DRACULA: A LOVE STORY
Luc Besson’s dramatic reimagining of Dracula brought Closing Night to an atmospheric cinematic conclusion
Gardenia Open-Air Cinema | Sunday 5 October 2025
Following the Cinema & Souvlaki programme in Kamini Port, guests returned to Gardenia for one final late-night screening in Hydra Port.
When a 15th-century prince denounces God after the loss of his wife he inherits an eternal curse: he becomes Dracula. Condemned to wander the centuries, he defies fate and death, guided by a single hope - to be reunited with his lost love.
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Director: Luc Bession
Writers: Luc Besson, Bram Stoker
Cinematographer: Colin Wandersman
Editor: Lucas Fabiani
Cast: Caleb Landry Jones, Christoph Waltz, Zoë Bleu
Running Time: 130 minutes
Rating: R
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Bun Tikki
Our Opening Night Greek premier of this contemporary Indian film was presented by writer/director Faraz Arif Ansari with leading actor Abhay Deol.
Bun Tikki presents an emotional story about self-discovery, societal challenges and a single parent trying to understand their child.
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Dirty Boy
Our second Opening Night film was presented by director Doug Rao, with actors Stan Steinbichler and Ava Merson-O’Brien who joined audiences for a live Q&A.
Raised in an oppressive cult, a reclusive schizophrenic is framed for ritualistic murders and must prove his innocence.
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Boy On A Dolphin Tribute
Our Boy on a Dolphin tribute transformed Mandraki Beach into an open-air cinema at one of the film’s original locations.
Local performances and special guests accompanied the premiere of Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of the Dolphin. The evening concluding with a 4K restoration of the 1957 classic.
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Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of the Dophin
ArtCinema’s first original production premiered at our Boy on a Dolphin Tribute at Mandraki Beach preceding the main feature.
A combining local stories, archival material and AI enhanced visuals, it explores how the 1957 Hollywood film connected Sophia Loren and Hydra to international cinema.
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A Poet
A surprise screening at Gardenia Open-Air Cinema, featuring talks from our American guest John L. Holgerson, joined by local Hydriot ship captain turned poet, Giannis Gavalas.
An ageing poet finds purpose mentoring a gifted teen. Though exposing his own failed pursuits may come at a cost.
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Cinema & Souvlaki
Our Cinema & Souvlaki community event returned in 2025, bringing local flavours, international cinema and audiences of all ages together in a welcoming open-air setting.
Featuring animated shorts from ANIMASYROS, Paweł Pawlikowski’s Muse, and family feature Pets on a Train to close the evening.
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Animasyros Family Shorts
During our Cinema & Souvlaki community evening at Kamini Port, ANIMASYROS founder Vassilis Karamitsanis presented animated short films curated for children and families.
Drawn from the festival’s 2025 international programme, the screening celebrated the art of animation.
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Muse
Screened at our Cinema & Souvlaki community event, where we transform the sacred Kamini Port into a vibrant open-air cinema experience.
We presented Pawel Pawlikowski’s short film about the give and take of the creative struggle. Harmony dissolves into a battle of wills between a master pianist and his temperamental muse.
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Pets On A Train
The family feature film of our Cinema & Souvlaki evening at Kamini Port.
When a crew of animal bandits embark on a routine swindle, they find themselves caught up in a train heist. It's up to Falcon, a petty thief raccoon, and Rex, a righteous police-dog, to save the animals on this high-speed runaway train.
