COVID-19 Message:
In an effort to keep our team, guests and islands safe and under the guidance of Greek state, we have decided to postpone the dates of the festival for July 2021.
The submission deadlines will be postponed accordingly to the 14th of May 2021.
We are committed to continue promoting new films and ideas while moving forward toward the creation of the 10th Aegean Film Festival.
All submissions from 2020 will be eligible for competition for the 2021 festival and we are working to introduce 2 new awards for the support of the filmmakers that have been affected by the pandemic and the lockdowns. More news will be announced in the following months.
Until we meet again stay healthy, stay connected, stay inspired …
History
In 2010 the Aegean Film Festival was founded as a way of bringing together filmmaking communities while introducing a meeting point and a celebration of independent cinema in the heart of the Greek summer.
These past ten years the Festival has been consistently presenting fiction and documentary programmes and providing support towards local communities, despite the numerous challenges we had to face.
Now more than ever, we believe it is our responsibility to continue our mission of presenting compelling stories and inspiring ideas - so necessary in times of crisis.
The Festival has the mission to promote films and new ideas, educate the next generations and host a unique celebration of cinema. The Festival Team is delighted and honoured to invite filmmakers on the islands of Patmos and Paros in order to present their work to both international and local audiences.
The Festival provides flawless screening conditions in custom built open air cinemas, stress-free times for networking, inspiring seminars and events and finally the chance to promote films beyond Greece through collaborations with other festivals across the globe.
Programming:
The AegeanFF Programming team curates an average of 8 film programmes per year consisting of fiction feature films, documentaries and short films. Each year, the festival introduces more than 30 feature premieres, 50 shorts and a series of hosted programmes from international film festivals.
In 2016, the Aegean Film Festival launched the environmental programme “Echoes”, an international summit for filmmakers, writers, scientists and opinion leaders where they meet on the islands to present their work and to find sustainable solutions to pressing issues of our planet. The programme is consisted of documentary screenings, Q&A’s, panel talks, presentations, workshops, dinner events and a sustainability summit .
In 2017 the Festival introduced the award for Best International Short which was later followed with the addition of Best Greek Short Film Award as well as two Audience Awards for Best Feature Film and Best Documentary Feature.
For the next edition, the programming team is working with the guidance of the festival’s advisory board which includes: Frédéric Boyer (Artistic Dir. Tribeca FF), Alexander Payne (Film Director), Alin Tasciyan (FIPRESCI), Robert Dick (Sundance Institute), Marco Frazier (AMC Networks), Thanassis Karathanos (Film Producer), Jesper Jack (Documentary Producer) and Dimitris Michalakis (Cosmote TV).
Feature Fiction Audience Award
Feature Documentary Audience Award
Best Aegean Short Film
Jury Award € 3000,00*
Best Greek Short Film
Jury Award € 1000,00*
(*) To be awarded in the form of a cash prize or distribution deal in Greece
2021 Jury:
To Be Announced Soon
Selected filmmakers in the competition and pop-up programmes also receive:
1. Accommodation for three nights on Patmos or Paros
2. The Festival Guest Pass providing access to all screenings, seminars and events on both islands.
3. Access to dedicated film seminars and the "Filmmakers Brunches" - a series of networking events presented by industry experts.
4. Promotion for their films and press focus covered by the Festival's Media - website, social media, print, winter events, media sponsors, affiliated journalists and blogs.
3. Partner Businesses Offers (incl. discounts on restaurants, bars, rentals, hotels etc)
4. The option for their films to travel and be screened as part of curated programmes in affiliated festivals.