Two panel discussions on independent filmmaking, contemporary culture and the challenges of 2030-The two meetings will bring together filmmakers, scientists and cultural professionals, opening up a meaningful dialogue about the role of cinema in contemporary society. From the search for a renewed European cultural identity to environmental responsibility and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, AIDFF highlights the power of the moving image to raise questions, broaden our understanding and create new perspectives for thought and action.In a rapidly changing world, cinema is more than a form of art and entertainment. It can serve as a space for freedom, critical thinking, cultural encounter and a meaningful re-examination of our relationship with humanity, society and the natural environment.
1. Can Independent Cinema Give Europe Back Its Gaze?
Sunday, 6 December 2026 | 17:00–19:00
European cinema has historically been one of the most important spaces for shaping Europe's cultural consciousness. Through different languages, aesthetics, historical experiences and social realities, filmmaking has given a voice to individuals and communities, highlighted contradictions and conflicts, and contributed to the formation of a complex, pluralistic European identity.
Today, at a time when digital platforms, the concentration of production and distribution, new technologies and artificial intelligence are radically transforming the cinematic landscape, a crucial question emerges: Can independent cinema preserve the freedom of artistic expression and offer Europe a renewed opportunity to look at itself and the world?
The discussion will explore the opportunities and challenges facing independent filmmakers, the need for meaningful support for artistic pluralism, the relationship between filmmaking and new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and the importance of preserving a personal, authentic and independent cinematic vision.
It will also address issues concerning filmmakers' access to audiences, alternative models of production and distribution, the place of experimental and hybrid cinema, and the opportunities offered by the digital age for the emergence of new cinematic languages.
The discussion takes on particular significance in view of the European Film Awards ceremony in Athens in January 2027, providing an opportunity for broader reflection on the present and future of European cinema.
The question concerns more than the future of a film industry. It concerns Europe's ability to preserve its cultural diversity, encourage artistic boldness and defend filmmakers' right to propose different ways of seeing and understanding reality.
Participants
Christos N. Karakasis
Film and theatre director, producer, author and Artistic Director of AIDFF. His creative and cultural work is closely connected with independent cinema, the promotion of new cinematic forms and the organisation of initiatives that encourage dialogue between art and contemporary society.
Vasiliki Kappa
Writer, visual artist and digital arts creator, and producer of AIDFF. Her work develops at the intersection of writing, imagery and contemporary forms of artistic expression.
Dimitris Tranos
Director, producer and cinematographer with an international festival presence. His professional career is closely connected with cinematic storytelling and the creative possibilities of the moving image.
Under the auspices of EKKOMED – Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center.
Date and time: Sunday, 6 December 2026, 17:00–19:00
Venue: BlackBox Theater Cinema
22B Bousgou Street, Pedion tou Areos, Athens, Greece
2. Cinema, Culture and Sustainable Development
Challenges and Prospects for 2030
Monday, 7 December 2026 | 15:30–17:30
Can cinema make a meaningful contribution to building a more sustainable society? How can scientific knowledge meet artistic creativity and become a powerful means of information, awareness-raising and public engagement?
The second panel discussion of the 15th AIDFF focuses on the dynamic relationship between cinema, culture, science and environmental awareness, highlighting the role of audiovisual creativity in understanding the complex challenges facing the contemporary world.
With the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 as its point of reference, the discussion will place particular emphasis on sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption, climate action, and the protection of marine ecosystems.
These themes are not isolated environmental concerns. They are directly connected to quality of life, the way we organise our societies, the management of natural resources, scientific research, social responsibility and the choices that shape our shared future.
In this context, cinema can offer much more than the simple presentation of facts and information. Through the power of images, personal testimony, scientific evidence and artistic storytelling, it can communicate complex issues to wider audiences, establish an emotional connection with reality and encourage new ways of thinking.
Bringing together people from different scientific and creative disciplines, the meeting seeks to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and explore how film productions, scientific documentaries, ecological films and contemporary digital storytelling formats can contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and strengthen environmental and social responsibility.
At the heart of the discussion lies the need to move from information to meaningful understanding, and from awareness to the possibility of collective action. Sustainable development is not exclusively the responsibility of science, politics or economics. It is also a cultural and social issue, to which art can contribute by creating new perspectives, questions and possibilities.
Participants
Dr Athena G. Progiou
Physicist, PhD in Mechanical Engineering, environmental scientist and local councillor. General Director and Chief Executive Officer of AXON Environmental Ltd. (AXON Enviro Group). Her professional work is connected with environmental issues, scientific knowledge and the contemporary challenges of sustainable development.
Manolis Vardavakis
Design Manager and Partner at GeoTerra – Geotechnical Consultants, engineering geologist specialising in tunnels and responsible for geological and geotechnical design. His expertise encompasses geotechnical science, infrastructure and the study of the natural environment.
Ilias Missyris
Producer of the Vaasa Wildlife Film Festival in Finland, with extensive experience in organising film festivals. His work focuses on promoting films about wildlife and the natural environment.
Christos N. Karakasis
Film and theatre director, producer, author, Artistic Director of AIDFF and Artistic Director of the International Panorama of Scientific and Ecological Films. His work focuses, among other areas, on highlighting the relationship between cinema, scientific knowledge, culture and contemporary social issues.
Vasiliki Kappa
Writer, visual artist and digital arts creator, and producer of AIDFF. Through her creative work, she explores the intersection of artistic expression with contemporary forms of communication and visual storytelling.
Date and time: Monday, 7 December 2026, 15:30–17:30
Venue: BlackBox Theater Cinema
22B Bousgou Street, Pedion tou Areos, Athens, Greece
AIDFF as a Space for Dialogue, Exploration and New Perspectives
The 15th Athens International Digital Film Festival goes beyond the presentation of cinematic works. It seeks to create an open space where different artistic, scientific and social perspectives can meet, providing room for new ideas, contemporary concerns and diverse forms of cinematic expression.
Through its screenings, panel discussions, educational activities and parallel events, the Festival approaches cinema as a living process of exploration. A process that extends beyond the images we see on screen, influencing the way we perceive reality, redefine our relationships with others and seek answers to the questions of our time.
Independent filmmaking, cultural pluralism, scientific knowledge and sustainable development come together around a shared need: to preserve humanity's capacity to think, create, question and envision the future.
In this spirit, AIDFF continues to support a cinema that dares to experiment with form, expand the boundaries of storytelling and seek new ways of communicating with audiences.
Because the future of cinema depends not only on new technologies, but also on its ability to keep the human gaze alive.
The Athens International Digital Film Festival is supported by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center (EKKOMED).
Organised by
KOYINTA Organisation
Tickets Tickets Culture Company / BlackBox Theater Cinema
Athens International Digital Film Festival (AIDFF)
NEW CINEMA · NEW FORMS · NEW PERSPECTIVES
15th Athens International Digital Film Festival – AIDFF
3–9 December 2026 | Athens, Greece
Information and announcements
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