Following the groundbreaking success of independent filmmaker Sean Baker at this year’s Academy Awards—where his latest film Anora claimed five Oscars—independent cinema continues to thrive. This week, Athens proudly hosts the 3rd edition of the international independent film festival, KINO Athens, running until March 9.

Held across  major venues—Technopolis City of Athens, the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, BIOS Romantso, and the French Institute of Athens—film enthusiasts can experience a carefully curated lineup of international independent films.

Hailed as a “home to conceptually provocative films” that challenge audiences, this year’s KINO Athens features competitive sections for both International and National feature and short films, a Special Screenings section, screenings of candidate films for the Lux Audience Award 2025, a tribute to Greek-French cinema (Grec Focus), and much more.

Still frame from the film “Perfumed with mint” competing in the International Competition Feature section.

All films at KINO Athens will be screened with both English and Greek subtitles.

KINO Athens 2025 Highlights

International Competition for Feature Films

Still frame from the feature film “Moon”.

Kicking off today, March 4, and running until March 8, the International Competition for Feature Films showcases 10 outstanding international films at Technopolis City of Athens.

Find the full list of films along with screening dates and times here.

National Competition for Feature Films

Another key section of KINO Athens, the National Competition for Feature Films, also launches today at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation and runs until March 6. This year’s competition presents three Greek films, spotlighting national talent.

As Nina Veligradi, Creative Director of the festival, notes: “Since its inception, one of KINO Athens’ primary objectives has been to enhance the visibility of Greek cinema, both domestically and internationally, recognizing the unique contributions of its creators—whether newcomers or seasoned professionals—within the framework of an independence we collectively share and aspire to promote.”

Grec Focus: A Tribute to Greek-French Cinema

Still frame from the film “Seaweed in your hair”.

In collaboration with the French Institute of Athens, the tribute “Grec Focus” will showcase five remarkable films celebrating Greek-French cinema. Screenings will take place at the Romantso venue on March 6.

Find detailed film descriptions and screening times here.

Still frame from the film “Boomerang”

Lux Audience Award 2025

Officially organized by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, the Lux Audience Award supports European cinema and promotes cultural diversity. The award is determined through public and European Parliament member votes cast on a special online platform.

While this year’s winner will be announced in April, five nominated films will be screened free of charge during KINO Athens from March 5-9 at Technopolis Athens.

View the candidate films and their screening schedule here.

KINO Junior: Independent Cinema for Young Audiences

KINO Junior makes a strong return this year from March 4-7 at Technopolis City of Athens. Featuring 30 films from 15 different countries, the program is specially curated for age groups 3+, 6+, 9+, and 12+. Most films will be presented in national premieres, reflecting the unique interests, challenges, and aspirations of young audiences.

The initiative aims to strengthen the connection between cinema and children’s experiences at school, at home, and in their daily lives.

Closing Film

The 3rd edition of  KINO ATHENS will conclude this year at Technopolis City of Athens on March 9, 2025, featuring the Greek premiere of Andrei Ujica’s 2024 Things We Said Today, a documentary portraying The Beatles’ arrival in New York for a sold-out concert at Shea Stadium.

As every year, the closing ceremony will include the awards presentation for the national and international short and feature film competitions.

Find more information on KINO Junior here.

For the full KINO Athens 2025 program, please click here.