Festival Hellenika continues to shine as one of Adelaide’s most vibrant cultural celebrations, bringing together music, film, ideas and community. This year’s program has drawn strong crowds, reflecting the festival’s growing popularity and broad cultural appeal.
The weekend opened on Friday, 1 May, at the Ikarian Hall in Unley with the screening of The Greeks of South America by filmmaker Billy Cotsis. The documentary explored the rich history and resilience of Greek communities across Latin America, offering audiences an immersive cultural experience. Cotsis expressed his gratitude to the Festival Hellenika committee, performers and community for creating what he described as a meaningful and inclusive event.
On Saturday, 2 May, Professor Andy Koronios presented Make Space for Earth at the Australian Space Discovery Centre at Lot Fourteen. His presentation explored the intersection of space technology, ethics and philosophy, offering insight into how innovation can address real-world challenges while remaining grounded in human values.
The weekend concluded on Sunday, 3 May, at Lockleys Community Centre with the launch of the book Whose Is This Song? Balkan Nationalism, Greece and Shared Culture, hosted by editor Eleni Elefterias-Kostakidis.
The event blended film, discussion, food and live music, with performances by Elefterias-Kostakidis and Felicia Harris, alongside contributions from Helen Vatsikopoulos and Billy Cotsis. The afternoon sparked thoughtful discussion around shared cultural identity, with the Alexandra Theodoropoulou also in attendance, expressing her pleasure at the success of the event.
Festival Hellenika president Adoni Fotopoulos reflected on the festival’s growth over the past three decades.
“What started as a handful of Greek cultural events 35 years ago has grown into a three-month-long festival,” he said.
“This year we’ve had sold-out events, often scrambling to find extra seating. It was a joy to host Sydney creatives, and my hope is for more cultural cross-pollination in future festivals.”
With more events still to come — including the Truth Be Told Short Film Festival on 9 May, In Bed with Greeks on 10 May, ANZAC: The Greek Chapter on 11 May, and Dunstan’s Children on 24 May — Festival Hellenika continues to offer something for everyone.
The full program is available via the festival website.
More photos below:
