SUMMER SCREENING MARATHON 2020

Screenings: 22/7 and 15/8

SMUGGLING HENDRIX Cyprus – 2018 (+18)

Yiannis’ plans to leave Cyprus are put on hold when his dog, Jimi, runs away and crosses the UN buffer zone that divides the “Greek” from the “Turkish” side of the island. Since animal exchange between the two “sides” is prohibited, Yiannis reluctantly joins forces with a cast of unexpected characters to smuggle him back

Director : Marios Piperides

Screenplay : Sotiris Christou

Cast : Adam Bousdoukos, Fatih Al, Vicky Papadopoulou

Genre : Comedy

Languages : Greek, Turkish, English

Subtitles: Greek

Best fiction at the Tribeca Film Festival, 3 prizes at Cyprus film days, Best script at the Hellenic Film Academy, Best fiction at the Les Arcs Festival (France), Special Mention at the Thessaloniki Film Festival

AN SWEET BEAN Japan 2015 (+12)

Screenings: 23/7 and 2/8

Sentaro runs a small canteen where he prepares traditional “doriyaki”, a sort of a double pancake stuffed with a sweet-bean sauce. With no enthusiasm for anything, Sentaro passes his days in a monotonous way. The day when an elderly lady called Tokue approaches him proposing her home-made sweet bean sauce no one could have imagined how their lives were about to change. This relationship will change them forever! A literally sweet movie dedicated to the beautiful surprises of life!

Director: Naomi Kawase

Screenplay: Naomi Kawase

Cast: Kirin Kiki, Masatoshi Nagase, Kyara Uchida

Genre: Social drama

Languages: Japanese

Subtitles: Greek

Premiere at the Cannes Festival, Un certain regard

NOS ΒATAILLES  – OUR STRUGGLES Belgium, France 2018 (+18)

Screenings : 24/7 and 29/7

They spend all their energy between work and home doing everything they can in order to raise their children in a healthy environment. One day however, Laura suddenly leaves home without any explanation despite her huge love for her children. It is now only up to Olivier to handle everything and keep the balance. With no ethical lessons, the film focuses on the power of love and understanding!

Director: Guillaume Senez

Screenplay: Raphaëlle Desplechin, Guillaume Senez

Cast: Romain Duris, Lucie Debay, Laetitia Dosch

Genre: Drama

Languages: French

Subtitles: Greek

Premiere at the Cannes Festival (Critic’s Week), Audience Award, at the Torino Film Festival

THE LAST MOVIE USA 1971 (+18)

Screenings : 25/7 and 30/7

Somewhere in a far away Peruvian village, a Hollywood movie crew is about to shoot a big production western film. Kansas, an American talented stuntman, falls in love with a prostitute and decides to stay in the village at the end of the shooting. Even though the movie’s set is deserted, it is used by locals for a ceremonial representation with Kansas becoming the center of attention. With this film Dennis Hopper pays tribute to the end of the western movie era as well as presents a rather darker side of the people behind the set.

Director: Dennis Hopper

Screenplay: Dennis Hopper

Cast: Dennis Hopper, Stella Garcia, Don Gordon, Julie Adams, Sylvia Miles, Peter Fonda, Samuel Fuller

Genre: Drama

Languages: English

Subtitles: Greek

CIDALC Award, Venice Festival

IN THIS LAND NOBODY KNEW HOW TO CRY Greece 2018 (+18)

Screenings : 26/7 and 31/7

Somewhere in the Aegean sea, on an island called Armenaki, a French Member of the European Parliament and a Greek economist arrive in order to examine possible future investments. Surprisingly they find that the island’s inhabitants have established their own alternative, moneyless lifestyle. A spiral of unforeseen events forces them to reevaluate their own living and thinking

Director: Giorgos Panousopoulos

Screenplay: Giorgos Panousopoulos

Cast: Margarita Panousopoulou, Babis Hatzidakis, Foteini Tsakiri, Serge Requet-Barville

Genre: Social drama

Languages: Greek

Nominations Montreal World Film Festival Golden Rooster Award Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

YESTERDAY United Kingdom 2019 (+18)

Screenings : 1/8 and 6/9

Screenplay: Richard Curtis

Cast: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate McKinnon

Genre: Comedy

Languages: English

Subtitles: Greek

Audience Prize, Montclair Film Festival

Jack Malik writes songs and tries to become famous in the music world. After an international black-out takes place he realises that no one else knows the Beatles apart from him. Everybody believes that Jack is the one who has composed the Beatles songs and he will soon be seen as a genius! However, the only person who knows the truth is Ellie who watches Jack exploiting and selling music that doesn’t belong to him. Jack will need to consider what holds most value for him

A ΜAN CALLED OVE Sweden 2015 (+18)

Screenings : 5/8 and 14/8

Director: Hannes Holm

Screenplay: Hannes Holm

Cast: Rolf Lassgård, Bahar Pars, Filip Berg, Ida Engvoll

Genre: Comedy Drama

Languages: Swedish

Subtitles: Greek

Best comedy, European Film Academy, Best Foreign Language Film Oscar Nomination

Ove is a middle-aged grumpy man who is constantly searching a reason to argue. Everything and everyone upsets him and he always tries to provoke the unsuspecting neighbours by pointing out anything considered to be wrong. One day a lively family moves in to the house next to Ove’s and things get even worse. But the new neighbour Bahar doesn’t get intimidated and finds the way to connect to Ove’s wounded soul. A beautiful film about the power of mutual understanding and friendship.

AND ΤHEN WE DANCED Sweden, Georgia, France 2019 (+18)

Screenings: 6/8 and 16/8

Director: Levan Akin

Screenplay: Levan Akin

Cast: Levan Gelbakhiani, Bachi Valishvili, Ana Javakishvili

Genre: Drama

Languages: Georgian

Subtitles: Greek

Premiere at Cannes Directors Fortnight, Gold Hugo at the Chicago Int’l Festival

The National Dance Academy of Georgia trains dancers who will represent the country with the National Team. The Academy demands that the dancers strictly follow the traditional steps with any personal expression considered to be a divergence and a lack of respect towards national values. In such an environment Merab receives intense training so as to be able to join the National Team. However, everything will change when a young dancer, Irakli, joins the Academy. The two young men will create a strong relationship that few people will approve

MENASHE USA 2018 (+18)

Screenings: 7/8 and 12/8

Director: Joshua Z. Weinstein

Screenplay: Alex Lipschultz, Musa Syeed, Joshua Z. Weinstein

Cast: Menashe Lustig, Hershy Fishman, Ruben Niborski

Genre: Social drama

Languages: Jewish-English

Subtitles: Greek

Nomination at the Sundance Audience Award, Jury Prize at the Deauville Festival

Menashe runs a grocery store in the Jewish area of Brooklyn. He doesn’t strictly follow all the codes and customs of his community and the others tend to treat him as a black sheep. He has a son, Ruben, that he adores but whose custody has lost since he is no longer married. Instead his brother raises Ruben until Menashe gets married again, just as the Torah stipulates. Despite the social pressure Menashe doesn’t give up and tries to change the mentalities with his own approach. In a smart way the film reminds us how beautiful it is to be unique.

BLINDED BY THE LIGHT United Kingdom 2018 (+18)

Screenings: 8/8 and 9/9

Director: Gurinder Chadha

Screenplay: Sarfraz Manzoor, Gurinder Chadha, Paul Mayeda Berges

Cast: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra

Genre: Comedy Drama

Languages: English

Subtitles: Greek

Truly Moving Picture Prize at the Heartland Film festival Λούτον, Αγγλία, 1987.

Luton, England 1987. Javed is a teenager who grows up in a traditional Pakistani family during an intensive era with racial and economic troubles. His identity quest is extremely complicated. However, he will seek refuge in the timeless lyrics of Bruce Springsteen which express his thoughts and feelings. The new film by the director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) is a feel-good experience based on the lyrics and music of Bruce Springsteen.

LA DOLCE VITA Federico Fellini Italy 1960 (+18)

Screenings : 9/8 and 13/8

Director: Federico Fellini

Screenplay: Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, Brunello Rondi

Cast: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée

Genre: Comedy drama

Subtitles: Greek

Palme d’Or at the Cannes Festival, Oscar for Best Costume Design, 3 Oscar Νominations

Seven hills of Rome, seven nights and seven days. Marcello is a young journalist who spends time with rich and famous people. His life is full of ephemeral pleasures and he sees no reason he should change anything in his routine. Glamourous parties, unexpected acquaintances, pleasant companies, what else could a young man seek? Yet a series of circumstances will make him realise the vanity of his actions. The masterpiece of Fellini that many consider as the greatest film ever on the big screen again!

À BRAS ΟUVERTS ! – WITH ΟPEN ΑRMS France 2017 (+18)

Screenings : 19/8 and 27/8

Director: : Philippe de Chauveron

Screenplay: Guy Laurent, Marc de Chauveron

Cast: Christian Clavier, Ary Abittan, Elsa Zylberstein

Genre: Comedy

Languages: French

Subtitles: Greek

A famous intellectual writer with social sensitivity advocates that every wealthy person should help those in need. During a televised talk-show someone challenges him to do as he says so he can give the good example. Having no other option but to accept, he has to face all the consequences that will occur…

LA VERITE –  THE TRUTH France-Japan 2019 (+18)

Screenings : 20.8 & 26.8

Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda

Screenplay: Hirokazu Kore-eda

Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Juliette Binoche, Ethan Hawk

Genre: Comedy Drama

Languages: French English

Subtitles: Greek

Venice International Film Festival Premiere

Fabienne is a famous French cinema star that everyone admires. Her daughter who lives and works as a scriptwriter in New York will travel back to France with her family in order to assist to the publishing of Fabienne’s autobiography. This reunion will create memorable situations as revelations from the past will come to light. The explosive duo Deneuve-Binoche in the leading roles remains unforgettable!

YULI Spain, Cuba 2018 (+12)

Screenings : 21.8 & 30.8

Director: Icíar Bollaín

Screenplay: Paul Laverty

Cast: Carlos Acosta, Santiago Alfonso, Laura De la Uz, Edlison Manuel Olbera Núñez

Genre: Biopic drama

Languages: Spanish

Subtitles: Greek

Best Script at the San Sebastian Festival, 5 nominations at the Goya Spanish Academy Awards

Carlos Acosta (or Yuli as his father used to call him) is a legendary dancer who started dancing in the streets of Havana and ended up in the Royal Ballet in London. The film narrates the life of the great dancer who managed to break the taboos and was the first black dancer to play Shakespeare’s Romeo. Filled with the memories of Carlos Acosta the film is a magical journey through time!

THE NILE HILTON INCIDENT Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France 2017 (+18)

Screenings : 22.8 & 28.8

Director: Tarik Saleh

Screenplay: Tarik Saleh, Magdi Abdelhadi

Cast: Fares Fares, Ger Duany, Slimane Dazi, Mohamed Yousry

Genre: Crime film

Languages: Arabic

Subtitles: Greek

Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Grand Prix at the Beaune International Film Festival

Cairo, some weeks prior to the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Noredin is a Police officer who is in charge to investigate the case of a young singer’s death. His colleagues push him to classify the case as a “crime of passion” but Noredine is not convinced and keeps investigating until he comes across a scandal involving high positioned people. How determined is he in order to reveal the case to the public and put himself and his career in such danger?

LADY WINSLEY Turkey 2018 (+18)

Screenings : 23/8 & 29/8

Director: Hiner Saleem

Screenplay: Véronique Wüthrich, Hiner Saleem

Cast: Mehmet Kurtuluş, Ezgi Mola,Turgay Aydin, Arin Kusaksizoglu, Mesut Akusta

Genre: Comedy, mystery

Languages: Turkish

Subtitles: Greek

On the island of Büyükada in the Marmara sea, an American writer named Lady Winsley is murdered. The experienced private detective Fergün immediately arrives from Istanbul in order to investigate the case. Despite his professionalism and his precise method the research does not lead to any satisfying results. Someone is hiding a crucial clue. Or more than one? As more clues are revealed so are more secrets…

GOSPOD POSTOI, IMETO I’ E PETRUNIJA – GOD EXTISTS, HER NAME IS PETRUNYA

North Macedonia 2019 (+18)

Screenings : 2.9 & 11.9

Director: Teona Strugar Mitevska

Screenplay: Teona Strugar Mitevska, Elma Tataragic

Cast: Zorica Nusheva, Labina Mitevska, Stefan Vujisic, Suad Begovski

Genre: Comedy drama

Languages: Slavic macedonian

Subtitles: Greek

Guild Film Prize and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin Film Festival

It is the sixth of January and just like every Epiphany, the priest throws a wooden cross in the icy waters of the river Bregalnića for young men to dive for the prestige and glory of catching the cross. This year however a young woman named Petrunya also dives with them and manages to grab the coveted cross. The reactions will be immediate. This custom is traditionally reserved for men so Petrunya should not have dived in the first place and now she is obliged to return the cross. Petrunya considers that since she fought like everyone else she has the right to keep the cross. And this is how one of the most caustic comedies of the year begins!

SMALL WHITE ENVELOPES Cyprus 2018 (+18)

Screenings : 3/9 & 13/9

Director: Sotiris Christo

Screenplay: Sotiris Christou

Cast: Popi Avraam, Androulla Irakleous, Antonis Katsaris, Dinos Lyras

Genre: Comedy

Languages: Greek

Subtitles: English

Best Cypriot Director Award, Cyprus Film Days

Mishellis, a small-time crook in his late thirties, is in urgent need for money to repay his gambling debts. After a failed wedding robbery attempt he tries a more indirect approach were he impersonates a wedding planner in order to steal the money-stuffed envelopes brought as gifts to the wedding of an upper class family. In the process, he ends up a bit closer to his clients than he originally planned.

EFTYHIA Greece 2019 (+18)

Screenings : 4.9 & 12.9

Director: Angelos Frantzis

Screenplay: Katerina Bei

Cast: Karyofyllia Karabeti, Katia Goulioni, Pigmalion Dadakaridis, Thanos Tokakis

Genre: Social drama

Languages: Greek

Hellenic Film Academy ( Best Film) / 6 Hellenic Academy Awards of which “Best film”

Originated from Aidani in Asia Minor, a young woman settled in Athens decides not to leave the fate determine her life. She writes poems and lyrics and she will become the greatest female Greek lyricist of the twentieth century. She will collaborate with major music professionals such as Vasilis Tsitsanis, Manolis Hiotis and Manos Hatzidakis. She will have to struggle against a society controled by men not only in order to impose herself as a respectable lyricist but also to live her life as she wishes. Her name is Eftyhia Papayannopoulou and we have all sung her lyrics!

JUDY USA 2019 (+18)

Screenings : 5.9 & 10.9

Director: Rupert Goold

Screenplay : Tom Edge

Cast: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley, Finn Wittrock

Genre: Biography, musical drama

Languages: English

Subtitles: Greek

Oscar, Golden Globe and Bafta for Best Performance to Renée Zellweger

Judy Garland arrives in London for some sold out appearances. Many years have past since she received world fame thanks to the film “The Wizard of Oz”. She is now a diva that everyone recognises and admires. Yet she is also a woman being exhausted by showbiz who dreams of little and seemingly insignificant pleasures of a simpler life. Just like the lyrics of her famous song: “Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly, birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can’t I?” A tribute to one of the major legends of music and show!