Athens heads to Drama

Is Athens changing, and in which direction? Is it chaotic or enchanting, boring or unexpectedly compelling? Those questions drive five films presented at the 49th Drama International Short Film Festival, which opens on September 6 and runs through September 12.

The directors approach the capital through satire and surrealism, focusing on a city threatened by overtourism and the rapid erosion of its character. In George Kontos’s animated film “Art is missing,” a typical Athens museum has been bought by a developer-investor. Facing eviction, the exhibits come to life. Works ranging from ancient Greek art to creations by Picasso, Modigliani and Mondrian occupy the museum in an effort to stop it from closing.

“We wanted to address the fact that the city’s cultural identity is threatened by an aggressive, homogenized culture. The historic center is losing its memory and its stable values, gradually turning into an impersonal ‘shopping mall,’” Kontos says.

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We wanted to comment on today’s reality through the lens of satire and surrealism.

Maria Chatzakou’s “Starflyer” takes viewers to Allou! Fun Park, a place tied to childhood memories for many Athenians and now at the end of its life. Chatzakou says the park’s decline was already visible during filming, even though the filmmakers did not know it would close permanently. The surrounding Renti area, she adds, is undergoing a rapid and shocking transformation.

The film follows a nighttime meeting between two girls and builds a coming-out story around their encounter. They ride the Star Flyer, the amusement park’s most striking attraction, whose lights could be seen from many parts of Athens at night. Another film, Marianna Bozantzoglou’s “Sisters,” begins in Paiania and follows two young girls who secretly leave home to find their father in a central hospital. The older sister knows he is in critical condition after an accident but never tells the younger one as they make their way through the city.

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We wanted to address the fact that the city’s cultural identity is threatened by an aggressive, homogenized culture. The historic center is losing its memory and its stable values, gradually turning into an impersonal ‘shopping mall.’