Athens will be hosting the European Film Awards ceremony in 2027, the European Film Academy and the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (HFAC) – Creative Greece announced on Wednesday.
This will be the first time the awards travel to Southeastern Europe.
The ceremony will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC). The customary “Mayor’s Night” reception will be held on the eve of the ceremony at the Zappeion Megaron.
“Athens welcomes one of the most iconic events in European cinema. This confirms Athens’ dynamism as an international cultural hub, hosting events of global significance, serving as a vibrant nucleus of the contemporary creative industry, and boosting the extroversion of domestic audiovisual production,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni.
Minister Mendoni went on to add that it also highlights the high-quality work of Greek creators and demonstrates that culture can be both “a good and a product”.
Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos (L-R), Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo and Ramy Youssef pose with the award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy award for ‘Poor Things’, and Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for ‘Poor Things’ at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California on January 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni
Also commenting on the news, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said the Greek capital was “rightfully recognized as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2024 at the World Travel Awards, adding that the Athens Film Office facilitates international and domestic film productions, which “find in our magnificent monuments, unique neighborhoods, and the unparalleled vibes of our city the ideal setting to shoot their films”.
On his part, European Film Academy CEO and Director Matthijs Wouter Knol said Greece was the “perfect backdrop” to celebrate the achievements of European cinema thanks to its rich cultural heritage and profound cinematic history.
Ahead of the 39th European Film Awards, Athens will also be participating in the annual “Month of European Film”, featuring a series of events and retrospectives.
In the last few decades, Greek film productions have achieved international acclaim.
Recently, Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos broke new ground winning BAFTA, Oscar and Golden Globe awards for his works. His 2018 film “The Favorite” won an Academy Award, seven Bafta Awards, and and a Golden Globe, while last year, “Poor Things” won four Oscars, five Bafta Awards, and two Golden Globes.
As co-organizer, the HFAC-Creative Greece, heading the Greek consortium consisting of the Culture, Tourism, and Economy and Finance ministries, the City of Athens, the Region of Attica, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT, will be organizing events and actions to promote Greek and European cinema in the 12 months ahead of the award ceremony.
A detailed program will be announced in the first weeks of 2026.
