CLOSING FILM

The Summer With Carmen – by Zacharias Mavroeidis

Sunday, March 24th 2024, 8:00 p.m., Hall 1, main actor Yorgos Tsiantoulas present, Q&A after the screening

+ Award ceremony with the jury and nominated directors present before the film

-> Tickets here!

While enjoying a day at Athens’ queer beach, 30-something Demosthenes offers to help his bestie and aspiring filmmaker Nikitas in drafting an idea for his feature debut, inspired by the events surrounding a certain dog named Carmen. Two summers ago, Demosthenes was stuck in Athens dealing with his father’s health issues. This served as an excuse for him to reach out to his ex, Panos. Meanwhile, Panos got the overly cute Carmen, something he soon regretted. Likewise, Demosthenes seems to have regretted breaking up with Panos. Or maybe not? Struggling to transform real events into a hero’s journey, the two friends question the no.1 rule of scriptwriting theory – the hero that changes – while turning a page in their long-lasting friendship.

Zacharias Mavroeidis

Zacharias Mavroeidis studied architecture in Thessaloniki, theater in Madrid, scriptwriting in Cuba and filmmaking in Athens. He is a Berlinale and Sarajevo Talents alumni. His debut feature, The Guide, screened in Thessaloniki IFF and in LGBTQ film festivals around the world. His sophomore feature, Defunct, won the Young Jury and the Audience Award in the International Competition of Thessaloniki IFF and the Best Film Award in KineNova IFF 2020. He is currently participating in Cinekid Script LAB, developing his first novel, Nine Lives Left, as a feature animation film for young audiences. Since 2022, he serves as General Secretary at the BoD of the Hellenic Film Academy. He wrote the script of The Summer With Carmen together with first-time writer and best friend Xenofon Chalatsis. The film won the first prize in Agora Works In Progress of Thessaloniki IFF 2022.