Maria Plyta (1915-2006), Greece’s first female film director, has had her 1953 film, Eva, screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film was shown as part of the Cannes Classics Program, a festival sidebar that presents notable films of world cinema in restored prints. It was the first time a Greek film was included in this prestigious program.
Born in Thessaloniki, Plyta worked as a novelist and playwright before turning to filmmaking.  She wrote, produced, directed and edited 17 films in a career that spanned two decades, from 1950 to 1970. Her films are mostly melodramas that feature strong, unapologetic female characters who reflect the changing cultural norms of post-war Greek society.  Eva tells the story of one such woman, the neglected wife of a middle-aged husband, who embarks on an extra-marital affair with a young architecture student.
The Cannes screening should help Plyta move from relative obscurity as a filmmaker and confirm her status as a pioneering artist who helped shape modern Greek cinema.

Greece has been named Country of Honor at the 2027 Marché Du Film, the world’s largest film market and business hub held annually alongside the Cannes Film Festival. Greece embodies the creative spirit that the Marché seeks to celebrate through its Country of Honor Initiative.  The selection recognizes Greece’s impressive rise as one of Europe’s leading audiovisual hubs and its growing influence in the world’s film and audiovisual production. In recent years, Greece has strengthened its position as a world-class filming destination. Its audiovisual sector contributes 1.9 billion Euros to the nation’s economy annually, supports 44,000 jobs, and involves some 3,000 creative service companies.
Running from May 11 to 19, 2027, the Marché will offer Greek film professionals privileged access to its programs and host a dedicated screening day where Greek films will be shown to global film market VIPs.

Two years after Athens Midnight Radio (Νυχτερινός Εκφωνητής), Greek auteur Renos Haralambidis has a new film, a romantic comedy titled Classic Masterpiece (Κλασικό Αριστούργημα). Rather than a traditional opening, Haralambidis has come up with an unusual release strategy. He will be showing a first cut of the film at various cinemas throughout Greece this summer and hold in-person post-screening discussions with audiences. He will re-edit the film taking audience comments and suggestions into account and release the finished version some time during the winter season.