EUFF Executive Director Jérémie Abessira (l), Consul General Ioannis Chatzantonakis (c), and Cultural Counselor Dr. Marilena Griva.
“Dodo”, a film by Greek filmmaker Panos H. Koutras, has won the Audience Choice Award at the 20th European Union Film Festival (EUFF), staged in Toronto from November 14 to 28. A total of 28 films from across Europe were screened at the event.
Delving into themes of privilege, identity, and the human condition, “Dodo” uses the setting of a wedding, a quintessential celebration of unity, to explore dissonance and fragmentation, both personal and societal.
At the center of the film lies a striking, rare bird that appears at a luxurious Athenian villa just days before an extravagant wedding. What unfolds is a kaleidoscope of emotions, social critiques, and absurdities as the characters grapple with their anxieties, secrets, and moral dilemmas.
“Every recognition brings joy, but when it comes from the audience, it feels profoundly rewarding,” said Koutras, who emerged in 1999 with his feature film debut “The Attack of the Giant Moussaka,” an independent science-fiction parody that gained international recognition in France and Japan.
Commenting on “Dodo”, a Greek-French-Belgian co-production that made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, Koutras noted: “The characters in the film confront their truths, their failings, and, ultimately, a chance for redemption. It’s a narrative deeply personal yet universal, resonating in a world grappling with its own existential dilemmas.”
Koutras was born and raised in Athens and studied filmmaking at the London Film School and at the Sorbonne in Paris. To date, he has delivered a total of five feature films.
Cast member Polydoros Vogiatzis, who traveled from Greece to attend the film’s November 15 screening at Toronto’s Spadina Theater, engaged in a lively discussion with attendees about the film’s narrative and themes. The film was screened to a full house, including many members of the Greek diaspora.
Greece’s Consul General Ioannis Chatzantonakis, who received the award on behalf of the filmmaker and his crew, expressed gratitude to the audience, particularly the Greek community in Toronto, for their steadfast support. “This award not only celebrates Greek cinema but underscores its vital contribution to the broader tapestry of European film,” he remarked.
Cultural Counselor Dr. Marilena Griva, also in attendance, offered introductory remarks that delved into the film’s intricate symbolic and societal layers.