THE ATTACK OF THE GIANT CINEMA OF PANOS H. KOUTRAS A Day devoted to the work of the Greek filmmaker

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7

The Invasion of Panos H. Koutras in Greek Cinema
10:00
Pavlos Zannas Theater

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
12:30
Pavlos Zannas Theater

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
16:00
Tonia Marketaki Theater

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. Inter/locutors: 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
18:30
Tonia Marketaki Theater

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.