The cinema of Greece has a long and rich history. Though hampered at times by war or political instability, the Greek film industry dominates the domestic market and has experienced international success. Characteristics of Greek cinema include a dynamic plot, strong character development and erotic themes. Two Greek films, Missing (1982) and Eternity and a Day (1998), have won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Five Greek films have received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Dogtooth is a 2009 Greek absurdist psychological drama film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Written by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou, the film is about a husband and wife who keep their children ignorant of the world outside their property well into adulthood.
The Hellenic Film Academy (HFA) is an initiative of a group of Greek filmmakers. HFA presents the annual Hellenic Film Academy Awards ceremony, awarding the best films of Greek cinema of the last year.
Alps is a 2011 Greek psychological drama film directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, produced by Athina Rachel Tsangari and Lanthimos, and written by Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou. It stars Angeliki Papoulia, Aris Servetalis, Johnny Vekris, and Ariane Labed. The film premiered in competition at the 68th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay, and it also won the Official Competition Prize for New Directions in Cinema at the 2012 Sydney Film Festival.
Stratos is a 2014 Greek drama film directed by Yannis Economides. The film had its premiere in the competition section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival.
Vangelis Mourikis is a Greek film actor, who has appeared in more than thirty films since 1982. He studied in Australia where he did his first work. In the 1990s he returned to Greece and devoted himself to independent cinema. He has won seven awards as both leading and supporting actor. He has collaborated with many new Greek cinema directors, including Thodoros Maragos, Yannis Economides, Nikos Grammatikos, Pantelis Voulgaris, Athina Rachel Tsangari, and Georgis Grigorakis.
Syllas Tzoumerkas is a Greek film director, screenwriter, and actor.
Angeliki Papoulia is a Greek actress and theatre director. In film, she is most notable for her roles in Dogtooth, Alps and The Lobster by Yorgos Lanthimos, and A Blast and The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea by Syllas Tzoumerkas. For her part in Dogtooth she was awarded with a Heart of Sarajevo for Best Actress.
Chevalier is a 2015 Greek comedy film directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari and co-written by Tsangari and Efthymis Filippou. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. It was selected as the Greek entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards but it was not nominated.
A Blast, is a 2014 film directed by Syllas Tzoumerkas about a woman's disillusionment and revolt in the frame of the Greek financial crisis. The film stars Angeliki Papoulia, Vassilis Doganis, Maria Filini, Themis Bazaka, Makis Papadimitriou and Yorgos Biniaris.
The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, is a 2019 thriller/drama Greek film with horror and surrealist elements, directed by Syllas Tzoumerkas. It tells the story two women, a police woman and an eel hatchery worker, whose solitary lives cross when a circle of violence erupts in the poor, small town of Western Greece where they live. Angeliki Papoulia, Youla Boudali and Christos Passalis lead the film's ensemble cast.
Digger is a 2020 Greek drama film directed by Greek director and screenwriter Georgis Grigorakis. It had its world premiere screening as part of the Panorama section at the 70th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the independent jury International Confederation of Art Cinemas Art Cinema Award for Panorama 2020.
Disco Afrika : A Malagasy Story is a 2023 Malagasy-language drama film directed by Luck Razanajaona, produced by Jonathan Rubin, co-written with François Hébert, Marcelo Novais Teles, Ludovic Randriamanantsoa and starring Parista Sambo. It World premiered at 2023 Marrakech International Film Festival and European premiered at 74th Berlin International Film Festival where it received an honorable mention from the AG Kino – Gilde e.V. jury.
The Devil's Bath is a 2024 horror drama film written and directed by Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, and starring Anja Plaschg. An international co-production between Austria and Germany, the film tells the story of Agnes, a young married woman, who does not feel at home in her husband's world.
Gloria! is a 2024 historical musical film co-written and directed by Margherita Vicario in her directorial debut. The film starring Galatea Bellugi, Carlotta Gamba, Veronica Lucchesi, Maria Vittoria Dallasta and Sara Mafodda tells the story of a group of young musicians who invent pop music in 18th century Italy.
My Favourite Cake is a 2024 drama film co-written and directed by Maryam Moqadam and Behtash Sanaeeha. The film was among the first six films selected for the first round of the New Dawn scheme after its launch in 2022. The film, starring Lily Farhadpour and Esmail Mehrabi, follows the story of a woman who decides to live out her desires in a country where women's rights are heavily restricted.
Sons is a 2024 psychological thriller co-written and directed by Gustav Möller. The film starring Sidse Babett Knudsen and Sebastian Bull is about an idealistic prison officer Eva Hansen, who faces the dilemma of her life when a young man she knows from before is transferred to her prison.
Ivo is a 2024 German drama film written and directed by Eva Trobisch. Starring Minna Wündrich, the film is about tough end-of-life decisions, told through the story of a palliative home-care titular nurse Ivo.
Cidade; Campo is a 2024 drama film directed by Juliana Rojas. Starring Fernanda Vianna, Mirella Façanha and Bruna Linzmeyer, the film tells two tales of migration between the city and the countryside. In first tale: Joana moves to São Paulo and tries to restart her life, after a disaster floods her land. In the second tale: Flavia moves to farm in the country with her wife Mara, following the death of her estranged father.
Direct Action is a 2024 French–German documentary film directed by Guillaume Cailleau and Ben Russell. Taking its title from the tactical protest strategy of the same name, the film is a modern portrait of one of the most important militant activist communities in France.
