VIC
Psarokokalo – Athens short film festival
A selection of Greek and Cypriot short films from the Athens Short Film Festival:
Look At The Stars sci-fi | Dir. Aris Kouvaras
In the twilight of his life, an elderly man revisits a bittersweet memory and reshapes it in the way he would have liked to have lived it.
– Short Draft comedy | Dir. Spyridon Papaspyrou
A man hijacks a taxi when the taxi driver refuses to take him where he wants. Two men will share a ride where everything will go wrong and a girl will change their way, where the end will be a mystery even for the heroes of Short Draft
– Until You See Me comedy | Dir. Eleanna Santorinaiou
Petros takes an emotional journey whilst he walks through the corridors of a cemetery, holding an old Hi8 camera and burying a beloved person.
– The Armchair on the Pavement drama | Dir. Mary Kolonia
An old song from the radio suddenly triggers memories of youth in an elderly ex-army General suffering from dementia, making him momentarily recall the evening of his engagement to his wife.
– Dustlight drama | Dir. Chryssanthi Kouri
While facing pivotal life changes Matina arrives at the family summer house to clear out her late mother’s things. There she begins to unravel, as past and present collide until she reaches a personal epiphany.
– Buffer Zone drama | Dir. Savvas Stavrou
Two young soldiers across enemy lines fall in love and find an escape from their oppressive environments through music.
When: Sunday May 19, 5pm-7pm
Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1206506
SSIFF presents Fight To Live
The Melbourne premiere of `Fight to Live’, directed by Tom Haramis about the amazing Bec Rawlings.
Dive into her gripping story of resilience. From a troubled kid in Launceston to a fearless mother standing against abuse and world champion bare knuckle boxer.
The film will be introduced by Nick Tetoros, a world champion boxer/kickboxer and Tonia Bouzetos.
When: Friday May 10, 7.30pm-9pm
Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, 3000
Bookings: www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1195709
The Spirit of Byron: Philhellenism and the Greek War of Independence
A collection of works centred around Lord Byron and the Greek War of Independence has come to Melbourne in a never-before-seen exhibition, commemorating 200 years since the death of the prolific poet and revolutionary.
On Friday April 19, the Hellenic Museum premiered the original exhibition exploring Greece’s fight for freedom and Lord Byron’s legacy through a curated selection of works on paper from The Robertson Collection.
A stunning array of 19th Century fine art, books, documents and paper ephemera has been curated across three rooms of the Museum’s heritage-listed home at the Former Royal Mint, Flagstaff, where each room has been transformed to evoke the grandeur of a Regency drawing room.
It was in rooms like these that most of the war’s pivotal decisions would have been made, by people of influence and social rank; even Byron himself—despite being a figurehead of the Philhellene movement and frequently depicted as a soldier in art of the time—made his contributions to the revolt without seeing active battle.
The exhibition features several works from notable printmakers and artists of the Romantic movement, including Eugene Delacroix, Ary Scheffer, Achille Devéria and more. Together, they trace the politicised Philhellene movement throughout the Greek revolt, Byron’s evolution from artist to revolutionary figure, and his enduring connection to the cause.
It reveals the depth of international interest in Greece’s struggle for freedom, its interpretation in visual culture of the time, and how the ‘rich Byronic postscript’ continues to whirl and spark in the present day.
When: Until January 2025, 10am-4pm
Where: Hellenic Museum, 280 William St, Melbourne VIC 3000
More info: www.hellenic.org.au/exhibitions/the-spirit-of-byron
Kastellorizo and Its Gold
The Greek Community of Melbourne will present this Nick Bogitatzis lecture, exploring the intriguing past of Kastellorizo.
Kastellorizo has an extraordinary history of prosperity and destruction. A rocky outcrop with no fresh water sustained a population of 9,000 through trade. Trade brought opportunity and wealth, reflected in the homes, clothing, and jewellery.
Gold was the medium of exchange and the reflection of status. Trade also brought new ideas that challenged a firmly held cultural identity. This strength of identity seems to have carried through for many of the diaspora in Australia.
Many migrated before the island was destroyed by Italian aerial bombardment in World War II. They brought items that today make for an essential cultural archive of the island, such as photographs, traditional clothing, and jewellery – an unrecorded archive randomly distributed across individual families.
When: Thursday May 9 at 7 pm
Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Bookings: www.greekcommunity.com.au/events/kastellorizo-and-its-gold
The Last Tango in Alexandria
The new book will be launched by Professor Nikos Papastergiadis.
Last Tango in Alexandria by Michalis Tsianikas examines the work of Cavafy, one of the most prominent modernist poets of the 20th century, through the prism of the history of ideas and their conflicts.
In this case, the tussle between Hellenism and Christianity, which when compared have many contradictory elements. How is this reflected in Cavafy’s poetry? Tsianikas combats the foundational nationalist narrative encapsulating a synthesis of Hellenism and Christianity.
The FREE book launch will be conducted in both Greek and English. You can purchase the book on the day.
When: Sunday May 12, 3pm (doors open 2.30pm)
Where: The Greek Centre | Mezzanine 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Bookings: www.greekcommunity.com.au/events/the-last-tango-in-alexandria
NSW
Sydney Comedy Festival
Sydney’s biggest annual comedy event is back.
Every April and May, over 250 of the best comedians from Australia and beyond take to stages across Sydney for a massive month of comedy, followed by a national Showcase Tour from May to December.
The Festival program features performances from the finest Australian acts, the biggest international stars and the most promising emerging talent offering up everything from stand up to sketch, satire, impro, musical, absurdist, theatre, magic and kids’ comedy.
As always, plenty of Greeks will be providing the laughs.
Angelo Tsarouchas (Skits & Wits Tour), Steen Raskopoulos (Friendly Stranger), Anthony Locascio (Pappou), Mary Coustas/Effie (UpYourselfness), Con Coutis (Con 2077) and Elouise Eftos (Australia’s First Attractive Comedian) to name some.
When: Until May 19
Where: Check website for various venues
Bookings: www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au
BYRON: A Lord’s Monologue. A Poetic and Iconographic Journey
Come to this event to hear about the Greek legacy of the great English romantic poet Lord Byron from author, poet and artist, Stella Sorotou and from Dr Vassilis Adrahtas, Convenor of Greek Studies in the School of Humanities and Languages at UNSW.
2024 marks the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s death. Lord Byron was a renowned British Romantic poet and a significant figure in modern Greek history due to his involvement in the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
To commemorate his legacy, Stella Sorotou, an esteemed educator, writer, and artist in the Greek Australian community, has published a book titled Byron: A Lord’s Monologue. A Poetic and Iconographic Journey combined with her art-paintings.
This is an in-person only event and attendance is free to the public.
When: Thursday May 9, 6pm-8pm
Where: E19 Pat O’Shane, Room G04, Central Lecture Block Kensington, NSW 2052
Bookings: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/byron-a-lords-monologue-a-poetic-and-iconographic-journey
SA
Horta Culture: Greeks & Their Greens
A free vibrant exhibition and insight into the health and medicinal properties of wild greens known in the Greek tradition as Horta.
The remounting of this highly successful exhibition will be augmented with new material on home beekeeping and honey production.
Foraging for food is something Greeks have done since ancient times. Generally perceived as weeds, Horta are abundant and nutritional and healing properties and are now considered an essential component of the Mediterranean diet.
Launched by Mayor Michael Coxon, City of West Torrens and the Organisation of Hellene and Hellene-Cypriot Women of Australia SA.
When: Saturday May 11, 2pm
Where: 175 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Hilton SA
More info: australiangardencalendar.com.au/event/horta-culture-greeks-their-greens
Ouzo Odyssey
Dreaming of a Greek feast? An “Ouzo Odyssey” awaits.
This meat and seafood lunch at the Grange Surf Life Saving Club i presented by the Samian Association of South Australia and is set to feature octopus, pork yiros, prawns, calamari, chips, salad and traditional loukanika (smoked sausages).
Four guided premium ouzo tastings will accompany the meal, with a local ouzo distiller, Nicholas Ikonomos of Adelaide Distillery, set to chat through the nuances of each and offer bottles for purchase. Enjoy live Greek music and a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere.
Limited tickets remain.
When: Saturday May 11, 1pm
Where: Grange SLSC, 497 Esplanade, Grange, Adelaide, SA, 5022
Bookings: tastingaustralia.com.au/products/events/2024/ouzo-odyssey
Penelope’s Palette: A Greek-Australian Art Odyssey
Efrossini Chaniotis, a Greek-Australian contemporary artist returns to her hometown for a solo show of sculptures and paintings.
For 10 days in May, Efrossini will be sharing for the first time with Adelaide audiences a vibrant and spirited collection of her artistic adventures.
Be prepared to hear her narrate The Fisherman and Mermaid’s Tale and her Wishing Tree story. An ongoing project that was created by the art itself, her Modern Icons, a genre of art inspired by nostalgia for Greece, and sculptures that are odes to Cycladic art and her father’s birthplace Mykonos.
Efrossni’s art is person cantered, vibrant, expressive and narrative in nature, drawing on childhood experiences of storytelling, mythology and a deep appreciation for her Hellenic background.
She retells myths and generates new ones using painted sculptures and canvas paintings in a unique style that combines Byzantine iconography with an expressive palette influenced by modern European art.
When: OPENING CELEBRATION Thursday May 16, 6-9pm. (Early viewing by appointment only 11-2pm)
ARTIST TALK Sunday May 19, 2-3pm
CLOSING CELEBRATION Saturday May 25, 3-6pm
Meet the artist at the Gallery. Open every day 11am -6pm
Where: POP UP GALLERY Ground Floor 33 Angas St Adelaide CBD
Info: efrossiniart.com/news
