Greek International Film Festival of Toronto

Toronto Movie Screenings

Smyrna my beloved

The historical incidents and facts that preceded and occurred during the occupation of Smyrna in 1922 by the Turkish army, including the massacre of the local Greek and Armenian population, are recounted through the lives of the Baltatzis family members.
Runtime: 2 hours
Theatre: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Key Casts: Mimi Denissi, Rupert Graves, Susan Hampshire, Jane Lapotair

The Sisters Karras

A story about the things that matter: Family, legacy, success, and textiles. Yes, textiles. Two estranged half-sisters form a complicated bond as they work together to retrieve their rare and precious inheritance, which their late father inexplicably leaves to the mysterious Marco.
Runtime: 1 hours 21 minutes 13 seconds
Theatre: Papermill theatre
Key Casts: Clare Louise Frost, Lauren Garcia Kahn, Dennis Rubin Green, Gil Charleston, Frances DeLancey

Beautiful Idiots

A middle aged man travels to Greece in a time of crisis. He looks for the anarchists, but they are on holidays. It is August..
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Theatre: Papermill theatre
Ratings: Sexual Content/Inappropriate Language/Drugs & Alcohol/Nudity
Key Casts: Michalis Angelopoulos, David Auerbach, Ida Auerbach

Nana

Fate unites a group of four students, taking them from student carelessness and innocence to the harsh reality that will transform their lives.
Runtime: 37 minutes 50 seconds
Theatre: Papermill theatre
Ratings: Sexual Content/Inappropriate Language/Violence/Drugs & Alcohol
Key Casts: Nina Foskolou, Rigas Skepetaris, Dimitris Kyratsoudis, Vangelis Alexandris

Where Are You, Adam

This film is an immersion into the life of one of the monasteries of Holy Mount Athos. Secluded monastic life full of authentic characters and everyday saints comes forth onto the screen from under the wraps of our mundane priorities. What emerges is a fascinating account of a completely unparalleled way of life within a thriving monastic community in the midst of the twenty-first century.
Runtime: 1 hour 20 minutes
Theatre: Fox Theatre

The Rocket

A pathological liar goes to extreme lengths to prove to his friends that he is telling the truth.
Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes
Theatre: Fox Theatre
Ratings: Sexual Content/Inappropriate Language

Echoes of the Past

A fictional drama inspired by true events, the Massacre of Kalavryta, committed by invading German troops in Kalavryta, Greece, in December 1943.
Runtime: 1 hour 39 minutes
Theatre: Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
Key Casts: Alice Krige, Max Von Sydow, Tomas Arana

Monday

Two Americans (Sebastian Stan and Denise Gough as Mickey and Chloe) in their mid-thirties living in Athens, who meet in the heat of summer one whirlwind weekend. When Chloe’s time in Greece is drawing to a close, she decides to give up her high-flying job back home and explore whether one weekend’s passion can stand the reality of the inevitable Monday.
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Theatre: Papermill Theatre
Ratings: Sexual Content/Inappropriate Language/Drugs & Alcohol/Nudity
Key Casts: Denise Gough, Sebastian Stan, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos

She Should Run – Cyprus

Cyprus is the last divided country in Europe. The film explores in depth the recent history of Cyprus, the Turkish invasion (1974), human rights, gender equality through the witnesses of nine women involved in politics in Cyprus. Exclusive interviews by the First Lady and the President of Cyprus Republic. More women in elected office means a successful government and a better world. Let’s do it! Synopsis: Cyprus is the last divided country in Europe. The mission of this documentary is to expand the talent pool of Women running for office in Cyprus and inspire more women to take action to serve in the community, Peace! A nationwide community of Women leaders are interviewed in Cyprus. Many are already community change-makers, leaders in their fields or workplaces and interested in running for local offices. Cypriot women politicians share their experience and common dream for a better world. Those women inspire all of us to realize that Men and Women working together can have a better future. SHE SHOULD RUN-CYPRUS is the first documentary of the series ‘She Should Run World’.
Runtime: 1 hour
Ratings: Sexual Content, Violence
Theatre: Papermill Theatre
Key Casts: First Lady Of The Republic Of Cyprus, Iosifina Antoniou, Skevi Koutra Koukouma, Antonella Mantovani, Benito Mantovani, Dr. Eleni Theocharous, Dr. Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, Antigoni Papadopoulou,Anna Theologou, Natasa Pilidou

When Mercury Held His Breath – The Battle Of Crete?

“Our life was fine before the war. Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t rich or anything. But we had our moments of joy, celebration and love. And then came Nazism…” – Michalis Fanourakis, age 95, survivor of the Battle of Crete.
Runtime: 1 hour 32 minutes
Theatre: Papermill Theatre

Greece, Year Zero

GREECE YEAR ZERO is a cinematic essay with the theme of Greece in turmoil in the last century.
Runtime: 1 hour 05 minutes
Theatre: Papermill Theatre
Key Casts: Alex Karzis(Voice), Vassilis Vassilikos

The Journey Of Askavlos

A journey through the Aegean Sea, where old meets new, and the askavlos, the ancient Greek bagpipe, is being revived in the hands of musicians dedicated to restoring and maintaining an ancient tradition. The instrument slowly but surely finds its way to the city, where modern musicians bring it into the contemporary music scene. The viewer becomes a witness to this revival and, alongside the protagonists, discovers something that is almost lost: the customs and ethos of the people of another era, and an oral tradition that was once a way of life, preserved over the centuries.
Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes
Theatre: Papermill Theatre
Key Casts: Dimitris TsafosYannis PantazisFrangiskos Tziotakis

King Otto

In the summer of 2004, audiences looked on in disbelief as the Greek National Football Team, a country that had never previously won a single match in a major tournament, took down the giants of world football to become the unlikeliest of European Champions. The architect behind this unprecedented triumph was legendary German football coach ‘King’ Otto Rehhagel. After accomplishing every major success in Germany, he made the bold decision to leave all he knew behind and work in a foreign country with the underachieving Greek National Team. This is the story of how these two contrasting cultures came together to speak the same language and write a new chapter of Greek mythology.The revival brings back something almost lost, the customs and ethos of a people of another era and an oral tradition that was once a way of life. The archaic bagpipe is now being assimilated by the contemporary music scene and fused with modern sounds, beyond the realm of traditional festivals, thus acquiring a young audience and enjoying great appeal throughout Greece and the world.
Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes
Theatre: Papermill Theatre

Hamilton screenings
Smyrna my beloved

London screenings
At The Airport
Smyrna my beloved

Ottawa screenings
King Otto
The Rocket
Smyrna my beloved

Winnipeg screenings
At The Airport
Smyrna my beloved

Edmonton screenings
Smyrna my beloved
Echoes of the Pas

Calgary screenings
Where Are You, Adam
King Otto
Smyrna my beloved

Vancouver screenings
Where Are You, Adam
Smyrna my beloved
When Mercury Held His Breath – The Battle Of Crete?
Echoes of the Past
The Rocket
King Otto