About IRIS
The premier celebration of Greek cinema
The IRIS Awards, also known as the Hellenic Film Academy Awards, are the official annual honours of the HFA, celebrating the best achievements in Greek cinema each year.
They stand as the most prestigious celebration of the industry, bringing together Academy members — directors, actors, screenwriters, producers, artistic collaborators, critics, and representatives of the country’s leading film festivals — to recognize and honor the work of their peers.
A statuette with a story
Inspired by the HFA’s logo, the IRIS Awards statuette depicts a tree made of film, growing from the seed planted in 2009 by the Academy’s 108 founding members. It stands as both a tribute to the Academy’s origins and a symbol of our commitment to the continued evolution of Greek cinema.
24 IRIS Awards
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1 Best Feature Film
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2 Best Documentary Film
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3 Best Animation Film
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4 Best Short Documentary Film
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5 Best Short Animation Film
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6 Best Director
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7 Best Newcomer
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8 Best Screenplay
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9 Best Adapted Screenplay
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10 Best Actor
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11 Best Actress
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12 Best Supporting Actor
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13 Best Supporting Actress
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14 Best Cinematography
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15 Best Film Editing
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16 Best Original Score
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17 Best Production Design
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18 Best Sound
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19 Best Costume Design
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20 Best Make-up, Hairstyling and Special Effects
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21 Best Short Film
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22 Best Greek Minority Co-production Film
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23 Best Short Student Film
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24 Best Special & Visual Effects
Why the IRIS Awards matter
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Honoring contemporary Greek cinema
The IRIS Awards shine a light on the films of each year, highlighting the diverse voices, stories, and aesthetic explorations that, like the colours of the iris, come together to shape Greek cinema today. -
Recognizing the year’s outstanding achievements
Academy members honour the work of their peers, recognising achievement across all disciplines of the multifaceted, collective art of filmmaking. -
Celebrating the journey of Greek cinema
The awards ceremony is an annual celebration and a meeting point for the film community, bringing together established and emerging voices to honour the ongoing evolution of Greek cinema.
How the IRIS Awards work
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Greek-produced or co-produced films (with a certificate of Greek origin) that have had a public screening in Greece between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year.
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Applications are submitted by the main producer, including all required information and the consent of the film’s contributors.
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The participation fee is €140 for feature-length fiction films and €80 for feature-length documentaries (over 40 mins). Short films are submitted free of charge. The amount is determined by the HFA Board and may vary from year to year.
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All regular and honorary members in good standing vote on an equal basis, regardless of their involvement in the nominated films.
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At the beginning of each year, all eligible films are uploaded to a secure digital platform, accessible only to HFA members with voting rights. Members watch the films and cast their votes electronically and anonymously in each award category.
The voting process has two phases:
PHASE 1 – NOMINATIONS
Five nominees are selected for each award. In the event of a tie, the number of nominees may exceed 5. If a category has fewer than 12 submitted films, three finalists advance to the final phase.
PHASE 2 – FINAL VOTE
The voting body selects the winners from the pool of nominees. A notary public supervises the process to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the vote as well as the protection of members’ personal data.
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No. The IRIS is an honorary award.
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The awards ceremony is held in early summer, on a date and at a venue determined by the HFA Board.
