David Bowie sprinkled "stardust" over the Zappeion
On Wednesday, June 10, in the courtyard of the Zappeion, 800 spectators of all ages experienced one of those rare evenings that leave a lasting impression, thanks to the spectacular screening of the concert film "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" as part of the 16th Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI.
🍿 At 9:30 p.m., as darkness slowly settled over the magnificent neoclassical venue, the giant screen became a gateway to another time and place: the Hammersmith Odeon in London on July 3, 1973, where David Bowie bid farewell to Ziggy Stardust forever, leaving behind a historic moment in rock music and 20th-century culture.
🏳️🌈 The screening took place as part of the Athens Pride celebrations. Through body language, costumes, and a carefully crafted extraterrestrial spectacle, Ziggy Stardust once again spoke of the freedom to be unapologetically yourself, embodying what we now call queer aesthetics—something Bowie had already brought to the forefront of popular culture more than 50 years ago.
💫 The evening also offered a cosmic gift: as the film played, a shooting star streaked across the sky above the Zappeion, tracing its fleeting path behind the giant screen. It felt like a wink from the Starman himself, whom we imagined watching over us from above and sending his love.
🎤 The audience of the Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI was welcomed by Festival Director Tatiana Pappa, who conveyed greetings from Roxane Bei, President of OPANDA. Voula Tetradakou, representing the Athens Pride organizing team, then spoke about the significance of the evening and the power of coming together through cinema. The screening was introduced by the Festival’s Artistic Director, Loukas Katsikas.
🙏 Thank you to everyone who shared this magical evening with us.
Athens Open Air Film Festival powered by DEI
Co-organized by OPANDA
Special thanks to Elite for the treats
Presented in the framework of Athens Pride.
