Summary
- More than 50 films spanning 1953 to 2024.
- Screenings from September 15 to October 20, 2026 in 8 cities.
- Five thematic sections curated by figures from the film world.
- General admission is €5 and reduced admission €3, with different pricing at Village Cinemas.
- The initiative is part of preparations for the 39th European Film Awards in Athens.
The Hellenic Film Academy presents “Cinema Again” (“Sinema Xana”), a cycle of more than 50 films travelling to eight Greek cities from September 15 to October 20, 2026.
Fiction and documentary films spanning 1953 to 2024 come together in five thematic sections rather than a simple chronological retrospective. The programme connects different periods, aesthetics and filmmakers, while several screenings are accompanied by discussions with curators, filmmakers, crew members and figures from the cultural sector.
The initiative is part of the official preparation programme for the 39th European Film Awards in Athens and is organised in cooperation with EKKOMED. The awards ceremony will be hosted in January 2027 at the Greek National Opera at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXDLJ7jOLVQ
Five themes, five different ways to revisit Greek cinema
“Cinema Again” is organised around five curated sections, each offering a different perspective on the history and language of film:
ANTI/REFLECTIONS: Curated by Giorgos Krassakopoulos, pairing Greek and European films to highlight unspoken dialogues between filmmakers.
ATHENS 1990s AND 2000s: THE CITY IN BETWEEN? Curated by Afroditi Nikolaidou, with films reflecting the transformation of Athens.
BOX OFFICE: Curated by Dionysis Samiotis, featuring major commercial successes of Greek cinema.
FATHERLAND-RELIGION-FAMILY: WE ARE MADE OF THE STUFF OF DREAMS: Shaped by Marissa Triantafyllidou and Eva Samioti around questions of Greek identity.
THEM, THEN: Curated by Efthimis Filippou, with Greek fiction and documentary films from different decades.
The programme moves from filmmakers such as Michael Cacoyannis, Takis Kanellopoulos and Nikos Papatakis to Panos H. Koutras, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Yorgos Lanthimos, Yannis Economides and Elina Psykou, alongside European works by filmmakers including Agnès Varda, Jonathan Glazer and Georges Franju.
Screenings in eight cities and discussions with audiences
Screenings take place in Athens, Veria, Volos, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Patras, Rethymno and Chania, across indoor and open-air cinemas as well as cultural venues. Partner organisations include the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the 32nd Athens International Film Festival “Opening Nights”, Cinedoc 2026-27 and the Chania Film Festival 2026.
The official Athens opening takes place on Wednesday, September 16 at Stoa Culture, with the curators and contributors present, followed by a screening of Sotiris Goritsas’ “Balkanisateur”.
General admission per screening is €5, with a reduced ticket at €3. At Village Cinemas, general admission is €7 and the reduced ticket is €5.
“Cinema Again” in Thessaloniki
In Thessaloniki, the programme reaches venues including the Stavros Tornes and John Cassavetes theatres, as well as other cinemas across the city. Titles include “Attenberg”, “Alps”, “Stray Bodies”, “The Man with the Carnation”, “Real Life” and “Delivery”, alongside European films included in the programme’s thematic dialogues.
Part of the Thessaloniki programme is hosted by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, with screenings in early October at the Warehouse 1 theatres and additional screenings later in the month.
The finale and the European Film Awards
The cycle will conclude with a special screening of Theo Angelopoulos’ “Landscape in the Mist”, which received the European Film Academy’s Best Film award in 1989. The date and venue for the special screening have not yet been announced.
The complete and updated schedule, film information and special guests for each screening are available on the official Hellenic Film Academy programme page.
What we think
For photographers, filmmakers and image-makers, the value of a retrospective like this also lies in seeing on the big screen how cinematography, lighting, framing, rhythm, the use of city and landscape, and visual storytelling more broadly evolve across seven decades. The thematic pairings between Greek and European works make the programme especially useful as a living lesson in cinematic language rather than simply an exercise in nostalgia.
Frequently asked questions
When does “Cinema Again” take place?
The programme runs from September 15 to October 20, 2026.
Which cities host screenings?
Athens, Veria, Volos, Thessaloniki, Larissa, Patras, Rethymno and Chania.
How much are tickets?
General admission is €5 and the reduced ticket is €3. At Village Cinemas, the corresponding prices are €7 and €5.
Where can I find the full schedule?
The detailed schedule and updates for each screening are available on the official “Cinema Again” page.
