Yorgos Zois’ Arcadia received all three essential prizes on the Hellenic Movie Academy’s Iris Awards, together with finest movie, director and screenplay.
The Greek-Bulgarian co-production, a few couple travelling to a distant low season resort to establish the physique of a good friend who died in a automotive accident, world premiered final 12 months within the Berlinale’s Encounters part. It then loved an intensive competition run, successful the most effective director award for Zois at Sarajevo.
Among the many producers are Maria Drandaki, Antigoni Rota, Veselka Kiryakova and Babak Anvari with help from the Greek Movie Centre, Ekkomed and ERT Public TV.
Yannis Veslemes’ She Liked Blossoms Extra received eight prizes, primarily within the technical classes. The movie about three brothers’ try and resurrect their lifeless mom world premiered at Toronto final 12 months.
Stray Our bodies by Elina Psykou obtained the most effective function documentary award, having beforehand performed at festivals resembling Thessaloniki and CPH:DOX.
The debut director award went to Kostis Charamountanis for his coming-of-age story Kyuka Earlier than Summer season’s Finish, whose Elsa Lekakou was named finest actress.
To A Land Unknown, directed by Mehdi Fleifel and produced by Maria Drandaki, the odyssey of two Center Jap refugees in Athens, obtained the most effective function fiction (Greek minority co-production) award.
Trade frustration
The frustration of the native movie business due to the continued lack of a constant and up to date cinema coverage by the federal government was tangible all through the entire gala. Hellenic Movie Academy president Lefteris Haritos addressed the issue in his welcome handle. The topic was echoed by all successful filmmakers of their acceptance speeches.
The Greek tradition ministry and its company the Hellenic Movie and Audiovisual Centre (Ekkomed), which now runs the money rebate and tax incentive schemes after absorbing the Greek Movie Middle, are the primary targets of the business’s ire.
They’re held accountable for appreciable delays within the money rebate paid to international co-productions and native productions, and for the inadequate sums obtainable for the nationwide selective manufacturing and growth schemes. Trade execs concern the dearth of normal money movement might result in a 3rd consecutive pause by Ekkomed in receiving and processing new manufacturing purposes.
Practically 2,000 signatories from all sectors of the movie business have signed an open letter beneath the title Visibility Zero, highlighting the delays in rebate funds and systemic points following the company’s current restructuring.
A transparent demonstration of the crucial relations between the business and the Ministry and Ekkomed was the absence for the primary time ever of any consultant from these establishments on the awards gala.
Iris winners 2025
Finest function movie, fiction
Arcadia dir. Yorgos Zois
Finest function movie, documentary
Stray Our bodies dir. Elina Psykou
Finest function movie, fiction (Greek minority co-production)
To a Land Unknown, dir. Mehdi Fleifel
Finest director
Yorgos Zois, Arcadia
Finest screenplay
Konstantina Kotzamani, Yorgos Zois, Arcadia
Finest debut director
Kostis Charamountanis, Kyuka Earlier than Summer season’s Finish
Finest actress
Elsa Lekakou, Kyuka Earlier than Summer season’s Finish
Finest actor
Kostas Nikouli, Meat
Finest supporting actress
Klelia Renesi, Stelios (Yparho)
Best supporting actor
Julio Yorgos Katsis, She Liked Blossoms Extra
Finest cinematography
Christos Karamanis, She Liked Blossoms Extra
Finest modifying
Yorgos Mavropsaridis, She Liked Blossoms Extra
Finest sound
Nikos Exarchos, Persefoni Miliou, Kostas Varybobiotis for She Liked Blossoms Extra