LATEST NEWS

20.12.21

INTRODUCTION
  
The Hellenic Film Commission of the GREEK FILM CENTRE presents the Location Scouting Support Program which supports a) the preliminary location scouting of film and television projects of foreign initiative which are interested in exploring the possibility of shooting in Greece or b) the location scouting during the pre-production stage of film and television projects of foreign initiative which have proven to be planning to shoot in Greece. 
This specific Program is in accordance with the statutory mode of operation of the Hellenic Film Commission (Law 3905/10, article 17) and contributes to the fulfillment of its objectives as financial support in the pre-production stage proves to be an important tool for attracting international audiovisual productions according to best practices. Location scouting offers producers the possibility of a comparative evaluation of the advantages of each location as well as all the filming opportunities that Greece offers. 
The Location Scouting Support Program by the Hellenic Film Commission of the GFC on the one hand aims to attract and support international audiovisual productions in Greece and on the other hand to enhance the employment of Greek filmmakers, thus contributing to the development and improvement of the expertise of the domestic human resources. 
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: According to the 1524/06.12.2021 decision of the Board of Directors of the GFC the amendment of the Location Scouting Support Program of the Hellenic Film Commission was approved as amended below. Projects which have been approved by the GFC under the status of the previous regulation of the Program and for which the financial report as well as the Location Scouting execution report have not been completed, may, regardless of the stage of implementation at which they are, apply for their inclusion in the provision of the new regulation of the Program.
 
PROJECT ELIGIBILITY
This Program is addressed to feature films, documentaries, with a minimum running time of 70 minutes, as well as TV drama series and TV documentaries. TV series with travelling and gastronomic content, as well as reality shows, are not eligible. 
Funding by the Greek Film Centre has the form of a subsidy. 
 
Eligible projects:
 
1.International projects, the scripts of which could be shot in Greece, with a Greek co-producer as a minority partner 
2.International projects, the scripts of which could be shot in Greece, without a Greek co-producer as a minority partner but with the commitment of collaborating, during the location scouting, with a Greek production company (sole proprietorship or legal entity) that is active and operates in order to produce audiovisual works as long as it has the corresponding taxation code. 
 
For both eligible categories projects, the prerequisites are: 
A)Minimum shooting days in Greece: 
-fifteen (15) days for fiction feature films and TV drama series 
-seven (7) days for documentaries and TV documentaries 
B)Minimum estimated expenses to be incurred in Greece in case the project gets produced in the country: 50.000 euro 
 
The maximum amount of the subsidy is set up to 10.000 euro. 
 
A film project which began shooting before being examined by the GFC is not eligible. 
Each sole proprietorship or legal entity can apply to the GFC for this subsidy for maximum two (2) projects per year. 
 
PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA 
 
Projects that meet the eligibility criteria will be preferred if:
•More than 25% of their script could be shot in Greece 
•They need more that the minimum shooting days in Greece which is defined by the eligibility criteria 
•They promote archaeological sites and monuments of the recent cultural heritage of Greece  
•They promote remote regions (mountain villages, remote islands, border regions etc.)
 
Additionally, the participation of female participants in the main departments (direction, script, direction of photography, production management, location management), as well as the participation and training of graduates of recognized film schools (of the past two years) during location scouting, will be taken into account. 
 
 
CATEGORY A
This category includes film and television projects of foreign initiative which, in order to explore the possibility of shooting in Greece, carry out preliminary location scouting in Greece.
 
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 
•Tickets within Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
•Arrival/departure tickets to/from Greece for foreign crew members, provided that they are issued by a Greek travel agency
•Accommodation, catering, transportation expenses in Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
•Location Manager’s fee 
•Photographer’s fee (only if he/she has an Activity Code Number registered in Greece)
•Expenses of microbiological exams and all kinds of medical services for COVID-19
 
CATEGORY B
This category includes film and television projects of foreign initiative which, having planned shooting in Greece, carry out location scouting in the pre-production stage.
 
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES 
•Tickets within Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
•Arrival/departure tickets to/from Greece for foreign crew members, provided that they are issued by a Greek travel agency
•Accommodation, catering, transportation expenses in Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
•Location Manager’s fee 
•Producer’s fee (up to 8%)
•Assistant producer’s fee
•Photographer’s fee (only if he/she has an Activity Code Number registered in Greece)
•Fees for photographing permits
•Translations and editing of texts (script, treatment, synopsis)
•Expenses of microbiological exams and all kinds of medical services for COVID-19
 
 
SUBMITION PROCESS – EVALUTATION - APPROVAL
 
•The files of candidates are submitted all year round and sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
•The applications are received and processed by the Hellenic Film Commission withing one (1) month. 
•Once the completeness check of the application files is conducted, the submitted projects are evaluated by the Hellenic Film Commission on a first-come-first-served basis.
•The total of the subsidized projects per year, as well as the amount of the subsidy for each project, are subject to the annual budget of the Program. The Hellenic Film Commission ceases to make approvals after the exhaustion of the available annual budget of the Program. 
•The amount of the subsidy for a project is decided by taking into account the Scouting Budget in Greece, submitted with the application. 
•Applications are approved by decision of the General Manager of the GFC after taking into consideration the recommendation of the Director of the Hellenic Film Commission. 
•The approvals of the Location Scouting Support Program of the Hellenic Film Commission get into force after their publication on DIAVGEIA and for a period of three (3) months. Once the approval is published on DIAVGEIA, the GFC informs in writing the applicant as well as the beneficiary foreign producer. 
•In case a beneficiary project gets produced in Greece (partly or entirely), the foreign producer of the audiovisual work commits to acknowledge the Hellenic Film Commission of the GFC as supporter by using both logos (GFC/HFC) at the end titles credits of the audiovisual work.   
 
CANDIDATURE FILE CONTENTS 
Location Scouting Support Program 
Eligible to apply are Greek co-producers (sole proprietorship or legal entity) or Greek production companies (sole proprietorship or legal entity) which are active and operate in order to produce audiovisual works as long as they have the corresponding taxation code and they are contracted with the foreign production company for conducting the location scouting. Prerequisite for the participation of the applicant in the Program is his compliance with any existing contractual / financial obligations to the GFC. 
The applicant submits a file to the GFC, before the beginning of shootings, with the following:
 
1.Application form 
2.Synopsis (1 page) 
3.Final version of the script or treatment in English
4.CVs of the a) foreign producer/production company, b) the director, c) the Greek production company which undertakes the location scouting 
5.Agreement between the foreign production company and the applicant on undertaking the location scouting in Greece (category A) or agreement between the foreign production company and the applicant on undertaking the execution of the production or co-production in Greece, which clearly states that part of the shootings will take place in Greece (category B)
6.Detailed list of locations which are needed according to the script
7.Location scouting schedule in Greece 
8.Scouting Budget with the expenses to be incurred in Greece during the location scouting
9.Production Budget with expenses to be incurred in Greece during production 
10.Financial Plan 
 
 
DELIVERABLES & SUBSIDY PAYMENT 
After the publication of the approval on DIAVGEIA, the GFC enters into an agreement with the applicant. 
 
After the completion of the location scouting in Greece, the beneficiary needs to submit to the GFC electronically at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the audit the following:
 
•Budget execution report with list of expenses during location scouting 
•Legitimate invoices in the name of the applicant, which have been issued from the date of submission of the application to the GFC and henceforth, according to the eligible expenses in each of the two categories of the Program, the sum of which shall be at least equal to the amount of the approved subsidy. In the event that the financial report of expenses during location scouting falls short of the approved amount of subsidy, the amount of approved subsidy is reduced by the same amount.
•Location Scouting execution report (detailed list of visited locations, evaluation of locations according to the scripts etc.) 
•Photographs of the locations (1-5 for each visited location, according to the specifications of the Locations database on the website of the Hellenic Film Commission)
•Questionnaires on the participation of graduates of film schools during location scouting 
 
The GFC will proceed with the payment of the subsidy after receiving a legitimate invoice from the beneficiary to the GFC with the final amount of the approved subsidy after the audit, as well as tax and insurance clearance certificate where provided. VAT burdens the GFC. 
 
 
 
05.08.21

A very successful two-day Familiarity Trip was organized by the Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre on July 23 and July 24, 2021, for the Workshop Panelists of the Location Management Workshop, all members of the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI), before their departure back to the USA and the UK.
JJ Levine, 1st vice president of LMGI (U.S.A. based), Alison A. Taylor, 2nd Vice President LMGI (U.S.A. based) and Dan Connolly, Board member LMGI (UK based), had the opportunity to explore areas of mainland Greece, in particular the area of Epirus and two of the Cycladic islands. 
The first day of the trip started with a tour to Zagorochoria, the stone-built traditional villages of Zagori, famous for their historical and architectural value, in Epirus. Our guest location managers visited the villages Aristi, Megalo Papigko and Monodendri as well as the Vikos Gorge at the Vikos -Aoos Geopark (UNESCO Global Geopark), a landscape of inexhaustible touring and scientific interest. After the tour in Epirus, our guests flew over Meteora, the largest archaeological site of Greece in terms of the area that it covers, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989 and an official holy place for Greece since 1995. Then they arrived to Santorini Island, where they had the chance to experience breathtaking volcanic views to the Caldera. 
On the second day of the trip, the location managers landed on Milos Island, another Cycladic Island shaped by its volcanic past. The extensive tour of this day included explorations of the famous beaches of Sarakiniko and Kleftiko, with their white rock formations, emerald green waters and caves eroded by the sea, walks around the Plaka and visits to the biggest and most impressive bentonite mine of the island as well as at the Adamandas bunker. 
This Fam Trip to selected Greek locations for three distinguished location managers with 20 years of experience in Hollywood productions, aimed at promoting Greece as a place of unique landscapes capable of hosting different genres of international audiovisual productions and at connecting foreign professionals with the Greek Industry Guide.
 
05.08.21

A very successful Location Management Workshop was co-organized by the Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre and the 10th Aegean Film Festival, within the framework of the Location Greece Conference, on July 20 and July 21, 2021 at the Anargyrios and Korgialeneio School on the island of Spetses.
The Location Management Workshop took place in collaboration with the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI). 
 
The opening of the event was greeted by the artistic director of the Aegean Film Festival, Babis Tsoutsas who noted the importance of this first Conference focusing on the parameters of attracting international productions in Greece. Following, the director of the Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre, Venia Vergou, emphasized on the crucial role that location managers contribute to the success of productions and on the commitment of the Hellenic Film Commission to systematically give prominence to their work. Venia also noted the importance of the Location Managers Guild International, whose persistent efforts led to an equal recognition of the location management department on the imdb cast & crew listings. Then she welcomed and introduced the three Workshop Panelists, with over 20 years of experience in Hollywood productions.
 
JJ Levine, 1st vice president of LMGI, U.S.A. based, has worked on hundreds of commercials and her numerous credits include Diary of a Future President as well as Sunnyside, Gumshoe, The Mayor, What About Barb, and Future Man. Levine has recently completed additional cinematography on Marvel’s The Eternals and is currently in prep on Maya Rudolph’s unnamed Apple TV Series. She is the recipient of multiple location awards including those from COLA (California On Location) and the Location Managers Guild International and has been honored by the Mayor of Los Angeles for her work in that city. Levine is a dedicated leader in her field and is on the Motion Picture Teamsters Steering Committee.  She currently serves as 1st Vice President of the board of the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI) and Chair of the LMGI Marketing and Communications Committee. She recently launched and moderates the highly successful educational Zoom series, Coffee Tuesdays with the LMGI.
 
Alison A. Taylor, 2nd Vice President LMGI, U.S.A. based, has had the privilege of working on many recognizable projects including Training Day, The Soloist, The First Purge, Purge: Election Year, BAPS, Southland, Insecure and many more over the course of her 25-year career as a Location Manager for film and television. She is extremely proud of her work on the just-released limited series for Amazon Studios, The Underground Railroad.  Alison most recently completed work on additional photography for Marvel’s Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.  Alison has won three California on Location Awards (COLA) - voted by her peers for the excellence of her work as a Location Manager.  Her awards were for her work on Southland, Straight Outta Compton and A Wrinkle in Time.  She is an active member of Hollywood Teamsters Local 399, Location Managers Guild International (2nd Vice President), Behind the Scenes Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiative and the Alpha Gamma Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
 
Dan Connolly, Board member LMGI, UK based, has worked in locations over 23 years, starting at the very bottom as a runner.  An active Location Manager for 20 of those years, he works across formats in television, features, and commercials.  Credits include:  Transformers: The Last Knight, Morbius, Devs, War Machine and Phantom Thread.  He also worked as an in-house LM and advisor for the Abu Dhabi Film Commission during a boom period for that region (Fast and Furious 7, Star Wars). A member of the UK Film & Broadcast Union (BECTU) as a Location Branch Committee Member, recently elected as an LMGI Board Member, Connolly is an active member on the LMGI Coffee Tuesdays committee, and looks forward to what the next 20 years hold in the Location Department and is dedicated to promoting excellence on location.
During the 2-day Workshop the Panelists discussed their catalytic position in international productions in host countries, enhancing the skills of location managers in Greece to better attract and facilitate international productions. They analyzed ways of presenting locations and keeping organized libraries to be able to create immediate creative response and to convey the visual language immediately. They also explained that, since every location is an event for a location manager, their skills include being event planners, filmmakers, diplomats, trespassers, explorers, creatives, major negotiators, accountants etc. The Panelists also emphasized on the demanding process of budgeting as they need to visually process each and every single scene and mentally walk through the visuals they need. They made very clear that the work that the location managers do is a thin line between the real world and the movie world. 
On the second day of the workshop, the Workshop Panelists where grateful to be accompanied by another LMGI member, Ravi Dube, a location manager with extensive career used to handling large location departments spread over continents, who is currently working in a big US production shooting in Greece. They all discussed comparative cases of audiovisual production and shared with the participants examples and experiences from their careers as location managers. 
 
The workshop was attended by more than 25 professionals from the film industry, such as location managers, production managers and producers, who wanted to expand their contacts and their knowledge about the requirements of major international productions and co-productions in Greece. 
 
All talks held in English and were also available digitally via live streaming on both the festival's and the Hellenic Film Commission's social networks. At the same time, there was an opportunity for Q&As with the participants, which created the opportunity for open dialogues and exchange of numerous opinions. 
 
DAY 1 (20/07/2021)
INTRODUCTION TO LOCATIONS – MODULES A1 & A2
Presented by Location Managers Guild International Board members, Alison A. Taylor, Dan Connolly and JJ Levine, the Introduction to Locations will cover the basics of location scouting and management, including topics such as the anatomy of the location department, crew titles and responsibilities, workflow and the profile / skillsets needed to be successful scouts and managers.  This module will also cover communication on set, as well as successful scouting strategies and techniques for overcoming obstacles while scouting and securing difficult locations.
 
DAY 2 (21/07/2021)
ADVANCED LOCATION MANAGEMENT - MODULES B1 & B2
This session is designed for location and production professionals, and anyone who has an interest in furthering their understanding of the role of the location department.  The presenters will cover more advanced location scouting and management techniques, with an emphasis on the do’s and don’ts when filming an American production in Europe.  The presentation will include how to manage expectations and cover the myriad of resources needed by the location department to successfully complete a large-scale project.  This module will also cover safety on set (including Covid-19 protocols), digital scouting and the importance of cultural awareness.  
 
27.04.21

The above health protocol dated 31/03/2021, "Guidelines for safely conducting preparatory tasks for audiovisual productions", is now in force in conjunction with ΦΕΚ 1581/Β/18–4-2021 published in Joint Ministerial Decision no. 24520:
“The enforcing of measures to limit the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus which place temporary limits on the Country’s land, air and sea links, which forbid citizens of third countries other than EU Member States and states party to the Schengen Agreement to enter the Country, and which require the laboratory testing and temporary restriction of persons entering from abroad, as well as special arrangements in the case of vaccination or negative tests in specific countries".
 
Specifically, foreign partners who come to and stay in Greece and are permanent residents of other countries listed in the above JMD, are informed of the following:
 
“1. Exceptionally, entry into the State of permanent residents of European Union member states, states party to the Schengen Agreement, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Israel is permitted: a) if they have tested negative for the COVID-19 coronavirus using the PCR method performed using an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swab aa) within seventy-two (72) hours of their arrival in Greece, ab) by a reference laboratory in their country of origin or transit, or a public or private laboratories in either, given that the private laboratory used is certified by the competent national certifying authority, and ac) have written confirmation of that diagnosis with them in English, which includes their name and the number of their passport or identity card, and which they can show to the personnel of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the National Public Health Agency who are responsible for conducting medical examinations, or b) in the case of their vaccination against the COVID-19 coronavirus being complete, and their presenting a vaccination certificate in English issued by a public authority and in accordance with the relevant legislation, given that fourteen (14) days have elapsed since its completion. The vaccination certificate must state the person's name, the type of vaccine administered along with the number of doses, and be presented to the personnel of the General Secretariat for Civil Protection and the National Public Health Agency (PHEA) who are responsible for carrying out medical checks. The authenticity of the vaccination certificate may be checked by the competent bodies, with the help of the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance. 
 
2. Persons falling within the scope of this document are subject to random laboratory medical checks on the basis of a public health algorithm in accordance with Article 5 (2),
are exempt from the compulsory preventive restrictions described in Article 5 (5), and must otherwise observe throughout their stay in the Country the emergency measures put in place to restrict the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in accordance with the joint ministerial decision under file reference Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.24489/16.4.2021 (Β’ 1558) as this applies in the particular case”. 
 
GENERAL SECRETARIAT FOR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE 
 
07.04.21

INTRODUCTION


The Hellenic Film Commission of the GFC presents the Location Scouting Support Program which is addressed to film and television projects of foreign initiative that are interested in conducting preliminary location scouting in our country. This specific Program is in accordance with the statutory mode of operation of the Hellenic Film Commission (Law 3905/10, article 17) and contributes to the fulfillment of its objectives as financial support in the pre-production stage proves to be an important tool for attracting international audiovisual productions according to best practices. Location scouting offers producers the possibility of a comparative evaluation of the advantages of each location as well as all the filming opportunities that Greece offers.
The Location Scouting Support Program by the Hellenic Film Commission of the GFC on the one hand aims to attract international audiovisual productions in Greece and on the other hand to enhance the employment of Greek filmmakers, thus contributing to the development and improvement of the expertise of the domestic human resources.


PROJECT ELIGIBILITY


This Program is addressed to feature films, documentaries, with a minimum running time of 70 minutes, as well as TV drama series and TV documentaries. TV series with travelling and gastronomic content, as well as reality shows, are not eligible.
Funding by the Greek Film Centre has the form of a subsidy.

Eligible projects:

1. International projects, the scripts of which could be shot in Greece, with a Greek co-producer as a minority partner
2. International projects, the scripts of which could be shot in Greece, without a Greek co-producer as a minority partner but with the commitment of collaborating, during the location scouting, with a Greek production company (sole proprietorship or legal entity) that is active and operates in order to produce audiovisual works as long as it has the corresponding taxation code.

For both eligible categories projects, the prerequisites are:
A) Minimum shooting days in Greece:
- fifteen (15) days for fiction feature films and TV drama series
- seven (7) days for documentaries and TV documentaries
B) Minimum estimated expenses to be incurred in Greece in case the project gets produced in the country: 50.000 euro

The maximum amount of the subsidy is set up to 10.000 euro.

A film project which began shooting before being examined by the GFC is not eligible.
Each sole proprietorship or legal entity can apply to the GFC for this subsidy for maximum two projects per year.

 

CANDIDATURE FILE CONTENTS

 

Location Scouting Support Program
Eligible to apply are Greek co-producers (sole proprietorship or legal entity) or Greek production companies (sole proprietorship or legal entity) which are active and operate in order to produce audiovisual works as long as they have the corresponding taxation code and they are contracted with the foreign production company for conducting the location scouting. Prerequisite for the participation of the applicant in the Program is his compliance with any existing contractual / financial obligations to the GFC.
The applicant submits a file to the GFC, before the beginning of shootings, with the following:

1. Application form
2. Synopsis (1 page)
3. Final version of the script or treatment in English
4. CVs of the a) foreign producer/production company, b) the director, c) the Greek production company which undertakes the location scouting
5. Agreement between the foreign production company and the applicant on undertaking the location scouting in Greece
6. Detailed list of locations which are needed according to the script
7. Location scouting schedule in Greece
8. Scouting Budget with the expenses to be incurred in Greece during the location scouting
9. Production Budget with expenses to be incurred in Greece during production
10. Financial Plan


PROJECT EVALUATION CRITERIA

 

Projects that meet the eligibility criteria will be preferred if:
• More than 25% of their script could be shot in Greece
• They need more that the minimum shooting days in Greece which is defined by the eligibility criteria
• They promote archaeological sites and monuments of the recent cultural heritage of Greece
• They promote remote regions (mountain villages, remote islands, border regions etc.)

Additionally, the participation of female participants in the main departments (direction, script, direction of photography, production management, location management), as well as the participation and training of graduates of recognized film schools (of the past two years) during location scouting, will be taken into account.


SUBMITION PROCESS – EVALUTATION - APPROVAL

 

• The files of candidates are submitted all year round and sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• The applications are received and processed by the Hellenic Film Commission withing one (1) month.
• Once the completeness check of the application files is conducted, the submitted projects are evaluated by the Hellenic Film Commission on a first-come-first-served basis.
• The total of the subsidized projects per year, as well as the amount of the subsidy for each project, are subject to the annual budget of the Program. The Hellenic Film Commission ceases to make approvals after the exhaustion of the available annual budget of the Program.
• The amount of the subsidy for a project is decided by taking into account the Scouting Budget in Greece, submitted with the application.
• Applications are approved by decision of the General Manager of the GFC after taking into consideration the recommendation of the Director of the Hellenic Film Commission.
• The approvals of the Location Scouting Support Program of the Hellenic Film Commission get into force after their publication on DIAVGEIA and for a period of three (3) months. Once the approval is published on DIAVGEIA, the GFC informs in writing the applicant as well as the beneficiary foreign producer.
• In case a beneficiary project gets produced in Greece (partly or entirely), the foreign producer of the audiovisual work commits to acknowledge the Hellenic Film Commission of the GFC as supporter by using both logos (GFC/HFC) at the end titles credits of the audiovisual work.


SUBSIDY PAYMENT


After the publication of the approval on DIAVGEIA, the GFC enters into an agreement with the applicant.
The payment of the subsidy is made in accounts after submitting electronically to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. all the following:

• Budget execution report with list of expenses during location scouting
• Legitimate invoices in the name of the applicant according to the following eligible expenses, the sum of which shall be at least equal to the amount of the approved subsidy. In the event that the financial report of expenses during location scouting falls short of the approved amount of subsidy, the amount of approved subsidy is reduced by the same amount.
• Location Scouting execution report (detailed list of visited locations, evaluation of locations according to the scripts etc.)
• Photographs of the locations (1-5 for each visited location, according to the specifications of the Locations database on the website of the Hellenic Film Commission)
• Questionnaires on the participation of graduates of film schools during location scouting

 

ELIGIBLE EXPENSES


• Tickets within Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
• Accommodation, catering, transportation expenses in Greece for Greek and foreign crew members
• Photographer’s fee
• Greek Location Manager’s fee

 

Press here to download the application form.

 

02.04.21

 
HELLENIC MINISTRY OF CULTURE & SPORT 31/03/2021
FILE NUMBER: 130460
(EXACT COPY, DIGITALLY SIGNED BY EFSTATHIA MATSOUKA)
EXCEPTIONALLY URGENT
HELLENIC REPUBLIC
MINISTRY OF CULTURE & SPORT
GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF CONTEMPORARY CULTURE 
Address: Bouboulinas 20-22
ZIP Code:106 82 Athens
Telephone:2131322528
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
SUBJECT: CORRECTED VERSION: GUIDELINES FOR SAFELY CONDUCTING PREPARATORY TASKS FOR AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTIONS 
Relevant documents: 
[a] The section from the minutes of the 195th meeting (05.03.2021) of the National Public Health Protection Committee against the COVID-19 coronavirus. 
[b] The section from the minutes of the 202nd meeting (26.03.2021) of the National Public Health Protection Committee against the COVID-19 coronavirus. 
[c] The letter of 05.03.2021 containing the request made by the General Secretary for Culture and Sport responsible for matters relating to Contemporary Culture to the National Public Health Protection Committee against the COVID-19 coronavirus [d] The document dated 12.18.2020 with file number ΥΠΠΟΑ /ΓΓΓΣΠ/720841/4313. 
[e] Joint Ministerial Decision no. Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.17709 (ΦΕΚ 1077/τ. Β’/20.03.2021).
[f] Joint Ministerial Decision no. Δ1α/Γ.Π.οικ.18877 (ΦΕΚ 1194/τ. Β΄/27.03.2021). 
[g] The "Public health security and protection from Covid-19 infection map” published at https://covid19.gov.gr/covid-map/. 
 
This document is based on the guidelines and recommendations of the Hellenic Ministry of Health's COVID-19 Expert Committee and the "Public health security and protection from Covid-19 infection map” published at https://covid19.gov.gr/covid-map/. It provides guidance on how small film crews can safely conduct tasks involved in the preparation of audio-visual productions. 
The measures detailed below will apply throughout Greece until such time as they updated. Interested parties are requested to regularly visit the announcements page of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport, where they will be notified of any amendments to these guidelines. 
a. Authorization 
- Permits can be applied for by means of the procedure instituted by dint of the joint ministerial decision currently in force in relation to regulations on distancing rules for rehearsals and film shoots. Such permits allow small crews to perform tasks relating to the preparation of audio-visual productions (location scouting, meetings between artistic or other core cast and crew). 
- Interested parties should send their permit requests to this email address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. A form must be completed and sent along with the request; the form in question is attached to this document as an annex. More information on the permit issuing procedure can be obtained from the General Secretariat for Civil Protection by telephone on the following numbers: 213 1510978, -969, -176, -190.  
- In the case of international audio-visual productions in Greece for the purposes of which foreign partners come to Greece from abroad, the following special rules apply: 
[a] Applicants should ALSO send the above permit application to the General Secretariat of Public Health at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. More information about the permit application process can be obtained from the General Secretariat of Public Health by phone on 213 216 1236. 
[b] The maximum number of individuals per crew allowed to conduct preparatory tasks is set at 15 (Greeks and foreigners); the responsibility for obtaining the relevant authorization/permit lies with the collaborating Greek production company. 
[c] The foreign contingent must be accompanied at all times by a specially-trained COVID - 19 Supervisor with medical training (nurse, doctor, paramedic), who will be provided by the Greek production company. 
[d] The application process requires that the sections on the attached form relating to partners from abroad must be completed.
 
- Interested parties who receive authorization must declare in writing that they have been made aware of the guidelines in question.
b. Arrivals Procedure for foreign partners 
- Partners from abroad must have taken the PCR test 48 hours prior to their departure for Greece. 
- The foreign contingent must be taken directly to their hotel, which must have been declared to the General Secretariat for Civil Protection as their place of residence during their stay in the country. 
- On arrival, partners from abroad must take a new PCR test at their hotel, at the expense of the production company. The results of the tests must be retained and should be presentable on request. 
- Given that the results are negative, the foreign contingent can begin work on the preparatory tasks the following day, in cooperation with the Greek team. Should the result be positive for one of the partners, the procedure prescribed by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection must be followed once the General Secretariat for Civil Protection has been notified directly.
c. Crew accommodation, travel and work schedules
- The Greek production company informs the General Secretariat for Civil Protection of the names of all crew members (from Greece and abroad), providing passport numbers for foreigners, contact telephone numbers, a residence address and a precise timetable detailing the crew’s movements. 
- The crew members may only travel if they are in possession of a confirmation from the Greek production company which states the name of the project, their reason for travel, and an itinerary including visit times for each location. 
- When travelling and visiting sites, all the public health procedures foreseen for the given activities must be followed (compulsory wearing of masks, safety distances, maximum number of people per type of transport, etc.) as these are laid out at https://covid19.gov.gr/covid-map/ 
- When visiting or meeting indoors:
•Indoor spaces must be kept well-ventilated. Only open-circuit air conditioners are permitted. 
•Enclosed spaces must be disinfected using a 10:1 chlorine solution (meaning 9 parts water to one part chlorine) before and after every session. The same holds for the toilets. For surfaces which are likely to be damaged by the use of bleach (sodium hypochlorite), a 70% ethanol solution can be used. Particular emphasis should be given to surfaces which are touched frequently, such as door knobs, on/off switches, handrails etc. 
•Antiseptic alcoholic solution (70%) should be available. 
•Hygiene rules must be applied in toilets, including: 
oGood ventilation 
oClosing the toilet lid before flushing 
oThe use of paper or plastic disposable seat covers is desirable 
oRunning water and soap, paper towels and a foot-operated waste bin should be provided 
oWhere possible, equipment equipped with a photocell or foot switch (e.g. for the tap, soap dispenser) should be used 
oHand driers should not be used 
oA line with places marked 1.5 metres apart should be in place for when queuing is required 
oUse of a non-medical mask 
oIf the sinks have not been used in a long time, it is recommended that the hot water should be left to run for five minutes before the first use. 
oShowers should not be used 
- Should the presence of a site supervisor be required, the supervisor should have had the PCR test previously at the expense of the production. 
- The entire crew must complete a daily questionnaire which is submitted to the aforementioned Covid-19 Supervisor appointed by the Greek production company; the daily programmes must be approved by the supervisor. 
- Crew members must not deviate from the program, which has been specified in detail (sites to be visited, visit times, length of stay at each site, time of return, mode of travel, etc.). 
- Contact between foreign partners and the general public is not permitted. 
- During the conducting of preparatory tasks (location scouting, meetings between the artistic departments and other key members of the cast and crew), additional PCR tests should be carried out twice weekly for all crew members.
- In the case of preparatory tasks lasting more than a week, the PCR tests must be repeated for all employees on any audio-visual production every 72 hours, and repeated should symptoms appear, regardless of any COVID-19 infection or vaccination that may have preceded them. 
The above measures are indicative and cannot cover every possible situation; they must therefore be implemented in parallel with whatever broader measures are in force. For this reason, it is crucial to keep up-to-date with any relevant developments via the website of the National Public Health Agency at https://eody.gov.gr/neos-koronaios-covid-19/.
Everyone involved should demonstrate the requisite individual responsibility, thereby protecting both themselves and other people. Production companies in particular should take care to protect workers and to implement additional measures stemming from the particular features of a given site or visit, at their discretion. The permit application form is provided in an annex to this document. 
 
The General Secretary for Contemporary Culture 
Eleni Doundoulaki
Unofficial Translation by GREEK FILM CENTRE, Hellenic Film Commission 
31.03.21

 
The Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Greek Film Centre invite filmmakers to submit their projects to the “Thessaloniki Goes to Cannes” event that will take place this July during the Marché du Film of the 74th Festival de Cannes (July 6-16 2021).
 
The participation of the Agora at the "Thessaloniki Goes to Cannes" is a collaboration between Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Greek Film Centre in partnership with the Marché du Film of the Cannes Film Festival.  Greece is the only country in Southeastern Europe and the Balkans that participates in the event. Films that have participated in the past made significant contacts which led to deals with sales agents and festivals. Successful films that have been previously presented include: Apples by Christos Nikou, Winona by Alexandros Voulgaris, Defunct by Zacharias Mavroeidis, Dolphin Man by Lefteris Charitos, The Waiter by Steve Krikris, When Tomatoes Met Wagner by Marianna Economou,  Polyxeni by Dora Masklavanou. 
 
Five feature films in post-production stage (fiction and documentary) will be presented to the sales agents, distributors and programmers who attend this year’s Cannes’ Marché du Film, one of the world’s largest film markets, discovering up-and-coming directors from all over the world. The five selected producers will be granted with a Marché du Film accreditation.
 
►We are looking for feature fiction films and documentary features from Greece or minority co-production with Greece in post-production stage. 
Submission deadline is April 26.
 
Submission materials:
 
1.20-25 minutes of the film for the evaluation
2.Synopsis of 100 words in english
3.Logline in english (up to 2 lines)
4.Credits and country/countries of production
5.Genre of the film
6.Contact details
7.Estimated delivery date of the film
8.What you are looking for (distribution, sales agent, festival premiere etc)
9.Photos of the director, producer, film still
 
For more information about project submissions please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
29.01.21

HELLENIC REPUBLIC MINISTRY OF CULTURE & SPORTS
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL 
FOR CONTEMPORARY CULTURE
POSTAL ADDRESS: Bouboulinas 20-22
POSTAL CODE: 106 82 ATHENS
TELEPHONE: 2131322619
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
SUBJECT: GUIDELINES FOR SAFE FILM SHOOTS & SOUND RECORDINGS
Relevant documents:
[a] The guidelines issued by the National Public Health Protection Committee on 6 May 2020. [b] The section from the minutes of the 149th meeting (5.11.2020) of the National Public Health Protection Committee against the COVID-19 coronavirus.
[c] Joint Ministerial Decision Δ1α/Γ.Π.οικ. 69863/2.11.202071342/6.11.2020 (Β’ 48299)
This document is based on the guidelines and recommendations of the Hellenic Ministry of Health's Covid-19 Expert Committee and the "Public health security and protection from Covid-19 infection map” published at https://covid19.gov.gr/covid-map/. It provides guidance on how to stage rehearsals and performances safely.
This document replaces any previous document on this subject.
 
a. Authorization for film shoots and sound recordings
•Film shoots and sound recording sessions are allowed following the granting of permission by the General Secretariat for Civil Protection. Interested parties can send their authorization requests to this email address: press @civilprotection.gr. A form must be completed and sent along with the request; the form in question is attached to this document as an annex. More information on the authorization procedure may be obtained from the General Secretariat for Civil Protection, which can be contacted by telephone on the following numbers: 2131510978, -969, -176, -190 .
•In terms of personnel movements, requesting parties should also complete either a Type 1 Certificate or a Certificate for Personnel Movement via the ERGANI IT SYSTEM, available at https://forma.gov.gr/ 
 •Those responsible for the shoots/recording sessions must also ensure that all personnel take rapid tests on a weekly basis 
 
b. Filming / recording venues
•Indoor spaces must be kept well-ventilated. Only open-circuit air conditioners are permitted.
•Enclosed spaces must be disinfected using a 10:1 chlorine solution (meaning 9 parts water to one part chlorine) before and after every session. The same holds for the toilets. For surfaces which are likely to be damaged by the use of bleach (sodium hypochlorite), a 70% ethanol solution can be used.
Particular emphasis should be given to surfaces which are touched frequently, such as door knobs, on/off switches, handrails etc.
•Antiseptic alcohol solution (70%) must be on hand in all spaces used for film shoots, sound recordings etc.
•Hygiene rules must be applied in toilets, including:
oGood ventilation
oClosing the toilet lid before flushing
oThe use of paper or plastic disposable seat covers is desirable o Running water and soap, paper towels and a foot-operated waste bin should be provided
oWhere possible, equipment equipped with a photocell or foot switch (e.g. for the tap, soap dispenser) should be used
oHand driers should not be used o A line with places marked 1.5 metres apart should be in place for when queuing is required o Use of a non-medical mask
oIf the sinks have not been used in a long time, it is recommended that the hot water should be left to run for five minutes before the first use.
oShowers should not be used
•Calculations should be made to ensure that adequate space is provided in the changing and dressing rooms; changes of clothes should be restricted to the essential. If the space available is insufficient for everyone, it should either be used on a rota basis, or other available spaces should be used as additional changing/dressing rooms. The participants’ personal clothing should be kept in a sealed container.
Particular emphasis should be given to surfaces which are touched frequently, such as door knobs, on/off switches, handrails etc.
 
c. Conducting film shoots / sound recordings
•The 2-metre rule should be applied 
•The use of non-medical protective masks is obligatory during sound recordings as well as for all personnel involved in a film shoot, except for those participants appearing in each scene / performing on the recording
•The use of antiseptic alcoholic solution (70%) is recommended
•Special care should be taken with personnel who belong to vulnerable groups
•Personnel who manifest symptoms of illness must leave the venue immediately; under no circumstances should they fail to put on a mask before doing so.
•All equipment used should have been disinfected in the manner specified by the manufacturer prior to being placed in the venue
•If a scene requires actors to touch, the actors involved must disinfect their hands before and after the scene, and the contact should be kept as momentary as possible. 
 Also, scenes in which one actor has to touch the face of another actor should be avoided.
In relation to costumes, wigs, make-up, etc.:
oThese must only be used by the artists who wear them, and artists should dress themselves
oPersonal clothing should be stored sealed (see above) and costumes should be stored with individual covers. o Costumes should be steam-cleaned before and after use.
oPersonnel who work with costumes, hairdressing etc. should also be provided with sufficient work space for the 1.5 metre rule to be applied. o Ideally, artists should take care of their own make-up. Should that not be possible, a personal make-up kit should be used for each artist, while personal safety guidelines should be applied. The make-up station must be cleaned after each use. It is extremely important that the different make-up sets are kept separate. In practice, nothing must be shared. o Ideally, the hairdressing materials should not be shared, either
oProfessional hairdressers, make-up artists, wardrobe staff et al. will be required to wear gloves (which must be changed for each artist) and a non-medical mask every time they attend to an artist's appearance. Should the artist choose to attend to his/her own appearance, they should take on an advisory role and keep their distance.
In relation to orchestras and choirs o The choir members should maintain a 2-metre all-round gap from other members and wear a non-medical mask when they are not singing
oIn the case of woodwind instruments and drums, a 2-metre all-round gap should be maintained, while it is recommended that brass players use a special dense-weave silk-type fabric or transparent protective material to cover the bell and prevent the aerosol transmission of the virus.
oOn the use and cleaning of musical instruments, please refer to the most recent version of the guidelines issued by the General Secretary for Contemporary Culture for the safe operation of artistic training structures
oChoir/orchestra conductors are allowed to not wear a mask, so they can perform their roles, on condition that they remain at least 2 metres from the members of the choir/orchestra. More frequent rapid tests are recommended for conductors that for the other members of the choir/orchestra or, alternatively, the installation of an acrylic curtain in front of the conductor. O
•Only personnel whose presence is essential should attend film shoots / sound recordings. To the extent that it is feasible, shooting should take place to a flexible timetable in order to minimize the number of people present at any one time.
•To make tracing easier, it is recommended that arrivals and departures should be logged, along with any symptoms that manifest themselves
•Used cloth non-medical masks should be placed in plastic bags, washed at 60 degrees C, and ironed.
•Food breaks should take place in a venue where a minimum distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained and hygiene rules applied. The room, tables and chairs should be disinfected before each use. The food should come in individual servings wrapped in clingfilm. The food should be distributed by staff wearing protective gear (gloves, masks) so a queue does not form. Water, soft drinks, etc. should be distributed in individual sealed packaging. After eating, any left-overs should be placed in special airtight packaging and thrown away.
•Vehicles which carry staff should be disinfected daily, before and after the transfer.
•It is recommended that meetings take place via tele-conferencing or video, whenever possible.
The above measures are indicative and cannot cover every possible situation; they must therefore be implemented in parallel with whatever broader measures are in force. For this reason, it is crucial to keep up-to-date with any relevant developments via the website of the National Public Health Agency at https://eody.gov.gr/neos-koronaios-covid-19/.
Everyone involved should demonstrate the requisite individual responsibility, thereby protecting both themselves and other people. Production companies in particular should take care to protect workers and to implement additional measures stemming from the particular features of a given space or shoot, at their discretion.
 
The authorization form is available here.
 
Unofficial Translation by GREEK FILM CENTRE, Hellenic Film Commission 
 
09.11.20

Apples by Christos Nikou will be the Greek submission in the 93rd Academy Awards for the nominations in the category of Best international Feature Film, as announced by the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The film has been produced by the Greek production company Boo Productions (Dogtooth, Attenberg) and co-produced by the Polish production company Lava Films, the Musou Music Group and the Slovenian production company Perfo Productions. Apples is a co-production of the Greek Film Centre.
Apples has already been warmly received in international film festivals, such as the 77th Venice International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere, the 33rd Tokyo International Film Festival, the 33rd Tokyo Film Festival, the Telluride Film Festival and the 56th Chicago International Film Festival (where it was awarded the Silver Hugo-Best Screenplay award in the international feature film competition). The film is also competing in the 61st Thessaloniki International Film Festival (5-17/ 11/2020) in the International Competition section.
It is worth noting that Cate Blanchet supports the film as an executive producer, promoting it through Dirty Films production company.
Apples is a sensitive, humorous and visually interesting approach to the theme of identity in a dystopian world. The main character, who is depressed and suffering from amnesia, is in search of a new identity in order to fit in the community. Therefore, he is assigned routine tasks, which, as they are being carried out, seem to confuse him even more, since the new and unknown mingle with the familiar.
 
International Sales: Alpha Violet
 
 
 
22.05.20

HELLENIC REPUBLIC

MINISTRY OF CULTURE & SPORTS

GENERAL SECRETARY OF MODERN CULTURE OFFICE

Postal Address: Bouboulinas St. 20-22

Postal Code: Athens 106 82

Phone: 2131322619

FAX: 2108201434

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

SUBJECT: SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR FILMING IN GREECE

 

Rel: The May 6th 2020 guidelines by the National Committee for the Protection of Public Health.

 

In accordance to the above decisions, we inform you with the following:

The COVID-19 pandemic in Greece has shown a significant recession, but the risk of focal resurgence is always present as well as the possibility of a new epidemic wave. The return to the new normality will be done in small steps, with both individual and public health and safety in mind. Predictions of how long the measures will remain in effect are not easy to make. It will depend on both domestic and international epidemiological data, along with the course of the epidemiological curve.

This document is based on the instructions and recommendations of the Commission COVID-19 experts of the Ministry of Health and provides instructions for safe conduct during filming.

Filming may resume on May 18, as long as the epidemiological curve allows and according to the country's epidemiological data.

a. Filming locations

  • Interior spaces should be well ventilated. As for air conditioning, only open circuit air conditioners are allowed for use.
  • Interior spaces should be disinfected with a 10:1 chlorine solution, i.e. 9-parts water and 1-part chlorine, before and after each shoot. This also applies to sanitary facilities. For surfaces that are likely to be damaged by use of sodium hypochlorite, ethanol solution 70% can be used.

Particular emphasis should be given to surfaces that are frequently touched such as knobs, switches, handrails etc.

  • In the shooting and rehearsal spaces etc. an antiseptic alcoholic solution (70%) should be provided.
  • In sanitary facilities the following hygienic rules should be followed:

- Proper ventilation

- Closed toilet seat lid before flushing

- Use of paper or plastic disposable toilet seat covers is recommended

- Provision of running water, soap supplies, paper towels, foot pedal waste container

- Use equipment with a photoelectric cell or foot switch (e.g. for tap, soap) where ever possible

- Hand dryers should not be used

- Queue with distances of 1.5 meters

- Use of non-medical masks is recommended

- In case the wash-basins have been out of use for a long time, running hot water for 5 minutes before the first use is recommended.

-Showers should not be used

  • Adequate space in locker rooms and dressing rooms should be provided, and costume change should only be made when absolutely necessary. In case not adequate space is available for everyone, the area should be used either in rotation or other available areas should be used as additional locker rooms/ dressing rooms. Personal clothes of cast and crew should be kept in sealed bags.

b. During filming

  • The rule of 1.5 meters’ distance in open spaces and 2 meters’ distance in interior spaces should be kept.
  • It is recommended to both cast and crew to use a protective non-medical mask or face shield and an antiseptic alcohol solution (70%), both during rehearsal and throughout the shooting, apart from those actors who appear in each scene.
  • Special care should be taken for cast and crew belonging to vulnerable groups.
  • Anyone who develops symptoms should be immediately removed from set wearing a mask.
  • All equipment should be disinfected in the way indicated by the manufacturer before being brought into the set.
  • If during the rehearsal or shooting it is required for actors to touch, they should disinfect their hands before and after the scene, and their contact should be as brief as possible. Also, scenes where the actor must touch the face of another actor should be avoided.
  • About costumes, wigs, makeup etc.:

- These should be used exclusively by the artists who wear them, and artists should be dressed by themselves.

- Personal clothing should be kept in sealed bags (see above) and costumes should be kept in separate garment bags.

- Costumes should be steam cleaned before and after each use.

- Dressers, hairdressers, etc. should also have enough workspace so that the distance of 1.5 meters can be kept.

- Ideally, artists should take care of their own make-up. In case this is not possible, a personal make-up set should be used for each artist, while following the individual safety instructions. The make-up station must be cleaned after each use. It is extremely important that one set is far from the other. Practically, nothing should be in common.

- Ideally, hairdressing items should not be common either.

- Professional hairdressers, make-up artists, costume designers, etc. should wear disposable gloves (which they should change before attending to every artist), as well as a non-medical mask every time they take care of an artist's appearance. In case the artist chooses to take care of his/her own appearance, they will have an advisory role, keeping their distance.

  • Only the necessary cast and crew should be present during shooting. Shooting schedule should be as flexible as possible, so that people are not crowded together.
  • For easier tracking, it is recommended to monitor incoming- outgoing people during rehearsals, as well as any potential symptoms they may have.
  • Temperature check is not recommended as it does not perform well as precautionary measure against spreading.
  • Used non-medical fabric masks should be placed in plastic bags, washed at 60 degrees, and ironed.
  • Lunch break should be organized in a space where safety distance of at least 1.5 meters can be observed, along with the hygiene rules. The space, tables and chairs should be disinfected before each use. Food should come in individual portions, in transparent food wrap. It should be distributed by personnel wearing personal protective equipment (gloves, masks) to avoid queueing. Water, soft drinks, etc. should be distributed in individual sealed packages. After lunch break, waste should be placed in special sealed packages and discarded.
  • Vehicles carrying personnel should be disinfected daily, before and after transfer.
  • Auditions are recommended to take place as much as possible via video conference or videotape.

These measures are indicative. They cannot cover all possible cases and apply in parallel with the broader measures in force. For this reason, there must be constant monitoring of the relevant developments through the website of the National Public Health Organization: https://eody.gov.gr/neos-koronaios-covid-19/.

All parties involved should show the necessary individual responsibility, protecting themselves and other people. Production companies in particular should take every precaution to protect workers and take additional measures at their discretion which may be required due to specific features of a filming location or shoot.

Any additional details will be published in a relevant Joint Ministerial Decision that will follow.

General Secretary of Modern Culture

Nicholas Yatromanolakis

 

Exact Copy

Central Registry

MATSOUKA EFSTATHIA

________________________________________________________________

Unofficial Translation by the HELLENIC FILM COMMISSION

of the GREEK FILM CENTRE

    

21.11.19

Vote now for the nomination of the Hellenic Film Commission, ATHENS CITY

ΤΗΕ LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL

After the success of the second edition, where the island of Corfu in Greece was crowned best European Film location of 2018, EUFCN - the European Film Commissions Network announces the European Film Location Award 2019, created by EUFCN in collaboration with Cineuropa.

EUFCN consists of 96 members from 28 countries, which promote European locations and film industry.

This year as well each Film Commission member of the EUFCN had the opportunity to candidate a film location (a specific place used in films or TV Series in the last decade) from a film or TV Series shot between January and December 2018. All the movies and TV Series in competition needed to have an International distribution, meaning that needed to be distributed outside the Countries of origin.

The Hellenic Film Commission (HFC) of the Greek Film Centre (GFC) is pleased to announce that its nominated location is the city of Athens and the region of Attica, where the highly popular BBC TV Series produced by Ink Factory ΤΗΕ LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL directed by highly- acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook was filmed. The city of Athens is among the 10 finalists of the EUFCN Location Award 2019. Part of ΤΗΕ LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL have been filmed in Athens and the outskirts of the region of Attica, city of Elefsina, cultural capital of Europe of 2020 and city of Kinetta. The Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon, UNESCO protected monuments of Greece, where among the shooting locations.

“It has been an incredible experience to film ‘The Little Drummer Girl’ in the very locations de-scribed in John le Carré’s book. The immense privilege of shooting at such historically and cultur-ally important places such as the Acropolis or Temple of Poseidon cannot be understated. Greece, as the birthplace of Western drama, offers filmmakers a canvas of unique resonance and, for me, it is the perfect place to tell the story of Charlie (Pugh)”, says director Park Chan-wook, describing his experience of filming in Greece.

From November 14th until December 30th the audience has the chance to vote for the best location from among the 10 in the shortlist, by simply filling in the online form available on www.cineuropa.com - for ATHENS:

https://cineuropa.org/en/felaindex/380516/

And that’s not all: from among all the voters, EUFCN and Cineuropa will pick a winner who will have the chance to visit the winning location. The winner will benefit from 2 nights of accommodation for 2 people, which will be offered and used in agreement with the film commission of that area. We would be glad to host you in Athens.

Vote here

https://cineuropa.org/en/felaindex/380516/

More info about the EUFCN here: www.eufcn.com

More info about the Hellenic Film Commission here (https://www.filmcommission.gr/)

More info about LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL filming in Greece here

https://www.filmcommission.gr/hfcnews/tldg-wraps-filming-in-greece/

12.07.19

THE TRIP TO GREECE

In early summer 2019 Michael Winterbottom, the world-renowned and multi award-winning British film director, comes back to Greece to shoot the Sky One TV series The Trip to Greece choosing Greece as a filming destination for the second time within a year after he shot here his latest feature film titled Greed in autumn 2018.It isthe fourth part of the critically acclaimed TV series (The Trip, The Trip to Italy, The Trip to Spain) that gained worldwide recognition on the BBC (The Trip & The Trip to Italy) & Sky Atlantic (The Trip to Spain). The Trip series are also popular feature films in the US, Australia, and many other worldwide territories and have premiered in various international film festivals including Toronto Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.

It stars two of the most recognizable actors in the UK: Steve Coogan (BAFTA nominated for his portrayal of Stan Laurel in Stan & Ollie) and Rob Brydon (BAFTA nominated Actor & Comedian known for UK Productions such as Gavin & Stacey, Would I lie to you, Marion & Geoff).

The Trip to Greece takes as its inspiration Homer’s Odyssey and Odysseus’ journey back home to his family in Ithaca. The actors play fictionalized versions of themselves as they go on a six-day trip around the beautiful country of Greece. Being a culinary and cultural road trip, the aim of The Trip to Greeceis to show the actors enjoying some of the best that Greece has to offer in terms of culture, food and hospitality.  

The project includes a lot of shooting in archaeological sites such as the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Ancient Agora of Athens, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, the unique island of Hydra, the Caves of Diros, Nestor’s Palace, Niokastro Fortress in Pylos, and Ancient Stagira, as well as a lot of shooting in restaurants and hotels in Athens, Hydra, Lesvos, Chalkidiki, Pelion, Kavala, and at the Peloponnese.

In each site issues such as the history of Athens and the development of Acropolis, Democracy and the idea of the Polis and the city-state in Greece, as well as the history and origin of Drama, Tragedy and Comedy will be discussed.

What Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon have to say about the comedies of Aristophanes and the great tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides along their way? About the Temple of Apollo, the functioning of the Oracle and the importance of The Pythia over the course of 1000 years of Greek history? About Democracy vs Tyranny? About Plato’s account of the death of Socrates? About the Athenian and the Peloponnese war?

The Trip to Greece is a Sky original andwill be shown on Sky One in the UK and will be released as a feature film worldwide in 2020. Produced by Melissa Parmenter & Josh Hyams, the production companies are Revolution films, Baby Cow and SmallMan Productions. International sales of the film are handled by Tristan Whalley at Goalpost. Distribution in Greece will be through Filmtrade.

The Location Manager for The Trip to Greece is Eleni Fanariotou (her company is Fixer in Greece). The crew consists of 5 core Greek crew members and 15 crew members from the UK.

The Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre attended the shoot at the Ancient Agora of Athens, and had the chance to get interesting quotes about the experience of filming in Greece.

“We discussed where we would go after Spain and Italy and Greece came up because of the obvious very rich Greek mythology and philosophy. But, also because of modern politics there’s another dynamic now. Some people in the UK find something inspiring in this challenge in the status quo, challenging the way things have always been. Rob and I play with the idea of who we are. We will be talking about each other and self-indulgent stuff like who we fancy etc. It’s a vehicle for Rob and I to explore ourselves as middle-aged men in middle life crisis and also the culture and mood of another country. And in Greece we want to look at Democracy, Greek mythology, Greek philosophy, the politics of modern Greece -which is interesting in regards to Europe -, and also Britain’s relationship to Europe. We ask big questions, but also the simple questions in life in relation to the big questions. And we eat real food in the restaurants, from very high-end menu to simple restaurants; it’s an exploration of the culinary side of Greece”, Steve Coogan starring The Trip to Greece commented to Venia Vergou, Director of the Hellenic Film Commission.

“Spending a month in Greece was the most magical experience and we saw so much of it! The beauty and variety of the landscape, the food, the incredible cultural heritage and the wonderful crystal clear seas. I’ll never forget my time there”, Rob Brydon starring The Trip to Greece stated to Hellenic Film Commission.

“Venia and the whole team at the Hellenic Film Commission have worked tirelessly alongside our wonderful Location Manager Eleni Fanariotou of Fixer In Greece, and the Ministry of Culture and Sports and Ministry of Digital Policy, to help us secure all our permits for such incredible archaeological sites here in Greece - we are very grateful and thrilled to have had such wonderful support”, notes Melissa Parmenter, PRODUCER

The Hellenic Film Commission of the Greek Film Centre supported The Trip to Greece by providing guidance to the production company and by facilitating the filming permits for the archaeological sites requested for filming by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports.