“We need a constructive film law that will set standards, regulations, and incentives that are in line with the rest of the European & international film community.” (FoG)
Last November, 95% of local Greek productions boycotted the Thessaloniki Film Festival in an effort to apply pressure on the Ministry of Culture to formulate, pass, and enforce a film law that would give the film community standards of operation. Although there have been promises, little has materialized, and with the “impending collapse” of the Greek economy, priorities are elsewhere. In an effort to remind and apply pressure on the Ministry of the enormous importance of a functional film law which will set standards for a healthy film community, the filmmakers of 19 documentary films have decided not to participate in the upcoming Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival in March.
The problems which have plagued filmmakers in Greece for decades—lack of film education, funding, tax rebates, and investment incentives—are the main points we are seeking from a new and enforceable film law. An example of the devastating financial conditions for filmmakers is the painstakingly slow payment disbursements by the state funded Greek Film Center and ERT, the national broadcaster. These procedures effectively make the filmmakers sole producers, lenders, and funders of most Greek films. The majority of active Greek filmmakers (approximately 250), are united as Filmmakers of Greece (FoG) in supporting a film law that will set standards, regulations, and incentives in line with the rest of the European film community.
Our decision to abstain from the festival was not made without due consideration, but after years of inaction on the Ministry’s part, we feel we have no other choice. This action is in no way intended as an attack on the Festival as an institution. It is simply one of the few means in our possession of bringing public attention to the dire conditions documentary filmmakers are forced to work with in this country.
We, the undersigned, appeal to the Minister of Culture to make the passing of a new film law one of his immediate priorities.
The films and filmmakers abstaining from the festival are:
| THE FILMS | THE FILMMAKERS |
| The Adeventure of Rosmarinus |
Yannis Aggelakis - Director |
| Andreas Siadimas - Producer | |
| Evridiki’s Case | Freddy Vianellis – Director, Producer |
| Spyros Papaloukas – The Adventure of Painting | Kalliope Legaki – Director |
| Marula Gentekou – Producer | |
| Mieko | Yiannis Misurides – Director, |
| Marula Gentekou – Producer | |
| Looking for Medea | Nicos Grammatikos - Director |
| The eye of beauty | Manolis Dimellas - Director |
| The Gold of Argolida – love and ache for oranges | Yorgos H. Zervas - Director |
| Words of Resistance | Timon Koulmasis – Director, Producer |
| Nico Papatakis – A Portrait | Timon Koulmasis – Director |
| Iro Siafliaki – Director | |
| Thanos Lambropoulos - Producer | |
| Meetings with Kiki Dimoula | Katerina Patroni – Director |
| Thanos Lambropoulos - Producer | |
| Children In Hiding | Vassilis Loules - Director |
| Strangers in a Foreign Land | Dimitris Panayotatos – Director |
| Dreams in another language | Lucia Rikaki – Director |
| My own Ikaria | Spyros Teskos – Director |
| Eleni Boukouri – Altamira, the First Greek Woman Artist | Kleoni Flessa – director |
| The circles of Robert Frank | Christos Kallitsis, Julia Reschop, Christophe Gauthier, Marie – Anne Chambonier - Directors |
| Cypriot Women | Vasiliki Katrivanou - Director Bushra Azzouz - Director |
| Twelve neighbors | Marianna Economou, director, producer |
| Wrathful December | Tzelepi Chrysa – DirectorKersanidis Akis – Director |