Melbourne Antipodes Greek Film Festival – a brief history

[Prokomenos]

Melbourne Antipodes Greek Film Festival – a brief history

Greek cinema played an important social role in the lives of post-war migrants, especially in the 1960s and 1970s. As well as offering entertainment, cinema provided a forum in which Greek migrants could meet. However, the late 1970s heralded the demise of Greek cinema in Melbourne. The last venue to screen Greek films closed its doors in 1984. As a result, Greek cinema ceased to be promoted in a coherent manner, with a random selection of Greek films being screened at various evenings organised by tertiary Greek societies and other cultural events.

In the early 1990s, a group of Greek-Australian university graduates and post-graduates met informally with the aim of discussing issues pertaining to the local Greek community. One of the outcomes of these discussions was the concept and feasibility of promoting Greek culture via cinema. Acknowledging the ability of film to transcend cultural borders, cinema was considered a social vehicle that could win mass appeal. Simultaneously, Greek cinema would be provided with an appropriate forum for its promotion and debate. Members of the group decided to become involved with the Antipodes Festival, with a view to extending its realm of activity to include a film festival. In order to coordinate their efforts, they also collaborated with their respective counterparts in Sydney.

In 1993, the State Film Centre hosted the inaugural Greek Film Festival. It drew an attendance of over two thousand, thereby laying the foundations for future growth. After eight continuous years at the State Film Centre, the Festival organisers were approached by Palace Cinemas, who suggested moving to a more prominent venue. As a result, the 9th Greek Film Festival secured a new location, Palace Cinema Como, and subsequently a broader audience. The Festival now had the support of an established entity which enthusiastically promoted ethnospecific film festivals. The partnership with Palace has proven an unqualified success, with annual increases in attendances of 20%. At the same time, Greek film has gained a profile not previously enjoyed.

In 2003, the Greek Film Festival became a national event, with four more Australian cities participating in the festival circuit. Last year, close to eight thousand people attended the Greek Film Festival in Melbourne alone, with a total national attendance of over twenty thousand.

The Board of Management of the Antipodes Festival is dedicated to promoting Greek cinema and to continuously challenge the taste of its audience. We are committed to ensuring that the art of Greek filmmaking will receive broader recognition within the Australian Film Festival circuit.


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[Megale]

A few notable Greek-Australian filmmakers who are international in scope. George Miller (Milotis) and Alex Proyas (directed The Crow).

[Hephaestion]

My guess is tha we became assimilated enough to kill such programs as they existed in the early days, but not enough to kill the Anglo Saxon nonsense, usually perpetuated by non ANglos. What do you think pankration? Remember when we were kids in Kits at the Hollywood theatre? I was little, but stil remember going? Didn't you mention we all dressed up to go as well? Regardless, very fond memories!!!