Update on the 2020 San Francisco Greek Film Festival; partial list of films for the event, October 3-10, 2020

.SF Greek Film Festival announcements include the in-person drive-in screening of Topkapi.
~ see a portion of the upcoming Festival films below ~

Topkapi - USA, 1964, 120min, Directed by Jules Dassin

The first program announcement from the 2020 San Francisco Greek Film Festival (SFGFF) is the drive-in movie event on Sunday, October 4, screening the classic 1964 Oscar-winning film Topkapi. The entertaining heist comedy-adventure stars legendary Greek performer Melina Mercouri, and this event celebrates the 100th anniversary of her birthday. In addition to Mercouri’s success as an actress and singer, she was an important Greek politician and public figure, who was always devoted to her country and culture, and famously said  "I was born a Greek and I will die a Greek.” Among her many legacies is her steadfast commitment to the effort to return the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

• ​The Greek Culture Ministry honors this culture champion by having declared 2020 the “Year of Melina Mercouri.”​

Feature Films in the 2020 San Francisco Greek Film Festival [partial list]

• The films are online and can be viewed anywhere, details coming soon​

Entwined - Greece, 2019, 88min, Directed by Minos Nikolakakis
City doctor Panos relocates to a remote village in order to offer his services to the community. It’s love at first sight when he sets eyes on Danae, who lives in isolation, with a mysterious skin condition. Determined to cure her, Panos will soon discover Danae is not the helpless princess he thought she was and time is of the essence for both of them.
*Toronto International Film Festival: World Premiere

My Name is Eftihia - Greece, 2019, 122min, Directed by Angelos Frantzis
Inspired by the life of the most prolific Greek female poet and lyricist, Eftihia Papagianopoulou, an extraordinary woman and artist who has created a massive volume of timeless and popular songs. 
She got married when she was too young and she quickly became a mother of two little girls. She travelled from Smyrna to Greece, with only one little pillow clutched between her arms. 
On board the ship that took her away from her home for ever, she decided she would never let life pass her by. She vowed to live on her own terms. Her name means Happiness but destiny made sure she knew very little of it. She challenged death every day of her life, hoping to ward off its cold, ruthless grip.
*Hellenic Academy Award Winner for Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Production Design, Best Sound and Best Make-Up

• Trailer for, My Name is Eftihia

Siege on Liperti Street - Greece, Cyprus, 2019, 88min, Directed by Stavros Pamballis
Austerity took everything but the roof over their heads, and today it will come for that too. But this time, they will finally fight back, like a family with nothing left to lose… Set beside the UN Buffer Zone that divides the city of Nicosia, SIEGE ON LIPERTI STREET tells the story of one bankrupt family's struggle to hold on to their home, no matter the price.
* Thessaloniki International Film Festival: Winner of the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Award, Greek Federation of Film Critics Award, Audience Award (Greek Section) and ERT (National Broadcaster) award.

When Tomatoes Met Wagner - Greece, 2019, 72min, Directed by Marianna Economou
Do tomatoes taste better when they listen to the music of Richard Wagner? 
Elias, a small farming village in central Greece, is dying out. But two cousins team up with the village grannies to cultivate tomatoes. With a little help from Wagner’s music, the villagers export their little jars with organic tomato recipes across the world. The film follows the protagonists of this unlikely story, as they struggle to make their dream come true. Humorous and bittersweet, this surreal story speaks to us about the importance of reinventing oneself in times of crisis and the power of human relationships. 
*Berlinale: World Premiere
*Hellenic Film Academy Award for Best Documentary 

Window to the Sea - Spain, Greece, 2019, 105min, Directed by Miguel Ángel Jiménez 
Faced with life changing news, Maria, a fifty-five year old Spanish woman from Bilbao, chooses to take a trip to Greece with her closest girlfriends against the advice of her son and doctors. A spontaneous decision leads her to the island of Nisyros, a tiny haven of peace and calm that immediately feels like home. While exploring the beautiful island and soaking in its hidden treasures, she meets Stefanos and finds herself falling in love against all odds. What seemed like a brief escape from reality soon turns into an unexpected chance at happiness, in a luminous story of a woman, who takes a leap of faith and dares to live for the moment on her own terms.
*San Sebastian International Film Festival: World Premiere

Short Films in 2020 San Francisco Greek Film Festival [partial list]

A Jar of Nuts - Cyprus, 2019, 17min, Directed by Savvas Stavrou
Isolated in his apartment, the lonely forty-year old Giorgos meticulously devises an intricate plan to take his life after his beloved mother chokes to death on a pistachio. 
As the day progresses, Giorgos allows excuses, obstacles and people to hinder his final deadly leap from the balcony, completely oblivious to the true reason behind all his stalling.
*Tirana Film Festival: Best Balkan Film Award

Electric Swan - Argentina, France, Greece, 2019, 40min, Directed by Konstantina Kotzamani
Buildings are not supposed to move. But on Avenida Libertador 2050 , a building moves and the ceiling shivers, causing a strange nausea that devours its residents. Those who live on the top are afraid they'll fall - the ones who live beneath are afraid they'll drown.
*La Biennale di Venezia: World Premiere
*Hellenic Film Academy Award for Best Short Film

In the Room - Greece, 2019, 14min, Directed by Yeorgia M. Sotirchou
When God is absent, someone has to take his place. In a modern day urban environment, three characters come together: an old ill man, the young woman who looks after him and his unemployed middle-aged daughter, all face the fine line that separates ethics and freewill.
*Drama International Short Film Festival: World Premiere

Last Stop - Cyprus, 2019, 6min, Directed by Christos Zeniou
Trying to find his way back to where he belongs, the stimulus for the outside world is a bus stop.

Rouge - Greece, 2019, 18min, Directed by Kostis Theodosopoulos
A sexist violent incident fires tension in Danai's friendship with Ilona and Toufa. Torn between theory and practice, the three friends realize that patriarchy won't die with bottles (only), and they now have marks to prove it. 
*Drama International Short Film Festival: National Premiere; Best Newcomer Director, Best Screenplay, Best Make-Up
*International Film Festival Rotterdam: International Premiere

The Distance Between Us and the Sky - Greece, France, 2019, 9min, Directed by Vasilis Kekatos
Night, national road. Two strangers meet for the first time at an old gas station. One has stopped to gas up his bike, while the other is just stranded. Lacking the 22.50€ he needs to get home, he will try to sell him the distance that separates them from the sky.
*Cannes: World Premiere; Short Film Palme d’Or and Short Film Queer Palm

The Dude - Greece, 2019, 17min, Directed by Alexandros Kakaniaris
Stratis, a 12 year old boy, is the greatest dude in his 'hood. He is such a great dude, that everybody calls him The Dude. Almost everybody, that is. All he has to do is prove himself. To those who don't believe him. Almost everybody, that is.
*Drama International Short Film Festival: World Premiere

As additional SFGFF programming and details are confirmed, they will be announced on the organization’s website, and Facebook page.

WHAT: 2020 San Francisco Greek Film Festival – 17th annual
WHEN: October 3-10 2020
WHERE: online, can be viewed anywhere, details coming soon
COST: Free! Donations will be encouraged and appreciated

SPECIAL EVENT: 
WHAT:  Topkapi drive-in screening
WHEN: Sunday, October 4, 7:30pm
WHERE: Par 3 at Poplar Creek, 1700 Coyote Point Drive, San Mateo
COST: $30 per vehicle; tickets at https://sfgff-topkapi.eventbrite.com

MORE INFO: grfilm.com and facebook.com/SFGreekFilmFest