By Dimitri Papadopoulos
Eleventh edition of the festival marks a historic turning point by dedicating its grand finale to the rising stars of the Montreal Greek community
For the Greek community of Greater Montreal, the anticipation begins long before the first reel is threaded or the digital projector hums to life. It is a palpable energy that ripples through the cafes of Parc-Extension, the living rooms of Laval, and the church halls of the South Shore. It is the promise of a collective return to roots, a seasonal rhythm that signals the arrival of the Montreal Greek Film Festival (MGFF). The festival has established itself as a vital communal ritual, a time when the diaspora gathers to remember, to debate, and to celebrate its collective identity. The eleventh edition of the festival confirmed its status as a unifying institution, bridging the distance between the Aegean and the Saint Lawrence River through the universal language of cinema.
A Festival for Every Hellene
The significance of this cultural gathering was underscored by the distinguished support it received from the highest levels of government and society, with the event booklet featuring messages from dignitaries including the Prime Minister of Canada and Mark Carney. The true measure of the festival’s success was its physical reach within the community. In an ambitious move to ensure accessibility, the 2025 edition expanded to five distinct locations across the Greater Montreal Area, specifically Montreal, Laval, the West Island, the South Shore, and LaSalle.
In a radio interview in Greek on Radio Centre-Ville Montreal 102.3 FM, the festival’s organizer, John Caoussias, emphasized that this geographical expansion was a matter of principle, ensuring that the cultural heartbeat of the festival could be felt by every Hellene in the metropolis. “If we can gather all the 60,000 to 70,000 Greeks to see a Greek film, that would be my greatest joy,” Caoussias stated, highlighting his vision of the cinema as a modern-day agora where the community reconnects. “I want them to come and bring someone else next year to sit in a cinema seat and see a Greek movie on the big screen.”
Cultivating the Next Generation
The MGFF deepened its commitment to cultural preservation through targeted educational programming. Recognizing that the future of Hellenism lies with the youth, the festival organized special screenings specifically for elementary school students from the Hellenic Community of Greater Montreal (HCGM) and the Archangels schools. These events serve a dual purpose by exposing children to the sounds and stories of their heritage in a format they love, and instilling the habit of cultural participation from a young age. By engaging students, the festival ensures that the Greek language and storytelling traditions remain living, breathing elements of their identity.
The Pivot to Local Creation
The festival leadership recognized that the maturity of the Greek-Canadian community includes its capacity for production. This sentiment was the driving force behind the decision to dedicate the prestigious closing night exclusively to local talent. This initiative emerged from a serendipitous encounter that underscores the untapped potential within the community. As Caoussias explained, the idea crystallized when Andreanna Theodoropoulos, a cinema student, approached him to volunteer for the festival. “She told me she is studying in Cinema Arts and making short movies herself,” Caoussias recalled. Recognizing the opportunity to elevate a member of the community, he encouraged her to submit her work rather than volunteer. This interaction symbolized the festival’s mission to transform community members into creators.
A Night at Vanier
The culmination of this vision took place at the Vanier College Auditorium, a venue chosen specifically to resonate with the younger demographic. The atmosphere was electric and distinct. The audience attended to watch movies made by their neighbors, their friends, and their children. The pride in the room was tangible as the diaspora found its own cinematic voice. The featured films were projected back-to-back, creating a montage of Greek-Canadian perspectives. Following the screenings, the screen rose, and the filmmakers took to the stage for a Q&A session, flanked by Caoussias. It was a visual tableau of the community’s artistic future.
Voices of the Neighborhood
The diversity of the films showcased the breadth of local talent. Andreanna Theodoropoulos’s film, *Empty Soul*, offered a glimpse into the sophisticated storytelling emerging from Montreal’s universities. Speaking to the audience, Theodoropoulos shared her journey from aspiring actress to director. “I actually really prefer being behind the camera,” she admitted to the crowd. “I studied it in CEGEP and it just deepened my passion for it… I would love to make a longer feature film for sure at some point. I think for right now, short films are a really good avenue to explore different genres.”
Filmmaker George “Zane” Zanatakos presented *After*, a film born of raw instinct. He described a production process driven by spontaneity and the immediate environment. “We filmed it in three days in the mountains,” Zane explained, highlighting the guerrilla filmmaking spirit that characterizes passionate indie projects.
The audience also connected deeply with *Big City*, a film by brothers Apollo and Chris, who work professionally as stuntmen. Their project humorously tackled the friendly rivalry between the Greeks of Laval and those of Montreal, proving that the diaspora’s unique internal dynamics are worthy subjects for the silver screen. The lineup was rounded out by *Ghosted MD* and the feature *Scarpa di Cementi* by John Vamvas, demonstrating that local creators are operating across all genres.
Breaking into the American Market
The program also highlighted the work of Nafsika Antypas, whose production Ghosted MD brought a distinct level of professional polish to the evening. Antypas exemplifies the local creators who are successfully achieving commercial viability alongside their artistic goals. Her screening at Vanier College functioned as a showcase of a sophisticated pilot that has already garnered significant international interest.
During the question and answer period, Antypas shared the impressive trajectory of her work with the audience and revealed that her storytelling has resonated well beyond the borders of Quebec. She explained that the concept and execution of Ghosted MD had successfully attracted the attention of “American giants” in the television industry who expressed genuine interest in the project. This revelation served as a powerful validation for the room and offered tangible proof that stories originating from the Montreal Greek community possess the quality and universal appeal required to compete in the highly demanding US entertainment market.
Building an Industry
The MGFF is providing a screen while simultaneously building the infrastructure of a local industry. On stage, Caoussias paid tribute to the technical backbone of the festival, Tony Manolikakis. “We have our main technical guru, Tony Manolikakis, who helps us with sound, video, editing, all kinds of stuff,” Caoussias noted, emphasizing that the festival acts as a mentorship hub. “We actually have budding film professionals here in Montreal.” This support system is bearing fruit. Caoussias estimated that there are now approximately fifteen film professionals of Greek descent active in the city.
Year Round Access
The organization announced a plan to secure the legacy of Greek cinema for the future. Caoussias revealed that the festival is working on launching a proprietary streaming service in 2026. “I’m working with Greece to help maybe develop an archive of all the films that have been produced in the last 50 or 60 years,” he announced. The vision is a subscription-based platform where the community can access a vast library of Greek cinema year-round. “People can subscribe and go and pay your $5.99 and watch any film from the 60s, the 80s, 2000… watch it on your flat screen TV.”
A Community United
As the Q&A session wound down, the sense of camaraderie was undeniable. One of the filmmakers took the microphone to express a sentiment shared by all: “It’s good sharing the stage, the cinema with you. God bless.”
The formal proceedings concluded with a gesture of traditional Greek hospitality as the organizers encouraged the audience to linger. Caoussias took the microphone one last time to announce, “There’s good food,” ushering the attendees to a reception at the rear of the hall where the celebration of local cinema continued in a more intimate setting. The crowd filtered out of the auditorium, plates in hand, to discuss the films and congratulate the directors. The lights of the Vanier Auditorium eventually dimmed, bringing the eleventh edition of the Montreal Greek Film Festival to a close.
