Screenings, speeches, interactive performances and even a feast took place -day and night- from 21st to 23rd April at the Elefsina Labour Union Building (EKEDA) and on Pagalou Street entitled Mystery 84 Panigíri (on the feast of St. George).
This three-day cinematographic marathon was set up, in the framework of 2023 Eleusis, by Syllas Tzoumerkas with co-curator and cultural practitioner Maria Chatzichristodoulou (aka Maria X) and the film critic and programmer Lorenzo Esposito, with the collaboration of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and The Live Art Development Agency of London.
The directors Syllas Tzoumerkas and Elke Margarete joined the festival of Saint George (patron Saint of Elefsina) and in between traditional dances, the litany, the Municipality’s Philharmonic Orchestra, the vendors, the sound of bells, the fireworks and the Balkan rhythms of Agia Fanfara, they allowed the reality to take part in their films. For the first time in filmmaking, the filmmakers attempted to lose control rather than impose it, placing set scenes in a real-life situation and including the reactions of pedestrians who did not know beforehand what would happen.
In a third room, the audience was thrilled by the two virtual reality performances presented by the famous British team ZU-UK, for the first time in Greece, in Elefsina. A delightful match making interaction and a bedtime simulation that awakens childhood memories were the main themes of this interdisciplinary group.
From Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon the audience attended in real time the editing process – the utmost secret of the filmmaking process – with the films being ” cooked ” on the spot, in order to be premiered in a first presentation on Sunday evening.
The two short films shot in just two days with the city of Elefsina as the setting are:
“Mothers and Daughters”
by Elke Lehrenkrauss
Cast: Alexandra Psarrakou, Eleni Karagiorgis, Christina Kypraiou, Marianna, Bozantzoglou, Niki Papandreou, Zoe Sigalou, Aeneas Tsamatis, Miltos Tsiantos.
Directed by Elke Lehrenkrauss
Co-directed by Youla Boudali
Photography direction by Konrad Waldmann
Editing by Leonidas Papafotiou
Sound: Nikos Exarchos
Casting: Cleopatra Ampatzoglou
1st director assistant: Rinio Dragasaki
“My Mother is a Saint”
by Syllas Tzoumerkas
Cast: Angeliki Papoulia, Jacopo Olmo Antinori, Leonidas Stamos, Argyris Lambrou, Artemis Zarokosta, Vassilis Kanakis Eleni Karagiorgi, Anastasia Anagnostopoulou, Niki Papandreou.
Written/Directed by Syllas Tzoumerkas
Photography direction by Alexandra Riba
Editing by Giorgos Zafiris
Stage design by Penelope Vladis
Costumes: Marli Aliferi
Make-up by Evi Zafeiropoulou
Sound: Dimitris Kanellopoulos
Casting: Cleopatra Ampatzoglou
1st director assistant: Nikos Kolioukos
The Mystery 84 Panigíri was held:
In collaboration with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and The Live Art Development Agency – LADA.
With the support of the Italian Embassy, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Gothe-Institut Athens and the Kingston School of Arts.
Production Management: Delta Pi
Commissioned – Produced by: 2023 Eleusis – European Capital of Culture
The Mystery 84 Panigíri, as well as all the activities of 2023 Eleusis, is dedicated to Despina Geroulanou, the “soul” of the European Capital of Culture, who was the joy of living.
Φωτογραφίες: Γιάννης Κουσκούτης
