After a busy four weeks with nearly 40 new film premieres, two major highlights stand out at the beginning of this new cinematic season: the Athens International Film Festival (running from October 2-14) and the release of Todd Phillips’ latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux.

Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)

While audience reactions are mixed, critics agree that Joker: Folie à Deux, the sequel to the 2019 box office hit, deconstructs the once heroic image of Arthur Fleck. In this film, Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix) is no longer a larger-than-life anti-hero but a sad, skin-and-bones figure about to stand trial for his crimes—a trial certain to become a media spectacle. With his fate hanging on the question of whether he is insane enough to avoid the death penalty, Arthur finds not only true love but also the music within him.

Director: Todd Phillips
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz
Language: English
IMDB rating: 5.4/10
Production country: United States
Where to watch: Cine Aegli open-air cinema, Cine Athinaia, Elli cinema, Cine Panathinea, Cine War Museum, Greek Film Archive, Cine Thision, Mirkokosmos cinema, Cine Paris, Cine Athinaion, Ellinis Cinemax, Cine Filothei, Cinemax (Nirvana, Kifissia, Aello, Nana), Aigli 3D digital, Cine Alexandra ,Amarylis Garden Digital Cinema, Options Open Air cinema Smart Park,  Artemis municipa cinema, Cine Pallini, Aliki digital cinema, Cine Mpomponiera, Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis), Cine Alsos, Tria Asteria 3D digital cinema, Electra cinema, Trianon cinema, Attikon Grove summer cinema, Aleka municipal cinema, Arcadia cinema, Cine Elize, Cine Daphne, Cine Argyroupoli, Cine Garden, Cine Flery, Cine Floisvos, Sporting digital cinema, Anoixi Art cinema, Lampros Konstantaras movie theater, Cine Peran, Foivos digital cinema, WestCity cinemas, Cine Arian, Cine Varkiza, Options Cinemas (Ilion, Glyfada), Cine Marilena, Ria digital cinema, Galazia Akti, Koralli cinemax, Cine Kekrops, Cine Votsalakia,Dream Cinema (Rentis), Mun. Cinema Cineac, Cine Selini, Cine Paradisos, Sissy digital cinema, Cine Mariel, Cine Oropos

Buffalo Kids (2024) (Dubbed Animation)

This family-friendly adventure follows two Irish orphans traveling across America by train. Along their journey, they encounter both heroes and villains, form an extraordinary friendship, and face dangerous adventures as they search for a new home.

Director: Pedro Solís García, Juan Jesús García Galocha
Cast: Alisha Weir, Gemma Arterton, Sean Bean, Stephen Graham
Language: Dubbed in Greek
IMDB rating: 7/10
Production country: Spain
Where to watch: Village cinemas (The Mall, Pangrati, Metro Mall, Rentis), Cinemax (Nirvana, Aello, Nana), Tria Asteria 3D digital cinema, Cine Philip, Lampros Konstantaras movie theater, Foivos digital cinema, WestCity cinemas, Option cinemas (Ilion, Glyfada), Cine Varkiza, Orfeas dolby digital, Municipal cinema Cineac

In Re-Release

13 Roses ( Las 13 Rosas 2007)

13 Roses is a Spanish-Italian historical drama based on the true story of “Las Trece Rosas,” thirteen young women executed by Francoist forces in 1939, shortly after the Spanish Civil War. The film captures their poignant tale of innocence and tragic fate.

Director: Emilio Martínez-Lázaro
Cast: Pilar López de Ayala, Verónica Sánchez, Marta Etura, Nadia de Santiago, Gabriella Pession
Félix Gómez, Fran Perea, Enrico Lo Verso, Asier Etxeandia, Alberto Ferreiro, Adriano Giannini
Goya Toledo
Language: Spanish (with Greek subtitles)
IMDB rating: 6.7/10
Production countries: Italy, Spain
Where to watch: Cine Athenee, Studio New Star art cinema

AIFF 30th Edition: “Tributes”

The renowned Athens International Film Festival (AIFF) is celebrating its 30th anniversary, with screenings running until October 14. While many of the Opening Screenings and premieres are already sold out, don’t miss the chance to explore the festival’s special screenings and tributes.

AIFF pays tribute to Akira Kurosawa, showcasing 13 masterpieces by the legendary Japanese director, supported by the Embassy of Japan and M/Maritime. Additionally, the festival honors British cinema of the 1980s with its special tribute, This is England, featuring British cinematic gems from the era.

Still frame from the film “Wish you Were Here”.

For more information on the festival, special screenings, and tribute schedules, check the festival’s official pages:

If you’re looking for more cinematic options, you can browse To Vima’s weekly posts on Athens’s Cinema releases.