32nd Athens International Film Festival

Returning for its 32nd edition, the Athens International Film Festival (Premiere Nights) signals the start of the autumn cinematic season with 12 days of high-profile premieres, international discoveries, and restored classics. The festival opens with Jordan Firstman's proudly queer New York comedy-drama Club Kid and wraps up with Martin McDonagh's anticipated Wild Horse Nine, featuring an ensemble cast that includes John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom Waits, and Parker Posey.

This year's programme stands out with major festival hits and star-led premieres, including Lance Oppenheim's Primetime starring Robert Pattinson, Ira Sachs's The Man I Love starring Rami Malek, and award-winning titles fresh from Cannes and Berlin. A major centerpiece of the edition is "Poetic Justice," a comprehensive retrospective dedicated to South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong. Adding to the excitement, director Yorgos Lanthimos serves as a guest curator, presenting a hand-picked selection of influential films for local cinephiles, including rare screenings of cult classics like Wanda and Welcome to the Dollhouse.

In an ambitious new partnership with Release Athens, the festival bridges cinema and music at Floyd Live Music Venue, hosting a screening of James Bidgood’s 1971 landmark Pink Narcissus accompanied by an original live electronic score performed by famous Greek music genius K. Vita. Audiences can also look forward to a new Pulp documentary, a full restored screening of Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 film The Devils, and a vibrant competition section. Screenings will take place across the city’s favorite historic picture houses and major cultural institutions, including Astor, Danaos, Trianon, Onassis Stegi, Olympia Municipal Music Theatre "Maria Callas", and The Athens Concert Hall.