A large-scale tribute to the unconventional, pioneering and daring Panos H. Koutras, one of the most important voices of Greek queer cinema, is hosted by the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which will be held from October 31st to November 10th 2024. The Festival will bestow the honorary Golden Alexander to Panos H. Koutras for his overall contribution to cinema, while the tribute The Real Cinema of Panos H. Koutras is offering the audience the chance to get reacquainted with a top-notch auteur who deconstructs and rebuilds the edifices of Greek society and family in an innovative, tender and touching way.
“OMG! A tribute and an honorary Golden Alexander: Let’s hope you don’t know something I ignore! A great honor, but also an ideal chance for me to search the lost time in-between my widely known full-length films and the long-lost shorts films unknown to the audience. Most of all, an opportunity to catch up with my beloved friends and partners, the ones who believed in me, and the outsiders who have always been my heroes both in life and in the movies, holding my hand down this walk on the wild side called cinema,” says Mr. Koutras.
The five full-length films directed by the internationally acclaimed Greek filmmaker will be screened at the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival: The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (1999), in a digitally restored copy on the occasion of the 25th anniversary since its release, Real Life (2004), in a digitally restored copy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary since its release, Strella (2009), in a digitally restored copy, Xenia (2014), and Dodo (2022), matched by rare short films never screened before in Greece. The tight bonds we forge with the people closest to us, as well as the life experiences that define our existence, are at the core of Panos H. Koutras’ films. Inclusivity, acceptance of otherness, immigration and integration, the dire need to build a personal identity, clashing with the stereotypical prejudice, along with the absurdity of life and the elusive nature of dreams, are among the key themes found in the work of Panos H. Koutras.
An entire all-day event will be devoted to Panos H. Koutras titled The Attack of the Giant Cinema of Panos H. Koutras (Curator: Eva Stefani Professor University of Athens - Film Director) as part of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The Festival, teaming up with the Department of Communication & Media Studies and the Department of Digital Arts & Cinema of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, will host screenings, talks and workshops addressed to students, whereas the audience will be given the chance to watch rarely screened short films of the beloved filmmaker.
A day devoted to the work of the Greek filmmaker
Curator: Eva Stefani Professor University of Athens - Film Director
Thursday November 7th
The Invasion of Panos H. Koutras in Greek Cinema
Thursday November 7th, 10:00, Pavlos Zannas
An exciting exploration of Panos H. Koutras’s unique cinematic vision through words and images. His work merges realism with the bizarre, celebrates queer care, embraces carnivalesque reversals, and thrives on intertextual dialogue. Film scholars and University of Athens professors Rea Valden, Afroditi Nikolaidou, and Anna Pouppou will delve into these themes, offering fresh insights into Koutras’s distinctive storytelling, with the participation of UoA’s students Eri Pasalimanioti, Konstantinos Sarantis, and Rafael Souliotis.
Panos H. Koutras from A to Z
Thursday November 7th, 12:30, Pavlos Zannas
A journey through the cinematic alphabet of Panos H. Koutras in a live podcast-recorded discussion. In front of a live audience at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Koutras converses with film critics Thodoris Dimitropoulos and Alexandros Papageorgiou, as iconic elements of his cinematic world come to life on the big screen: John Waters blends with Alice in Wonderland, Italo disco meets punk, and camp extravaganza marries queer defiance. Expect a wild ride through the filmmaker’s influences and creative process.
PhiloXENIA: In the Welcoming Universe of Panos H. Koutras
Thursday November 7th, 16:00, Tonia Marketaki
What shapes the dazzling cinematic universe—and the vibrant life—of Panos H. Koutras? What makes his films as Greek as a massive piece of moussaka, while his vision is as rare and precious as an endangered dodo? What pulls us into his sharp, tender, and fiercely romantic world, brimming with joyful madness? Twelve exceptional guests, including film collaborators, acclaimed critics, activists, and close friends, welcome you to an unforgettable two-hour filoXENIA session that will cover it all. In the boundless, hospitable universe of Panos H. Koutras, everyone finds their place. Interlocutors:: Elise Jalladeau, General Director of the Thessaloniki IFF; Konstantinos Kyriakos, Professor of Theater and Greek Cinema History; Dimitris Papanikolaou, Professor of Modern Greek and Cultural Studies; Gregory Vallianatos, journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist; François Jonquet, author and Art Critic; Antonis Rellas, director and disability rights Activist; Betty Vakalidou, actress; Angelos Papadimitriou, visual artist and actor; Evi Kalogiropoulou, filmmaker; Réginald Blanchet, psychoanalyst; Elisavet Chronopoulou, director, screenwriter and editor; and Angela Brouskou, actress. The discussion will be moderated by film critic Poly Lykourgou (flix.gr).
Back to Square One: A Recipe for Cinema
Thursday November 7th, 18:30, Tonia Marketaki
In the beginning, there was moussaka. Or was there? Before we experienced Panos H. Koutras’s unruly imagination, deep understanding and passion for the art of cinema, his irreverent humor, punk spirit, and his enormous, gigantic love for all people, especially the marginalized, there were a few short films. Five of these, four fiction and one music video, will be screened for the first time for Greek audiences at the 65th TIFF. After the screening, Panos H. Koutras will discuss with film critic Leda Galanou and the audience, uncovering the threads that connect his short films to his feature works, the core ideas that bind them, and the bright revelations that have become his signature as a filmmaker who refuses to follow conventions, set boundaries, or stop breaking cinematic rules.
In addition, Panos H. Koutras will deliver a masterclass titled “Queer Before It Was Cool”, within the framework of the “Iconic Talk powered by Mastercard” section, focused on his cinema’s queer identity. The renowned Greek filmmaker will discuss with the audience and the journalist Alexandros Diakosavvas (editor in chief, LiFO), among others, on the lesser-known aspects of his work, his invaluable experiences from a 25-year stint in Greek cinema, the queer representation in his movies, as well as the references that have shaped his directorial glance.
Moreover, the Festival’s magazine First Shot will take the form of a fanzine exclusively dedicated to Panos H. Koutras.
A few words on Panos H. Koutras
Panos H. Koutras was born in Athens. He studied Cinema at London Film School and the prestigious French university Sorbonne 1. He lives and works in Athens and in Paris. In 1995, he founded 100% Synthetic Films production company. His films have been screened at the most distinguished international film festivals, having snatched an impressive number of honorary distinctions and prizes. The Attack of the Giant Moussaka premiered at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, Real Life was first screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Strella celebrated its world premiere at Berlinale’s Panorama, Xenia was selected for Cannes’ Un Certain Regard section, while Dodo was also screened at Cannes, in the special section Cannes Premiere.
The tribute’s films:
Dodo (2022)
A dodo, a bird species extinct for over 300 years now, makes its reappearance in the outskirts of Athens, at the estate of a once-wealthy family that bites its nails counting hours as only two days are left before their daughter gets married to a rich heir. The boundaries between reason and madness will be tested and the situation is bound to get out of control.
Xenia (2014)
Dany and his brother Odysseas, aged 16 and 18 respectively, following the death of their Albanian mother, embark on a journey from Crete to Thessaloniki, seeking their Greek father, who had deserted them as children. Foreigners in their own homeland, they are determined to convince him to acknowledge paternity for them to acquire Greek citizenship, and also take part in the audition of a TV talent show that will pave the way for a better life. Along the way, they will find themselves faced up against all things that bind them together, the ferocity of adolescence, a dream that needs to come true, and a country that persistently refuses to follow them in their footsteps.
Strella (2009)
Yorgos, aged 48, is released from prison, having served 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, Athens. That’s where he meets Strella, a beautiful young trans woman who works as a prostitute. They make love and fall for each other. However, the unresolved debts of the past will catch up with him and a new “prison” lies ahead. Side by side, the two of them need to find the way out.
Real Life (2004)
Aris Kalligas, aged 27, returns to his family house in Athens, famous both for its dashing view to Acropolis and its pool, the deepest one can find in Europe. He is determined to solve the mystery that engulfs its family. One night, following a car crash, he will meet Alexandra and the two of them will fall madly in love with each other. His mother, however, irresistible Ms. Kalliga, will go out of her way to put an end to their relationship. In a city teetering between fantasy and reality, Aris needs to unearth real life from its hiding place.
The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (1999)
It’s the year 2000, and a shocking event is shaking up Athens: a giant piece of moussaka makes its appearance in the city streets, spreading panic and death. Everyone is wondering if what they are witnessing is real. What is this thing? Where did it come from? Why is this happening? How did it make its way here? Everyone? Not quite, as Tara and a group of miscellaneous people are convinced that a face-to-face encounter is necessary.
Short films:
Afternoon Stars (1989)
One afternoon. One shot. Two stars. Three reels of film. An hommage to Andy Warhol, Angela Brouskou, and Vangelis Papadakis. The film was shot in an afternoon during the summer of 1989, on Patision Street, downtown Athens. In a single take. With no synchronised sound, no script, no music copyrights.
The Fall and Rise of Lydia Von Bürer (1988)
She had a lot of talent, but unfortunately no voice.
Strange Relationship (1987)
An unofficial video clip of Prince’s titular song, conceived and performed by Panos H. Koutras (boy) and Marianna Ghyzi Papageorgiou (girl). Filmed on super 8 in the summer of 1987 in Paris.
Misty Days of Spring (1984)
It's Spring but it's still foggy in London. Both of them live like the punk days never ended. He wants to leave, she is afraid of losing him. Their last act will be some solution.
The Βelch of Lydia Von Bürer (1983)
Lydia is singing alone in her apartment, when suddenly, at the climax of the aria, she is betrayed by herself.
