This year’s MGFF will embrace the Italian Community proposing a program that explores and discovers the cultural affinities and social similarities between Greece and Italy.
Opening Night, taking place at Rialto Theatre tonight, brings us the musical documentary Encardia the Dancing Stone introducing us to the warmth of the sounds from South Italy. Award-winning journalist, Aphrodite Salas and Mose Persico who has hosted and produced several award-winning shows will present Opening Night. A cocktail and a live musical performance by Cirque du Soleil’s singer and composer Nitza Melas will follow.
We honour the late Michael Cacoyannis, a director who created inspiring women’s portraits, with Elektra (Irene Papas) and Stella (Melina Mercouri), two amazingly radiant actresses who were given to the international world of cinema through these great classic films. We will also have the rare opportunity to re-discover famous opera singer, the divine Maria Callas in her unique appearance, as an actress, interpreting Medea by Pasolini. Three great Greek Artists, giving life to three Classic Heroines.
This year’s Special Evening is with the Constantinople and Pontian Associations of Montreal and we will be presenting the poignant documentary Twice a Stranger and A Touch of Spice a very popular and emotional film about the forced expulsion of Greeks from Constantinople in the ‘60s. In between those films the audience will have the opportunity to taste a little “touch of spice”, a cocktail full of Greek- oriental flavours.
A new addition also in this year’s program is the Young Film Directors from the Greek Diaspora with an interesting selection of films, featuring local filmmakers.
A very evocative part of the MGFF is the Contemporary Greek Cinema Panorama giving the opportunity to the Montreal audience to discover the best of Greek films that have been nominated and awarded in prestigious festivals all over the world.
Included in this year’s program are: the films Cineastes and J.A.C.E. by Menelaos Karamaggiolis (Berlinale 2012 and Tokyo International Festival), Christmas Tango by Nikos Koutelidakis (Hellenic Film Academy Awards for Best Original Music, Art Direction and Costumes), DOS (Award for Best feature film and Audience Award, New York Independent Film Festival, 2012), Wandering Soul by Angeliki Aristomenopoulou. The program also includes the screening of the Antikythera Mechanism, a documentary about a fascinating journey of the discovery of the first mechanical computer.
A Touch of Spice a very popular and emotional film about the forced expulsion of Greeks from Constantinople in the ‘60s. -
The Closing Night, celebrating the conclusion of the 4th MGFF, will also take place at the Rialto, on November 3, screening Mediterraneo, by Gabrielle Salvatores, an Italian feature film shot in the beautiful Greek island landscape. Live music and cocktail will follow.
SCHEDULE
STELLA
TRIBUTE TO CACOYANNIS &THE GRAND DAMES OF
GREEK ACTING : MELINA MERCOURI
Friday October 26th at 7pm
THE FORTUNATE SON
Friday October 26th at 9:00pm
YOUNG FILM DIRECTORS FROM THE GREEK DIASPORA
Saturday October 27th at 5:00pm
CINÉASTES followed by WANDERING SOUL
Saturday October 27th at 7pm
DOS
Saturday October 27th at 9:15pm, Wednesday October 31st at 9pm
ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS: 1910-1927
Sunday October 28th at 4pm
MEDEA
THE GRAND DAMES OF GREEK ACTING: MARIA CALLAS
Sunday October 28th at 7pm
CHRISTMAS TANGO
Sunday October 28th at 9pm, Wednesday October 31st at 7pm
ELEKTRA
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL CACOYANNIS & THE GRAND DAMES
OF GREEK ACTING: IRENE PAPAS
Monday October 29th at 7pm
J.A.C.E. (Just + Another – Confused/ = Elephant)
Monday October 29th at 9pm
TWICE A STRANGER
EVENING DEDICATED TO THE PONTIAN
ASSOCIATION OF MONTREAL ‘EFXINOS PONTOS’
Tuesday October 30th at 7pm
A TOUCH OF SPICE
Tuesday October 30th at 9pm
THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM: The World’s First Computer
Thursday November 1st at 7pm
