15th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI: All of Athens becomes an open-air cinema again this year, with thousands of spectators!

The 15th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI brought color to the Athens summer with great cinema, offering a breath of cool relief and leisure through classic and much-loved films in digitally restored copies, cinematic all-nighters, and screenings that highlight the cultural character of the city, in collaboration with institutions such as the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and Book, the Museum of Cycladic Art, and the French Institute of Greece.

Some of the most beautiful moments of this year’s festival 

The opening of the summer cinematic journey took place in the courtyard of the Zappeion Megaron with Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece The Conversation, in a digitally restored version. The curtain rose with a warm welcome to the anniversary 15th edition of the city’s beloved film institution.!

ROCK AND ROLL NEVER DIES

The most electrifying, rock and roll, and psychedelic screening of the 15th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI was the legendary Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii. The Open Air Theatre of Kolonos filled with more than 1,000 spectators who—thanks to the curation of Art of Sound—enjoyed a immersive illusion of a live concert (following the exact specifications of Pink Floyd’s original performance in Pompeii). Applause, cheers, and a unique pulse created a screening experience of rare intensity and atmosphere.

As every year, the Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI inaugurated new collaborations and visited new locations across Athens, introducing them for the first time as open-air cinemas! 

The beginning of a wonderful collaboration between the festival and the Hellenic Foundation for Culture and Book, titled From Book to Screen, highlighted the timeless relationship between literature and cinema. A captivating two-day event took place in the Foundation’s idyllic garden in July, featuring screenings of The Hours and Howards End, two masterpieces of contemporary literature and film. 

Another unique screening was added to the festival’s imaginative locations, this time in collaboration with Athens Kallithea FC. The historic Grigoris Lambrakis Stadium in Kallithea (El Paso) hosted a film screening for the first time in its history, featuring Once Upon a Time in the West. Nearly 1,000 spectators enjoyed Sergio Leone’s explosive western, starring Clint Eastwood, accompanied by Ennio Morricone’s iconic music. 

The majestic Holy Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary hosted the festival for the first time with a screening of The Third Man, widely regarded as the greatest British film of all time. A unique evening of mystical noir atmosphere unfolded under Anton Karas’ groundbreaking music.

A beloved tradition continued: as every year, the festival returned to Plato’s Academy Park for an 80s horror marathon lasting until the early hours of the morning. Hand in hand, with screams, laughter, chills, and sleeplessness, the loyal cinephile audience stayed all night for three back-to-back screenings of legendary films.

The 15th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI also continued its long-standing collaboration with the Museum of Cycladic Art, organizing a Cycladic Screening as part of the exhibition Marlene Dumas: Cycladic Blues, featuring Pier Paolo Pasolini’s masterpiece Mamma Roma, selected by Marlene Dumas as a source of inspiration. The Park of Freedom was packed—not only with spectators, but also with emotion, laughter, cheers, and moving moments in an unforgettable screening experience.

Finally, continuing its long-standing partnership with the French Institute of Greece, the festival celebrated France’s national holiday in an atmosphere of pure romance and passion with a series of French-language screenings: from The Hairdresser’s Husband in Kotzia Square, to The Great Casino Heist starring Alain Delon and Jean Gabin, and India Song by Marguerite Duras on the enchanting rooftop of the Anesis open-air cinema. 

The 15th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI was co-organized with OPANDA and held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture.

The screenings were once again refreshingly accompanied by the cinephile beer Fischer, along with the tasty experience of Elite Crackers and Lacta biscuits. 

Photo credits: Ioannis Stefanidis, Kiriaki Fragkiadaki, Sokratis Baltagiannis, Sofia Papastrati