15ο AOAFF powered by ΔΕΗ: Screening of the legendary documentary “Nice to Meet You, Savvopoulos” at the Benaki Museum
In the packed atrium of the Benaki Museum / Pireos 138, the legendary documentary “Nice to Meet You, Savvopoulos” directed by Lakis Papastathis was screened for the first time last night, with the film’s star, Dionysis Savvopoulos, in attendance. The film was originally made fifty years ago, in 1975.
“We should see things in a personal way, and keep passing the torch.”
Dionysis Savvopoulos
The historic and deeply moving event, organized by the Benaki Museum, the Athens Open Air Film Festival, and the ERT Archives Department (which digitized the film), was honored by prominent guests from the political and artistic world, along with more than 700 attendees.
Opening remarks were given by:
- Irini Geroulanou, President of the Benaki Museum
- Yiannis Papadopoulos, President of ERT
- Maria Bobola, President of the Athens Film Society
Director Ilias Giannakakis, who recently discovered the long-lost copy of the film, and Manos Efstratiadis, assistant director to Lakis Papastathis on the original production, shared emotional reflections and untold stories about the film.
The captivating screening was part of the Benaki Museum’s exhibition LAKIS PAPASTATHIS: In Search of the Lost Image at Pireos 138, which runs until June 20, 2025.
The documentary was created by Lakis Papastathis for EIRT and features Dionysis Savvopoulos, along with performances by Sotiria Bellou, Domna Samiou, and Stella Gadedi. The film introduced the then-young singer-songwriter from Thessaloniki to the free television audience following the fall of the dictatorship. It includes live recordings from his album “10 Xronia Kommatia”, scenes of Savvopoulos wandering the streets of Athens with his guitar in 1975, gazing at the shop windows of the Minion department store, and singing “Demoshenous Lexis” at bus stops and in Omonia Square. The film also features Papastathis himself and Alekos Patsifas, founder of the Lyra record label.
The screening was part of the Athens Open Air Film Festival.
Among the attendees were: Former President of the Hellenic Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Deputy Prime Minister, Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, Members of Parliament: Dora Bakoyannis, Panagiotis Doudonis, Paris Koukoulopoulos, Former Ministers: Evangelos Venizelos, Petros Efthymiou, Athens Deputy Mayor Maria Stratigaki. From the arts and media scene: Yvonne Maltezou, Stamatis Fasoulis, George Dalaras, Michelle Valley, Angelos Papadimitriou, Eva Kotanidou, Stavros Theodorakis, Pavlos Tsimas, Alexis Kyritsopoulos, and others.
The screening concluded to enthusiastic applause with an appearance by Dionysis Savvopoulos, who, visibly moved by the gathering of so many friends, warmly thanked Argyris, son of Lakis Papastathis, for the evening. He spoke of his first encounter with the late director through the film “Letters to America” (1972), calling it “a film like a whisper, full of pain.” He affectionately described how multifaceted and productive Lakis Papastathis was — engaged not only with music and film but also books and even painting. Reflecting on their collaboration and the “little things that felt like resurrections,” he emphasized the importance of expressing oneself personally and “passing the torch.”
Savvopoulos bid farewell to the evening with the wish to all attendees: “A Spring Forever!”
You can watch the documentary “Nice to Meet You, Savvopoulos” here.
Photographer: Giannis Stefanidis (Athens Open Air Film Festival)
