Dear friends of cinema,

It is with great joy and excitement that we welcome you to this year’s festival, a journey beyond visible reality.

The owl, a symbol of wisdom and knowledge, has been chosen this year as the emblem of the festival, inviting us to look deeper, beyond the surface and mere image. Just as the owl offers us a more penetrating gaze into the darkness, cinema, through its stories, reveals unseen aspects of reality and transports us to worlds that touch our soul and our mind, helping us uncover hidden meanings and awaken emotions we may have overlooked.

In this edition, we have gathered films from every corner of the globe, stories that come together in a celebration of multiculturalism and diversity. From distant landscapes to the Greek reality, each creation reflects the unique perspective of its creators and brings to light different facets of life, love, challenges, and dreams. These films communicate powerful messages in a direct and impactful way, reinforcing cinema’s potential to encourage critical thinking, empathy, and understanding among audiences.

We invite you, therefore, to immerse yourselves in this magical journey, to explore the boundaries of fantasy and reality, and to discover new perspectives that open up before you, beyond what is immediately visible. Let us allow cinema to guide us, inspire us, and bring us closer to one another.

On behalf of the festival team, I would like to thank all the creators who shared their stories with us.

Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to all of you, the wonderful audience of the Festival, who are an integral part of it. I wish you unforgettable screenings and moments filled with thought, emotion, and inspiration!

Enjoy the show! 

Yannis Harbatsis
Artistic Director of the Festival