Summary
- Christoforos Papakaliatis screened the first excerpts from Maestro’s final season at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
- Season four will have six episodes lasting 75–90 minutes and is expected on Netflix in December.
- He discussed international distribution, the logistics of filming on Paxos and the contribution of his collaborators.
- The series will later air on MEGA.
Christoforos Papakaliatis gave audiences in Thessaloniki their first look at footage from the fourth and final season of Maestro, revealing when the Greek series will conclude its international run on Netflix.
The exclusive screening took place on Sunday, 8 November 2026, at the Pavlos Zannas cinema during the TIFF Talks – Agora Series programme at the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Papakaliatis, this year’s Agora ambassador, spoke with the festival’s artistic director, Orestis Andreadakis.
Six episodes running 75–90 minutes each
The short video shown in Thessaloniki featured scenes from the final season. The series is expected to premiere on Netflix in December 2026, before airing later on Greek broadcaster MEGA. No specific release date was announced during the discussion.
Season four consists of six episodes lasting between 75 and 90 minutes each, an unusually long running time for episodic television that leaves room to bring multiple storylines to a close. Papakaliatis offered few plot details, saying he wanted the characters to receive the endings they deserved.
The footage was screened exclusively for attendees. The festival’s official account of the event does not include a publicly released copy of the video, so it should not be treated as an online trailer.
How a Greek production reached Netflix
Papakaliatis explained that international streaming distribution had been an ambition from the scriptwriting stage. Once filming and editing were complete, the team prepared a nine-minute presentation reel and sent it to Cannes. That reel was part of the original international outreach effort; it was not the newly screened season-four footage.
He emphasised the importance of MEGA’s initial backing, as well as the challenges of financing and organising the production. He described Maestro as the project that demanded more work than any other in his career, spanning roughly five years.
Paxos, the crew and the people behind the series
For filmmakers, one of the most revealing details concerned the logistics of shooting on Paxos. Short distances between locations made it possible to divide the crew into two teams and allocate tasks more efficiently. Papakaliatis had planned the locations in advance and acknowledged the support of the island’s residents.
He also acknowledged the contribution of EKKOMED and the production’s wider team and supporters. Speaking warmly of the ensemble’s eleven principal performers, he singled out Maria Kavoyianni and Haris Alexiou. For a creator who writes, directs and acts in the series, the cast’s contribution was essential to shaping the characters.
The discussion formed part of the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival programme, whose Agora brings together Greek and international screen-industry professionals. Papakaliatis highlighted the value of exchanging know-how with emerging creators.
What comes after Maestro
During the audience Q&A, Papakaliatis said that a new feature film is among his immediate creative plans and did not rule out working in theatre in the future. He shared no title, cast or production start date.
What we think
For those of us making films and videos, the useful lesson here goes beyond a Greek series reaching viewers worldwide. It is the work behind that outcome: creating a reel specifically for international meetings, persisting with partnership outreach and organising a crew around the practical demands of a location.
The Paxos example is particularly relevant. When locations are close and the schedule has been thought through, a team can make much better use of its people and shooting hours. Cinematic images are not made with good cameras alone. Planning, collaboration and people who can deliver the plan matter just as much.
Six episodes of 75–90 minutes also represent a storytelling choice that asks a lot of the audience’s attention. Length does not automatically make a show better, but it does make the editing and pacing especially interesting: how do you give so many characters a satisfying ending while keeping the story focused?
Frequently asked questions
When will Maestro season four be released?
The final season is expected on Netflix in December 2026 and will subsequently air on MEGA, according to Papakaliatis’s announcement at the festival. No exact date was given.
Is the footage shown in Thessaloniki available online?
It was screened exclusively for attendees. No official public upload of that same video was found alongside the festival’s announcement.
