Anafi International Film Festival 2024
The first edition of the Anafi Film Festival in 2023 presented 29 films from around the world, through five curated programs that explored contemporary themes and new narrative forms. It collaborated with director Thanasis Neofotistos and the Drama International Short Film Festival, breathing new life into its connection with the international and Greek film scene. In 2024, the festival expanded, screening 59 films and creating collaborations with K4 Gallery and the Embassy of Norway, focusing on intercultural exchange and artistic interventions.
In both previous editions, the festival embraced an interdisciplinary approach, hosting workshops on photography and Butoh, where moving images meet physical theatre and live performance. The local community remained an integral part of the festival, with events and screenings held at local restaurants and venues on the island, enhancing interaction between artists and residents.
The Anafi International Film Festival is not only a celebration of the art of cinema but also a platform that embraces and strengthens the island’s local community. Collaboration with the residents is central to our identity, as the festival aims to connect art with the everyday life of Anafi. The hospitality and involvement of the local community play a significant role in the festival experience, through screenings, discussions, and artistic activities that create meaningful dialogue between artists, visitors, and locals.
This year, we aim to further strengthen this relationship through educational actions. During the spring, a two-day event on moving images will be held, while workshops will continue throughout the festival, with the goal of creating a short film by the Anafi community itself. The creation of archival material documenting the stories and traditions of the locals is a key initiative of the festival, aimed at preserving and highlighting the cultural heritage of Anafi. Through photographs, videos, films, sound recordings, and written testimonies, we capture the narratives of residents, songs, memories, and legends that connect the island's past with its present. This material will serve as a living archive, accessible to the public, strengthening the connection between cinema, local history, and oral tradition.
At the same time, accessibility is a key concern for us. All films are accompanied by English subtitles, but this year, one of our main goals is to ensure the availability of Greek subtitles for foreign language films, allowing the locals to watch them more comfortably. In this way, we are creating a more inclusive environment, ensuring that the stories and messages of the films are understood by all, regardless of their linguistic background.