Author: EAK

In a ceremony marked by unity and energy, on June 17th the Hellenic Film Academy honored the films and individuals who shaped the Greek cinematic landscape over the past year. The 17th Iris Awards were hosted at the Onassis Stegi, with acclaimed presenters Zeta Makrypoulia and Thanasis Alevras, under the direction of Zacharias Mavroeidis. Just a few months before Athens hosts the prestigious European Film Awards in January 2027, the Greek film community made a strong and visible statement of its presence.

In his opening speech, Hellenic Film Academy President Lefteris Charitos mentionned: “Among this year’s nominees we have many debut works by new filmmakers and more women than in previous years across all award categories. Our films continued their successful run at the most important international festivals, confirming the growing international recognition of Greek cinema. At home, Greek audiences showed that they still seek the magic of the big screen, with ticket sales continuing their upward trend in the post-COVID era—and with the remarkable commercial success of several Greek films, something we had not seen in many years. Beyond the outdated divide between artistic and commercial cinema, Greek filmmaking is beginning to display an unprecedented diversity, with new distribution opportunities emerging. Our community faced the difficulties of recent years with courage, demonstrated resilience and determination, and demanded that the state treat it with a seriousness commensurate with its cultural and economic role.”

The evening’s biggest winner was the film Patty Is Such a Girly Name (Poly Koritsistiko Onoma to Patty), directed by George Georgopoulos, which won seven awards, including Best Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pantelis Voulgaris. Lefteris Charitos spoke with deep affection and respect for the filmmaker, “whose work spans the modern history of our country, and whose perspective on the political, social, and profoundly existential identity of the Greek people has produced a body of work rich in characters who experience historical truth in an honest and cinematically accomplished way.”

The award was accepted on Voulgaris’s behalf by his friend and collaborator Christos Paligiannopoulos, as the director was unable to attend. “Pantelis asked me to convey his gratitude to the Hellenic Film Academy and to his fellow filmmakers. I would like to share a phrase he told me: ‘Everything I created, I created for the relationships between people and for the sound of their conversations.’ And I would add that he did so with boundless love for cinema,” he said.

The awards in the 22 categories were presented (in order of presentation) by: Daphne Chairetaki & Nikos Kolioukos, Orestis Andreadakis & Achilleas Kyriakidis, Aris Kontos & Konstantina Kalouta, Olympia Kragasaki & George Georgiou, Giannis Petridis & Pavlos Pavlidis, Klelia Renesi & Antonis Myriagkos, Melia Kreiling & Aeneas Tsamatis, Despina Maroulakou & Olympia Mytilinaiou, Kallia Papadaki, Matthijs Wouter Knol, Aphrodite Panagiotakou, George Tsemberopoulos, Anna Hints, and Vicky Krieps.

Iris Awards 2026 – Winners

Best Feature Film

Patty Is Such a Girly Name
Producers: Stefanos Koutsardakis, Christos V. Konstantakopoulos, Fenia Kosovitsa

Best Documentary

Lo
Producers: Thanasis Vasileiou, Konstantinos Vasilaros

Best Greek Minority Co-Production

Maricel
Producers: Maria Drandaki, Ilias Dimitriou

Best Short Film

Dust Thou Art and Unto Dust Shalt Thou Return (Chous Ei Kai Eis Choun Apelefsi)
Producer: Dimitris Papathanasis

Best Short Documentary

Fear the Stars of the South
Producer: Christos Karteris

Best Animated Short Film

Black Cities
Producers: Christos Magganas, George Kyriakos, Efi Skrompola, Vasilis Tzanidis

Best Student Short Film

She Was Very Good at Leaving
Director: Vasilis Pantelidis

Best Director

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – George Georgopoulos

Best First-Time Director

Bear Cave (Arkoudotrypa)
Directors: Chrysianna Papadaki, Stergios Dinopoulos

Best Screenplay

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – George Georgopoulos

Best Actor

Beachcomber – Christos Passalis

Best Actress

Bear Cave – Chara Kyriazi

Best Supporting Actor (Tie)

Receptions – Christos Valavanidis
Small Breaths – Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos

Best Supporting Actress (Tie)

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – Gioula Boudali
Broken Vein – Betty Arvaniti

Best Cinematography

Beachcomber – George Karvelas

Best Editing

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – George Georgopoulos

Best Original Score

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – Marilena Orfanou, Stavros Mitropoulos

Best Production Design

The Christmas Carols – Liza Tsouloupa

Best Costume Design

The Christmas Carols – Triada Papadaki

Best Sound

Patty Is Such a Girly Name – Nikos Exarchos, Aris Louziotis, Kostas Varymbopiotis

Best Makeup, Hair & Special Makeup Effects

The Christmas Carols – Katerina Varthalitou, Chronis Tzimos

Best Special & Visual Effects

Hen (Kota) – Glen McGuigan

Ceremony Credits

• Director: Zacharias Mavroeidis
• Lighting Design: Katerina Marangoudaki
• Music: Martha Mavroeidi
• Graphic Design: Talc
• Nominee Announcements: Larisa Vergou

The Hellenic Film Academy announces the films participating in the awards process for the Iris Awards 2026.

A total of 128 films were submitted: 27 feature fiction films, 20 feature documentaries, 4 Greek minority co-productions, 35 short fiction films, 9 short documentaries, 5 short animation films, and 28 student short films.

The members of the Academy will watch the films and vote by secret ballot in two rounds: in the first round, they will determine the final nominations, and in the second round, they will select the winners in the 22 award categories.

128 films – 128 reasons to celebrate a rich and productive year, full of talent, creativity, and hard work. The awards ceremony will take place in June 2026, at the Iris Awards Ceremony.

The films participating in the process are listed below.

Feature fiction films

• Από τι είμαστε φτιαγμένοι – Σιαμάκ Ετεμάντι
• Τα Βήματα του Κόσμου – Ηρώ Σιαφλιάκη
• Δέλτα – Βίβιαν Παπαγεωργίου
• Εδώ Μιλάνε για Λατρεία – Βύρωνας Κριτζάς
• Εκτός Εαυτού – Τάσος Γκολέτσος
• ΕΜΕΙΣ: Μια ταινία για τον Bloody Hawk – Στέλιος Κοτιώνης, Ορέστης Πλακιάς
• Επιστροφή στην Πατρίδα – Χρύσα Τζελέπη, Άκης Κερσανίδης
• Η Καρδιά του Ταύρου – Εύα Στεφανή
• Κύριλλος και Μεθόδιος – Μαρία Χατζημιχάλη-Παπαλιού
• Στους λεπτοδείκτες της μνήμης – Κριστιάν Νίρκα
• Λο – Θανάσης Βασιλείου
• Ο Λόχος των Εραστών – Λευτέρης Χαρίτος
• Ο Μπίκο και η ορχήστρα του – Άννα Αντωνοπούλου, Γιώργος Σπυριδής
• Πειθαρχική Μεραρχία 999 – Κώστας Σταματόπουλος
• Πέστε ο πόθος πού φυτρώνει – Στέργιος Πάσχος
• Σμιλεμένες Ψυχές – Σταύρος Ψυλλάκης
• Τα τέρματα του Αυγούστου – Δημήτρης Κουτσιαμπασάκος
• Η Τέχνη της Μνήμης – Αννέτα Παπαθανασίου
• NovaMax SkyLand – Διονυσία Κοπανά
• Super Paradise – Στηβ Κρικρής

Greek minority co-productions

• Ο Θεός δε θα βοηθήσει – Hana Jušić
• Τα πρώτα δόντια / Milk Teeth – Mihai Mincan
• Harvest – Αθηνά Ραχήλ Τσαγγάρη
• Maysoon – Νάνσυ Μπινιαδάκη

Short fiction films

• 100 χρόνια μπροστά – Μιχάλης Γιγιντής
• Άγρια – Ελένη Βεργέτη
• Ο άρρωστος 1789 – Ειρήνη Καραγκιοζίδου
• Αυτός που κάποτε υπήρχε – Κωστής Θεοδοσόπουλος
• Γοργόνες – Λήδα Βαρτζιώτη, Δημήτρης Τσακαλέας
• Έτοιμη – Κριστιάν Νίρκα
• Ο Εφιάλτης του Ιησού – Γιώργος Χρυσανθακόπουλος
• Κρύο – Αντρέας Κοντόπουλος
• Λουδίας – Άκης Πολύζος
• Οι Λύκοι Επιστρέφουν – Στυλιανός Μωραϊτίδης
• Μαγκνταλένα Χάουζαν: Ο παγωμένος χρόνος – Γιάννης Καρπούζης
• Η μέρα που γίναμε ήρωες – Σελήνη Παπαγεωργίου, Ευδοξία Χασάπη
• Μία – Ζίνα Παπαδοπούλου, Γρηγόρης Γρηγορόπουλος
• Μικρές Ζωές – Δημήτρης Τσαλαπάτης
• Μικρό Σώμα – Γιάννης Συμβώνης
• Μίτση – Γεύη Δημητρακοπούλου
• Το νησί της Αφροδίτης – Θάνος Λυμπερόπουλος
• Πλανήτες – Φίλη Ολσέφσκι
• Πρελούδιο για μία Σουπερνόβα – Χρήστος Αρτεμίου
• Η πρώτη εικόνα – Όλια Βερροιοπούλου
• Το τελευταίο κουκλόσπιτο – Άλεστερ Ρομάνο
• Το Τ3ΣΤ – Αλέξανδρος Τσιλιφώνης
• Το τίποτα και τα πάντα – Λία Τσάλτα
• Φθινοπωρινά Χριστούγεννα – Κώστας Μπακούρης
• Φούιτ – Αλέξανδρος Χαντζής
• Χοῦς εἶ καὶ εἰς χοῦν ἀπελεύσει – Δημήτρης Παπαθανάσης
• 400 cassettes – Θέλγια Πετράκη
• Carcass – Μάκης Σέμπος
• Fouette’ – Δημήτρης Ζούρας
• Heat me – Κέλλυ Σαρρή
• Home, as space between us – Εffi Rabsilber
• Hopepunk – Βασιλική Λαζαρίδου
• Last Tropics – Θανάσης Τρουμπούκης
• Noi – Νεριτάν Ζιντζιρία
• Pirateland – Σταύρος Πετρόπουλος

Short documentaries

• Επιστροφή στο Ντεπώ – Δημήτρης Ζάχος
• Και Ελ και Αλ – Ιλίρ Τσούκο
• Μνήμες Κατοχής: Πύργοι – Δημήτρης Αργυρίου
• Να φοβάσαι τ’άστρα του νοτιά – Χρήστος Καρτέρης
• Between a rock and a hard place – Θάνος Λυμπερόπουλος
• Anaklisis – Γιάννης Πόθος
• Green – Δημήτρης Ιωσηφίδης Χοκμετίδης
• Tonnage – Γιώργος Κυβερνήτης
• Who was here? – Εύη Στάμου

Short animation

• 13μ2 – Αντώνης Δημητρόπουλος
• Κέρκυρα, το νησί του Ποσειδώνα – Δημήτρης Αργυρίου
• Μαύρες Πολιτείες – Χρήστος Μαγγανάς
• Poplars – Αλέξανδρος Βουνάτσος
• The Synthetic Age – Δημήτρης Αρμενάκης

The Hellenic Film Academy and EKKOMED have signed of an Agreement laying the foundations for a comprehensive collaboration in preparation for hosting the European Film Awards 2027 in Athens.

The agreement was signed by the CEO of EKKOMED, Leonidas Christopoulos, and the President of the Hellenic Film Academy, Lefteris Charitos.

Under the agreement, the Hellenic Film Academy will implement a multi-layered program of activities, including film screenings, educational workshops, masterclasses, and networking events with the participation of Greek and European professionals.

These activities are part of the official preparation program for the European Film Awards and contribute to promoting contemporary Greek and European filmmaking.

Hosting the European Film Awards 2027 in Athens is a major cultural event of international significance and a key opportunity to showcase Greek cinema, as well as to promote the country as a hub for film production and cultural innovation, and to highlight Greece as a dynamic center of filmmaking in Europe.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT HOSTING THE EFA AWARDS IN ATHENS

Film Factory 2025

19, 20 & 21 December | Greek Film Archive

The Film Factory of the Hellenic Film Academy returns for its 14th edition and includes a series of cinema-focused masterclasses, which will take place over three days—Friday 19, Saturday 20, and Sunday 21 December—at the Greek Film Archive, with free admission for the public.

The Film Factory is the Academy’s most creative and successful educational initiative and has been warmly embraced by film and art students, emerging filmmakers, and cinephiles. The protagonists of the programme and speakers of the masterclasses are film professionals who were awarded at the 2025 Iris Awards of the Hellenic Film Academy. They represent the full spectrum of cinematic creation: Screenwriting, Directing, Production and International Co-production, Cinematography, Acting, Music, Production Design, Costume Design, Sound, Special and Visual Effects, across fiction, documentary, and animation films.

Among the parallel activities of the 14th Film Factory is a special masterclass, organised in collaboration with Blink GFE, focusing on the editing of the film Electra7. The film is a production of the Athens Epidaurus Festival and the Hellenic Film Academy, with the kind sponsorship of PPC (Public Power Corporation). Alexandros Voulgaris, Sofia Exarchou, Neritan Zintziria, Christina Ioakeimidou, Babis Makridis, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, and Elina Psykou each directed one of the seven chapters of the script written by Panagiotis Christopoulos, drawing inspiration from Sophocles’ Electra.

Screenwriter Panagiotis Christopoulos, editors Giorgos Mavropsaridis and Stamos Dimitropoulos, and director Neritan Zintziria reveal the creative process behind Electra7 and discuss cinema as an act of writing. During the discussion, different versions of the film’s edit will be screened.

The day will conclude with a masterclass on “The Language of Spaces” by Giota Skouvara, location manager of Electra7 and numerous other films.

Alongside its educational role, the Film Factory serves as a vital space for the exchange of knowledge and ideas among film creators, with the overarching goal of fostering encounters and connections between established professionals of Greek cinema and the younger generation of their peers, thereby contributing to the strengthening of the country’s film community.

READ THE FULL PROGRAMME (GREEK)