The 14th Chania Film Festival has brought cinema, education and international cultural exchange to Crete, with approximately 400 films from 53 countries, more than 30 premieres and an extensive programme of workshops, exhibitions and special events running from 21 October to 1 November.
The festival opened on Wednesday, 21 October, at the Chania Cultural Centre, combining international cultural exchange with tributes to Greek cinema and local artistic talent. Poland’s Ambassador to Greece, Wojciech Ponikiewski, attended the opening ceremony, which honoured the legacy of acclaimed Greek filmmaker Nikos Koundouros with a screening of his landmark film The Ogre of Athens (O Drakos), in the presence of his wife, Sotiria Batziri Koundourou.
The festival also honoured two Chania-born artists, Marinella Vlachaki and Dimitris Kalogerakis, recognising their longstanding contributions to theatre and cinema and their influence on the region’s cultural life.
Festival promotes cinema, education and cultural exchange
Festival director Matthaios Frantzeskakis welcomed guests and described artistic passion as the driving force behind the event’s growth over the past 14 years.
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More than 300 filmmakers and film professionals are expected to attend this year’s festival, creating a meeting place for culture, education, dialogue and creative exchange, he said.
Frantzeskakis also highlighted the festival’s year-round initiatives, which connect cinema with education, local communities, history and cultural heritage.
Metropolitan Titos of Kydonia and Apokoronas spoke about cinema’s role in people’s intellectual and emotional development. He welcomed the participation of thousands of children, emphasising the importance of introducing young people to new images, films and creative experiences.
Deputy Minister of Migration and Asylum Sevi Voloudaki, representing the government, said the festival demonstrated that regional Greece could lead cultural developments rather than simply follow them.
“Chania is not only a place with a great history and significant cultural heritage. It is a place that produces ideas and creates contemporary culture,” she said.
Chania MP Alexandros Markogiannakis, representing the President of the Hellenic Parliament, praised the organisers for building a successful cultural institution outside Athens. He attributed its longevity to the team’s dedication, support from local organisations and the festival’s strong connection with audiences.
Poland’s Ambassador Ponikiewski expressed his pleasure at attending the event, particularly because the festival has dedicated a special programme to Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda. The tribute marks 100 years since Wajda’s birth and ten years since his death.
The ambassador congratulated the organisers for recognising Wajda’s contribution to cinema and for the festival’s wider artistic, cultural and social impact.
Crete Regional Deputy Governor for Chania Nikos Kalogeris highlighted the role of the Chania Cultural Centre, which has served as the festival’s permanent home throughout its history. Chania Mayor Panagiotis Simandirakis noted that the festival began during Greece’s economic crisis but has continued to grow, becoming an integral part of the city’s cultural identity.
Platanias Mayor Giannis Malandrakis and Kissamos Deputy Mayor for Culture Giorgos Makrakis stressed the importance of the festival’s educational programmes for local schoolchildren.
Representatives of the Chania Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National Centre for Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKΚOMED) also highlighted the festival’s contribution to regional development, film education and the international promotion of Crete.
The opening ceremony concluded with a screening of Koundouros’ acclaimed film The Ogre of Athens.
Around 400 films from 53 countries
This year’s programme features approximately 400 films spanning documentaries, animation, fiction, short films and classic feature films. Organisers have also scheduled more than 30 premieres and expect around 300 guests, including directors, actors, cinematographers and other film professionals.
Approximately 8,500 children and educators have registered for the festival’s school activities.
The programme extends beyond conventional screenings to include virtual reality, podcasts, workshops, masterclasses, live music, late-night screenings, performances, book presentations, exhibitions and discussions. Throughout the festival, Chania hosts activities designed to bring together filmmakers, audiences and communities of different ages and backgrounds.
Screenings and events already held
The festival’s programme began with a series of screenings and discussions during its opening days.
On Thursday, 22 October, audiences watched Siamak Etemadi’s The Stuff We Are Made Of, followed by a discussion about disability, desire and cinema. The same evening, Giannis Soldatos’ documentary I Dreamt You Didn’t Die…explored the life and work of Nikos Koundouros, with friends and collaborators joining a discussion after the screening.
Friday, 23 October, featured Marianna Economou’s Where Shadows Rest, followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. The programme also included a cycling-themed selection presented in collaboration with the Podilatreis group.
On Saturday, 24 October, the festival screened Eva Libertad’s Sorda, winner of the 2026 LUX Audience Award, followed by a discussion titled When Art Gives a Voice: Life Experiences Through Cinema. The evening concluded with the scheduled midnight screening of Vilma: The Last Goodbye, directed by Kostas Bakirtzis and Kostis Stamoulis.
On Sunday, 25 October, the festival presented student films and other productions, while journalist Alexandra Christakaki spoke with film critic Panagiotis Timogiannakis about his book OSCAR and with Giannis Kokkiasmenos, the only Greek actor in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Upcoming film highlights
The festival’s remaining programme includes several notable screenings and special events.
On Tuesday, 27 October, audiences can watch Vicky Anastasiadou’s Wheel to Live, which recently received an award at the 49th Drama International Short Film Festival. The programme also includes Stories of a Lie by Olia Verroiopoulou and a screening of Béla Tarr’s Damnation.
Wednesday, 28 October, will feature the award-winning documentary NAZA by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, alongside a panorama of Cypriot films. The programme also includes Andrzej Wajda’s Afterimage, presented in collaboration with the Polish Embassy.
On Thursday, 29 October, the Fournos bar in Halepa will host selected short films accompanied by live music from Melentini. The venue will welcome Melentini for a separate live musical performance on Friday, 30 October.
Friday’s programme also includes the premiere of Nikos Kavoukidis’ Mikis, the Lambrakis Family and Peace.
On Saturday, 31 October, audiences can watch Bugboy by Loukas Paliokrasas, which won an award at the 28th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. The international programme also features Alexander Lind’s Trine on Fire and a retrospective of Canadian-based animation filmmaker Joe Chang’s work.
Other Greek productions featured in the festival include Angelos Kovotsos’ When I Went to America and Dimitris Vernikos’ Manos Hadjidakis – The Mirror and the Knife: The Continuation.
New virtual reality programme and inclusive activities
For the first time, the festival has introduced a dedicated VR Screenings section, with support and collaboration from the Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Technical University of Crete. A podcast room operates daily throughout the event.
The organisers have also arranged activities for older people and people with disabilities, including special film screenings, visits to care facilities and animation workshops.
Children remain central to the festival’s educational mission. Activities include morning school screenings, visits to schools in rural areas, radio programmes, podcasts, mobile-phone filmmaking, digital shadow theatre, augmented reality, animation, character design through Manga Lab and cyanotype workshops.
The programme also features 23 films created by students and educators during the 2025–2026 CineMathimata annual educational programme. The Stories to Be Heard initiative will present and award audiovisual projects from schools across Greece.
The Hellenic Open University will screen student films from across the country in a three-part programme. The festival has also prepared workshops and masterclasses in collaboration with academic institutions, educational groups, networks, EKΚOMED and ASIFA Hellas.
Tributes to international and Greek artists
The festival’s special tributes recognise artists from Greece and abroad, including Joe Chang, through a retrospective titled Between the Lines: A Duet of Chinese Animation.
Other tributes focus on comic-book creator and visual artist Giorgos Botsos, Hungarian composer, musician and actor Mihály Víg, and Polish filmmaker Andrzej Wajda.
The programme also celebrates composer Manos Hadjidakis and his special relationship with Crete, alongside honorary events recognising acclaimed cinematographer Nikos Kavoukidis.
The festival will host further discussions on cinema, disability and sexuality, children’s rights, mental health and media literacy.
Psychiatrist Giorgos Nikolaidis, director of the Institute of Child Health, will discuss culture, schools and mental health, with cinema as a central theme. The programme will also explore how art can give people a voice through personal experiences.
The festival will host the Festival Animation Network, with support from ANIMASYROS. As part of the IZIMATAexhibition by Georges Salameh and Stefania Orfanidou at the Monastery of Saint Francis, organisers will screen three of Salameh’s films, followed by a discussion between the filmmaker and Frantzeskakis.
Book presentations, exhibitions and public discussions will take place at the Chania Cultural Centre, the Chania Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Venizelion Conservatory.
Closing ceremony on 1 November
The 14th Chania Film Festival and its educational programmes operate under the auspices and support of the Hellenic Parliament, with the auspices of the Ministries of Culture, Education, Religious Affairs and Sports, and Tourism.
EKΚOMED serves as the festival’s strategic and financial supporter, while the Chania Chamber of Commerce and Industry also provides support. The Region of Crete, the municipalities of Chania, Platanias and Kissamos, and the Chania Cultural Centre jointly organise the event. The Cultural Society of Crete designs and implements the festival.
The Botanical Park and Gardens of Crete serves as strategic sponsor. Telekom sponsors the festival, ERT supports the awards, Aegean Airlines sponsors air travel, ANEK Lines supports sea travel, and Let’s Drive provides local transport sponsorship.
The festival will conclude on Sunday, 1 November, with a closing ceremony and the presentation of awards and commemorative certificates, beginning at 11:30 am.
For the full programme and updated screening details, visit the official Chania Film Festival website.