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.

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.

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.

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.

A surprise screening at Gardenia Open-Air Cinema, featuring talks from our American guest Poet John L. Holgerson, joined by beloved Hydriot and Poet, Giannis Gavalas.

An ageing poet finds purpose mentoring a gifted teen. Though exposing his own failed pursuits may come at a cost.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Following the Cinema & Souvlaki programme in Kamini, guests returned to Gardenia Open-Air Cinema for one final late-night screening at Hydra Port.

Luc Besson’s dramatic reimagining of Dracula brought Closing Night to an atmospheric cinematic conclusion.

Australian virtuoso guitarist, composer, & music producer delivered a passionate live performance of his at the time, un-released ablum Like The Night Itself at Hydra’s Old Carpet Factory recording studio.

World-acclaimed Greek percussionist Alekos Roupas delivered an incredible performance at ArtCinema’s Cinema and Souvlaki community event reminding us of the power of movement and rhythm ahead of our film screenings.

Julija Kasteluči presented a two-minute intimate one-person-at-a-time performance at Melina Mercuri Hall. Her performance work spans the fields of time and spatial art through sonic, visual, and written forms.

Hydra’s father-and-son musicians, Giannis and Panagiotis Gavalas, together with local Makis Saratis, shared their love for the music of Boy on a Dolphin and Hydra’s traditional songs at this year’s Tribute evening.

For the past 30 years, John L. Holgerson has resided for at least a month or two each year in Hydra, writing poetry and reflecting. He returns to Hydra as an ArtCinema Patron to co-host our Poetic Morning of Readings.

Our special guest director of Dirty Boy, Doug Roa also unveiled an exlusive 40-minute excerpt for guests of his one-man play in development, A Veteran of Troy, at the Gardenia Open-Air Cinema on Saturday 4 October.

Hydra Music Club joined us for our Boy On A Dolphin Tribute evening, presenting a special interpretation of Ti Einai Afto Pou To Lene Agapi (What Is This Thing Called Love?), composed by Takis Morakis for the original film.

Opening Night began with a reception at Lazaros Koundouriotis Mansion overlooking Hydra Port, where ArtCinema members and guests gathered for an evening of conversation, hospitality and live classical music.

Giannis Gavalas co-hosted our Poetic Morning of Readings alongside John L. Holgerson, presenting work from his latest poetry collection with English translations provided by Greek poet Michelle Houwers.

Members of local dance group Hydra Dance Days joined our Boy on a Dolphin Tribute evening with a special performance celebrating Greek music, movement and culture.