Roofless Dreams and the Power of Greek Cinema: GIFFT 2025 Brings Stories of Resilience Across Canada

By Arjuna Ranawana
From ancient myths to modern struggles, Greek storytelling continues to captivate audiences around the world. This fall, Canadians will once again experience the depth and diversity of Greek cinema as the Greek International Film Festival Tour of Canada (GIFFT) returns from September 26 to October 5, 2025.
Supported by The Hellenic Initiative Canada (THI Canada), GIFFT remains the only nationwide Greek film festival in the country, screening in 11 cities from coast to coast—Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Ottawa, London, Winnipeg, Regina, Halifax—and online. The festival invites audiences of all backgrounds to engage with the spirit, resilience, and creativity of modern Greece.
A Standout Story: Roofless Dreams
Among this year’s lineup, one documentary is stirring particularly strong emotions: Roofless Dreams, directed by Sotiris Danezis.
In a country celebrated for its history and mythology, the film exposes a quieter, harsher reality—homelessness in Athens. Beneath the shadows of marble columns and bustling alleyways, those without shelter are too often unseen, even as they live in plain sight.
Spanning 13 months, the documentary follows the lives of five individuals navigating homelessness. Through intimate portraits, it reveals the emotional and psychological toll of exclusion while capturing resilience, dignity, and the fight to maintain identity under constant pressure.
Danezis was inspired to tell the story after realizing how normalized homelessness had become in Greek society. “I wanted to look into the eyes of people whose lives have collapsed, and to give space to their voices,” he explains.
The project was made possible through close collaboration with Emfasis, a non-profit that has supported Greece’s homeless since 2013. Maria Karra, a founding member, describes their mission as supporting people without safe, stable housing. Causes range from financial hardship and unemployment to health issues and long-term exclusion. “In cities like Athens, a single missed rent payment can mean eviction,” she notes.
For Danezis, working alongside Emfasis was essential. “Their work in the streets gave us access—but more importantly, it helped us understand. Trust was everything. We never intruded. We waited until people were ready to share their story.”
Beyond the Screenings
Roofless Dreams is not meant as an attack on institutions, but rather an urgent call for awareness. “Discomfort isn’t hostility,” Danezis reflects. “It’s often the beginning of awareness.”
After its premiere at the Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival, the film received deeply emotional responses from social workers, educators, and policymakers alike. Now, its Canadian screenings carry added weight: all proceeds will support Emfasis’s Family Compass Program, which aids over 400 single-parent families living below the poverty line in Greece.
THI Canada Chair of the Grants Committee, Tula Alexopoulos, emphasizes the importance of this initiative: “This is about lifting vulnerable individuals and families from the brink of poverty, and providing support that leads to independence—always with compassion and respect for dignity.”
Roofless Dreams will be co-presented with another powerful short documentary, Hope for the Future, highlighting the work of Hopegenesis, a nonprofit tackling Greece’s declining birth rate by supporting women in remote island communities. These special screenings take place on Sunday, September 28, in Toronto (Innis College) and Vancouver (Dunbar Theatre).

A Festival Rich with Stories
Beyond these special events, GIFFT 2025 offers an eclectic lineup of acclaimed films that showcase Greek creativity across genres. Highlights include:
Giannis in the Cities by Eleni Alexandrakis — a moving portrait of identity and belonging.
Athens Midnight Radio from Renos Haralambidis — a nostalgic dive into urban Athens and memory.
Stelios by Yorgos Tsemberopoulos — a powerful biopic of beloved singer Stelios Kazantzidis.
Each screening, whether dramatic, nostalgic, or socially urgent, reflects the enduring ability of Greek cinema to speak to universal struggles while rooted in uniquely Greek experiences.
Join the Celebration
With screenings in 11 Canadian cities and online, GIFFT 2025 is both a cultural celebration and an act of solidarity. Audiences are invited not only to enjoy outstanding cinema, but also to stand with vulnerable communities in Greece.

‍