February, at 18.30 BRAZILERO by Sotiris Goritsas (2001) 95min

Tervetuloa!  Welcome!

The London Festival of Greek Drama was created in 1987 and every year since it brings together students from all over London to contribute and take part in activities related to the performance and appreciation of ancient Greek Drama. The 2008 festival is being organised by students from King's College London, University College London and Royal Holloway and includes three student-led performances of Greek tragedies, which will be supported by a series of lectures, workshops and film viewings.

Visit the Festival Website

The Cultural Year of Greece in China, which will start in September 2007 and will be completed in September 2008, attempts to present the modern and also diachronic character of the Hellenic Culture and Greece in China. China, a land of rapid growth, host of the 2008 Olympic Games, and a population of 2 billion.

Theatrical performances, cinema tributes, dance, archaeological and modern art exhibitions, opera, folk concerts, modern and popular music, conferences and book exhibitions constitute the main activities taking place in the framework of the Cultural Year of Greece in China.. Read more...

In an interview with Xinhua, (24.02.2008) Greek Minister of Culture Michalis Liapis said Greek-Sino relationships have entered a golden period. Liapis also proposed holding a Chinese Cultural Year in Greece, saying culture is the best bridge to link the Chinese people and the Greek people, and to deepen the friendship and understanding of the two countries.

During the last week of February 2008, the Cultural Year of Greece in China returned to Beijing with the exhibition at Hellenic House which gave people in Beijing a preview of the New Acropolis Museum in Athens. Visitors were able to see cast copies of the west frieze of the Acropolis, as well as the Parthenon and a photographic presentation of the New Acropolis Museum. Another remarkable event that debuted that week was the adaptation of the ancient Aristophanes play, "The Birds," which opened at Beijing's National Grand Theatre. Read more...

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