The Thessaloniki Film Festival (TFF) has launched the Evia Film Project, a new initiative in support of northern Evia, which was devastated by wildfires last summer. The project is part of the specially designated developmental program “Fotodotes,” focusing on physical reconstruction of the region and the renewal of the island’s identity.

The rich program of events, which runs from June 15 to June 19, includes screenings, workshops, masterclasses, and green actions. The project is bringing together film professionals, creatives and activists on Evia, in the areas of Edipsos, Limni and Agia Anna.

The Evia Project is the TFF’s “third branch,” the other two being the renowned Thessaloniki International Film Festival, held in November, and Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, held in March.

The festival opened yesterday in Edipsos with the screening of Coline Serreau’s film, “The Green Planet,” at the newly re-opened Apollon Cinema, which the TFF restored for this purpose after decades of it being shut down.

The four day festival will include 12 screenings at open air theaters by acclaimed Greek and international directors, as well as special screenings of short films. It will conclude with the screening of Academy Award winner and Palme d’Or recipient, German filmmaker Volker Schlöndorff’s “The Forest Maker.”

In parallel to the screenings, the festival has an Agora aiming to bring together new filmmakers and inspire fresh collaborations, while WWF Hellas is running a Masterclass on forest fires and on the role of journalism in environment-themed films. Visitors can also attend the newly presented exhibition “Burning World” by acclaimed photographer Gideon Mendel.

Children, the future generation, can find plenty of ways to be engaged at the Evia Film Project via several programs, and their entry to all events is free. From films depicting the vital importance of being respectful toward (and connected with) nature, to fun workshops and games, they can interact in meaningful ways with the themes of the festival.

In collaboration with the Cycladic Art Museum, the festival will also be engaging kids (from six years and up) and adults in the game “Cycladopolis,” an environmental education game designed by the Museum and WWF.

Finally, as this year’s festival ambassador, renowned Greek singer/songwriter Kostis Maraveyas will hold a large concert at Agia Anna beach on Saturday June 18th, with free admission for the public. He will be joined by performers Katerina Papoutsaki, Yorgos Papageorgiou, Ksenia Dania and Eleni Arapoglou.