31st Greek Film Festival in Sydney launches with record crowd

The 31st Greek Film Festival opened to a record-breaking crowd of 680 guests at Palace Norton Street Cinemas in Leichhardt on Tuesday 13 October, marking its largest Opening Night in the past decade. The Gala sold out within weeks of tickets being released, with audiences filling six cinemas for the Australian premiere of Best Friends Forever (Φίλοι Για Πάντα), a contemporary Greek comedy written and directed by Konstantinos Mousoulis. Presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, the Festival’s Opening Night brought together filmmakers, community leaders, cultural representatives and cinema lovers for an evening of Greek food, music and film. Festival Chair Pamela Proestos said the response reflected the enduring appeal of Greek cinema and the importance of creating opportunities for Australian audiences to engage with contemporary Greek filmmaking. Festival Chair Pamela Proestos. “The extraordinary response to Opening Night speaks to the appetite for Greek cinema in Australia. For 31 years, this Festival has connected audiences with Greek stories, but its relevance lies in continuing to evolve – championing new voices, challenging expectations and presenting a Greece that is as complex and compelling as the films themselves,” she said. “To see 680 people come together to celebrate that is enormously encouraging, and a wonderful way to begin this year’s Festival.” Among those attending were the Consul General of Greece in Sydney, George Skemperis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Con Apoifis, Festival President Sue Thliveris, representatives of local government, the diplomatic community and Greek and Cypriot cultural organisations. President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW Con Apoifis. The Festival continues until 25 October, presenting nearly 40 films across Palace Norton Street and Palace Moore Park. The program spans contemporary dramas, comedies, documentaries and restored classics, including a special screening of Maria Plyta’s Eva (1953) and the Closing Night presentation of Dimitris Tarlow’s Electra . The Festival acknowledges the generous support of its sponsors, partners and supporters, alongside the dedicated committee, staff and volunteers who make the event possible. Festival dates: 13–25 October 2026 Venues: Palace Norton Street and Palace Moore Park, Sydney Program and tickets: www.greekfilmfestival.com.au