A Glamorous And Emotional Opening For The 8th Athens Open Air Film Festival

"This kind of certainty comes but just once in a lifetime," Clint Eastwood says to Meryl Streep, in a distinctive scene in the remarkable romantic film. And we are certain of your love for the 8th Athens Open Air Film Festival, which began its trip around town, opening its gates on the evening of Monday the 4th of June, with the screening of Clint Eastwood’s beloved film "The Bridges of Madison County" at the Byzantine and Christian Museum.

In a festive but also especially emotional screening the popular Festival marked the beginning of the cinematic summer in the idyllic courtyard of the Byzantine and Christian Museum. The audience did an early start, and until the film began, the Museum’s forecourt was plenty with more than 600 viewers who sat even on the floor, but many also stayed for the screening standing up!

The Athens Open Air Film Festival’s Artistic Director, Loukas Katsikas, welcomed both audience and collaborators by mentioning that The Athens Open Air Film Festival started eight years ago, with a bold idea. It dreamed of our town as a magical open-air cinema and moved on to realize this dream, by transforming some of the most beautiful and most unexpected locations of Athens – neighborhoods, streets, parks, archaeological sites, hills and beaches – into improvised open-air cinemas, enriching the experience of watching films while simultaneously seeing our city in a different way.

Next, Loukas spoke about the opening film, which was also the opening film of the first "Opening Nights" Festival in 1995. He also extensively referred to this year’s program and the special screening at the Little Theater of Ancient Epidaurus with the promise that the Festival will continue in special places in and outside of Athens, in an effort to renew itself and constantly break ground.

Concluding his speech, he warmly thanked for their steady and longtime support:

The Minister of Culture, Ms. Lydia Koniordou, the City of Athens Cultural, Sport and Youth Organization and its President, Mr. Konstantinos Bitzanis, the U.S. Embassy in Athens and particularly Ms. Eleni Alexaki, the chief of the Exhibits Communication and Education department of the Byzantine and Christian Museum, Mr. Periandros Epitropakis as well as the space keeping staff, the collaborators from the Athenian Brewery.

The screening was attended – among others – by the former Minister, Ms. Louka Katseli, the director Yiorgos Zois, the radio producer Mary Retsina, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s Director, Orestis Andreadakis, the actor Nicholas Aggelis and the Hellenic Film Commission’s Director, Ms. Venia Vergou.

After the screening, the viewers enjoyed cold Fischer beer in the wonderful garden of the Museum’s restaurant, Ilissia.

Fischer, the most beloved beer won't be missing from the biggest summer film celebration in Athens, which returns for its 8th year. Fischer is the official sponsor of the 8th Athens Open Air Film Festival.

The 8th Athens Open Air Film Festival is carried out in collaboration with the City of Athens Cultural, Sport and Youth Organization including screenings, throughout the whole summer, in the city's special corners, archaeological sites, parks, squares and some of the most beautiful museums and spots in Athens, with free entrance to the public.

For more information about the 8th Athens Open Air Film Festival, please visit: AOAFF