Tribute to Panos H. Koutras at the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival

The 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which will take place between 31 October and 10 November, will pay a large-scale tribute to Panos H. Koutras by awarding the Golden Alexander to the pioneering and daring artist, one of the most important voices of Greek queer cinema, for his global contribution to cinema. The Real Cinema of Panos H. Koutras allows audiences to reconnect with a world-class auteur who deconstructs and reconstructs the pillars of Greek society and family in an innovative, tender, and moving way.

Athenian director Panos H. Koutras studied film at the London Film School and the French Sorbonne 1 University. He lives and works in Athens and Paris. In 1995 he founded the production company 100% Synthetic Films and his films have been screened at the most important international film festivals, winning an impressive number of honours and awards. The Attack of the Giant Moussaka premiered at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Real Life was screened for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival, Strella celebrated its world premiere at Panorama at the Berlinale, Xenia was selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, while Dodo was also screened at Cannes, in the special Cannes Premiere section.

The five feature films directed by the internationally acclaimed Greek filmmaker will be screened during the festival, accompanied by short films never before screened in Greece. The close ties we forge with the people closest to us, as well as the life experiences that define our existence, are at the heart of Panos H. Koutras’ films. Inclusion, acceptance of otherness, immigration, and integration, the imperative need to build a personal identity, the clash with stereotypical prejudices, along with the absurdity of life and the elusive nature of dreams, are some of the key themes found in Koutras’ work.

The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (Panos H. Koutras, 1999).

The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (1999)

In a digitally restored copy to mark the 25th anniversary of its release, it takes us back to the year 2000 when a shocking event shakes Athens: a giant piece of moussaka appears in the streets of the city, spreading panic and death. Everyone wonders if what they are witnessing is real. What is this thing? Where did it come from? Why is this happening? How did it get here? Everyone? Not quite, as Tara and a diverse group of people are convinced that a face-to-face encounter is necessary.

Real Life (2004)

To be screened in digitally restored copy on the 20th anniversary of its release, it features 27-year-old Aris Kalligas returning to his family home in Athens, famous for both its dazzling view of the Acropolis and its swimming pool, the deepest to be found in Europe. He is determined to solve the mystery surrounding his family. One night, after a car accident, he meets Alexandra, and the two fall madly in love. However, his mother, the irresistible Mrs. Kalliga, will do everything to end their relationship. In a city teetering between fantasy and reality, Aris needs to dig real life out of hiding.

Strella (Panos H. Koutras, 2009).

Strella (2009)

We can also see this film in a digitally restored copy, where 48-year-old Yorgos is released from prison after serving a 15-year sentence for a murder he committed in his home village. He spends his first night as a free man in a cheap motel near Omonia Square in Athens. There he meets Strella, a beautiful young trans woman who works as a prostitute. They make love and fall in love with each other. However, unpaid debts from the past will catch up with him, and a new ‘prison’ awaits him. Side by side, the two must find their way out.

Xenia (2014)

After the death of their Albanian mother, Dany and his brother Odysseas, aged 16 and 18 respectively, set out on a journey from Crete to Thessaloniki in search of their Greek father, who abandoned them as children. Strangers in their homeland, are determined to convince him to acknowledge his paternity so that they can acquire Greek citizenship and also to audition for a TV talent show that will pave the way to a better life. Along the way, they will find themselves confronted with everything that unites them, the ferocity of adolescence, a dream that must come true, and a country that stubbornly refuses to follow in their footsteps.

Real Life (Panos H. Koutras, 2004).

Dodo (2022)

A dodo, a bird species that has been extinct for over 300 years, reappears on the outskirts of Athens, on the estate of a once wealthy family who are chomping at the bit as only two days remain before their daughter marries a wealthy heir. The boundaries between reason and madness will be tested and the situation is bound to spiral out of control.

A full day will also be dedicated to Panos H. Koutras within the framework of the festival. In collaboration with the Department of Communication and Media and the Department of Digital Arts and Film of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, screenings, lectures, and workshops will be organized for students, while the public will have the opportunity to see rarely screened short films by the beloved filmmaker. In addition, Panos H. Koutras will give a masterclass, as part of the ‘Iconic Talks powered by Mastercard’ section, focusing on the queer identity of his cinema. The celebrated Greek filmmaker will discuss with the audience, among other topics, the lesser-known aspects of his work, his valuable experiences of 25 years in Greek cinema, the queer representation in his films, as well as the references that have shaped his gaze as a director. In the 65th edition, the festival will transform its magazine First Shot into a fanzine, entirely dedicated to the director.