HONORING SOPHIA LOREN: AN HYDRA ICON
In 1956, Italian icon Sophia Loren arrived on the shores of Hydra to star in Greece’s first Hollywood film - Boy on a Dolphin.
Sophia stayed on the island for 39 days, during which she fell in love with Hydra, and with her future husband, Carlo Ponti.
It marked the beginning of her international career, and through the film, Hydra’s beauty was shared with the world.
On this special weekend gathering, we honour Sophia Loren.
“It was a beautiful, euphoric moment for me.
I will never forget Hydra”- Sophia Loren
CINEMA
NIGHTLY PREMIERE SCREENINGS
Our surprise opening night film - like all six feature films in our program apart from our Sophia Loren classics - will be fresh from the film festival circuit and followed by thought-provoking Q&As with the filmmakers. Screenings will take place under the stars at Hydra’s beloved open-air Gardenia cinema, as well as at other cherished locations across the island.
We’re thrilled to welcome back ArtCinema alumnus Oliver Bruck, who returns with a screening of his feature documentary Mirella. The film explores the extraordinary life of 93-year-old Kenyan-Italian photographer Mirella Ricciardi, known for her acclaimed 1971 book Vanishing Africa, that captured the people and landscapes of the continent with striking intimacy. We also hope to present an accompanying exhibition of her work.
We’re also excited to present the world premiere of our new documentary, Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of a Dolphin, which features Hydriots sharing their own stories of Sophia Loren’s iconic visit to the island in 1956.
We are deeply grateful to our industry friends and film patrons who help us curate this world-class weekend of cinema. The full program will be announced in the coming weeks, aside from our surprise opening night.
SPECIAL EVENT:
BOY ON A DOLPHIN
ArtCinema presents a series of private events and immersive experiences celebrating the spirit of cinema.
Our Sophia Loren tribute evening is a special community celebration, where invited guests join locals to recreate the magic of Sophia Loren’s iconic taverna scene from Boy on a Dolphin, filmed at Hydra’s Sunset Restaurant. Loren’s performance of “Τι είναι αυτό που το λένε αγάπη” (What is this that they call Love?) and Hugo Friedhofer’s Oscar-nominated score remain cinematic milestones.
The evening begins with “Cinema & Souvlaki,” featuring live music, taverna dining, the world premiere of the short documentary Hydra & Sophia - sharing untold local stories from the time - and a new 4K screening of Boy on a Dolphin, Sophia Loren’s English-language debut, where she stars as a sponge diver’s daughter torn between two men and a legendary treasure.
The film was an adventure romance film from 20th Century Fox and was based on the 1955 novel of the same name by David Divine.
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SPECIAL PRESENTATION OF MS. LOREN AS HONOURARY CITIZEN OF HYDRA
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SPECIAL SCREENING OF RESTORED 4K BOY ON A DOLPHIN & EVENING CELEBRATIONS
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SHORT DOCUMENTARY TRIBUTE "ECHOES OF THE DOLPHIN" FEATURING HYDRIOT MEMORIES
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NEW PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION OF STILLS FROM FILM
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GATHERINGS AT ORIGINAL FILM LOCATIONS
WORLD PREMIERE: HYDRA & SOPHIA
AN AI-ENHANCED DOCUMENTARY
Hydra & Sophia: Echoes of a Dolphin is an experimental short documentary, filmed entirely on location in Hydra in June 2025. This film uniquely blends local community memories with cutting-edge AI-driven technology to digitally recreate Hydra of the 1950s - capturing the sights, sounds, and spirit of the era when Sophia Loren filmed Boy on a Dolphin.
We are thrilled to announce the ArtCinema Hydra world premiere of our first original production — a film project commissioned by ArtCinema’s Amanda Palmer and brought to life in collaboration with Greek director and creative visionary Antonis Sotiropoulos, alongside his producing partner, Georgia Andreou.
The film explores those 39 unforgettable days in 1956 when Sophia Loren came to Hydra and the documentary became a true community experience, with local residents and legends contributing personal stories, archival materials, and music performances.
In a unique artistic approach, the production employs AI-driven tools to digitally reconstruct Hydra in the 1950s, blending advanced technology with living memory to evoke the textures, sounds, and spirit of that time. To honor Hydra’s vibrant community, locals will be warmly invited to join this special tribute and celebratory premiere screening during our weekend gathering.
SOPHIA LOREN IN THREE FILMS
ArtCinema presents three incredible Sophia Loren films, celebrating an icon who once said, “I’ve always tried to play women with a strong character.”
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BOY ON A DOLPHIN
Sophia plays a sponge diver’s daughter who finds a treasure and is torn between two men: one who wants to sell it, and one who wants to donate it to Greece.
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TWO WOMEN
Sophia Loren received the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1962 for her performance in "Two Women", a role that had her drawing on her own experiences growing up in wartorn Italy. She was the first actor to win an Oscar for a non-English language role.
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THE LIFE AHEAD
Honoring the continued artistry of Ms. Loren’s career as well as the outstanding creative vision of director Edoardo Ponti, who is Sophia Loren and Carlo Ponti’s son.