Summary
- Nikos Grammatikos received an Honorary Golden Alexander at the 67th Thessaloniki Film Festival.
- He dedicated the award to collaborators who have passed away.
- The film “Absent” returned for a 30th-anniversary screening.
- The filmmaker revealed plans for a new film with Panagiotis Papachatzis.
Nikos Grammatikos received an Honorary Golden Alexander at the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival in a ceremony that brought the cast and crew of “Absent” back into the spotlight 30 years after the film’s original release.
The ceremony took place on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the packed Olympion cinema, ahead of an anniversary screening of “Absent” (1996). It formed part of the 67th festival’s extensive tribute to the director, featuring his short and feature-length films.
An award dedicated to those who are absent
Grammatikos called the Honorary Golden Alexander the most important award he had ever received and dedicated it to collaborators who are no longer alive, naming Minas Hatzisavvas, Gioula Zoiopoulou and Konstantinos Staridas. That personal dedication gave the anniversary ceremony a meaning that went well beyond career recognition.
Festival board president Akis Sakellariou and artistic director Orestis Andreadakis reflected on Grammatikos’s influence on Greek cinema, from “Closed Turn” to “The King”. Andreadakis also highlighted the particular devotion younger audiences have shown to his films.
Thirty years later, the “Absent” team reunites
Cast and crew members took to the stage, including Vangelis Mourikis, Tasos Nousias, Aimilios Cheilakis, Giorgos Evgenikos, Nikos Georgakis, Giorgos Giannopoulos, Panagiotis Papachatzis and Nikos Panagiotopoulos. The screening offered universal accessibility, supported by Alpha Bank.
Grammatikos also spoke about his longstanding relationship with Thessaloniki audiences, who supported his films even when some critics were less welcoming. His festival history dates back to 1987, when he presented his first short film, “Makrothen”.
A new film is in preparation
The evening also brought news of what comes next. Grammatikos revealed that he is preparing a new film with Panagiotis Papachatzis, an early collaborator from his feature-film career. No title, plot details or release date were announced.
What we think
What makes this tribute special is not simply a director receiving recognition for his career. Thirty years on, one film brought its people back onto the same stage and its audience back into the cinema. “Absent” is about friendships, distance and the ways people drift apart; the ceremony itself felt like a living continuation of that story.
For filmmakers, Grammatikos’s career is also a reminder of the importance of a distinctive personal voice. His newly announced collaboration with Papachatzis gives us another reason to follow where he goes next.
