At the 8th Loutraki International Film Festival “BRIDGES”…

This year, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy:

• 90 short and feature-length films from 26 countries, with their creators in attendance
• Cineart International Short Film Festival
• Educational seminars and film workshops
• Pitching & Networking Events for audiovisual professionals
• The painting exhibition “My Loutraki” by Arianna Bini at Beau Rivage
• The “NEREAS” Film Awards
• The grand premiere of “1st BRIDGES – Greece on Classic Wheels”

The Festival kicked off on Saturday, June 13, with “1st BRIDGES – Greece on Classic Wheels,” a unique route for classic and historic cars from the PETROSOPHY International Cultural Center in Agioi Theodoroi to the Loutraki Waterfalls. The event began at 6:00 p.m.

The event began with the following presentations:

• “A Mobile Museum Featuring the Car as the Main Setting of Cinema,” by Avraam Papadopoulos, President of HATSE and FIA representative.
• “Road Safety and New Technologies,” with Iasonas Barouxis, FIA Mobility Activities – HATSE Greece.

At 8:30 p.m., at the historic ELEKTRA outdoor cinema, the Festival’s official opening ceremony took place, featuring a musical program by the Friends of Music Choir of the Municipality of Loutraki–Perachora – Agioi Theodoroi, awards presented to the crews of the historic vehicles, and an honorary distinction awarded to beloved actress Alexandra Ladikou.

The opening film of the Festival was The First Man, based on the play of the same name by the great American writer Eugene O’Neill, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1936) and multiple Pulitzer Prizes. The play was adapted for the big screen with great sensitivity by a team of British filmmakers, led by creator, director, and producer Hardeep Giani, in his first feature film.

Among other works, the dramatized play “A Season in Hell,” translated and adapted by Stratis Paschalis and directed by Ilias Malandris, with original music by Nena Venetsanou and performances by Kostas Nikouli, Nikos Gelia, Georgia Anesti, and Katerina Maoutsou. It is a poetic portrait of Arthur Rimbaud, exploring his turbulent life and his enduring influence as a symbol of freedom and rebellion.

The screenings will take place at the historic ELEKTRA outdoor cinema from June 13 through June 20, starting at 9:30 p.m., with free admission.

The Beau Rivage Municipal Building on Loutraki Beach will host:

A. The painting exhibition “My Loutraki” by Arianna Bini, June 14–21. Opening reception on June 14 at 8:00 p.m.

B. Virtual reality screenings using special equipment from June 14 through June 20, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

C. The following educational activities on Saturday, June 20, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.:

• “The Art of Screenwriting in Film and Comics: Similarities and Differences,” with Haris Gioulatos, director.
• “New Topographics – Photographic Landscapes,” with Miltos Papadimitropoulos, architect and photographer.
• “Olympia the Horse – Pre-production in Film: Visual Design, Storyboards, Animatics, Previs,” with Alexis Chaviaras, director and animator.
• Presentations of new projects (pitching sessions) by the creators attending the Festival.

The closing ceremony and the presentation of the “NEREAS” Film Awards will take place on Sunday, June 21, at 7:00 p.m., at the PETROSOPHY International Cultural Center in Agioi Theodoroi, the gateway to the Peloponnese.

The musical program, featuring beloved songs from foreign musicals, is curated by Eleftheria Voulgari, with performances by Nikoleta Stroggili, Anastasia Vlouiti, Angeliki Xydi, and Paraskevi Sarri.

For nine days, the cosmopolitan town of Loutraki and Agioi Theodoroi will be filled with images, stories, artists, and culture from every corner of the world, establishing Corinthia as a hub for international cinematic dialogue.