Onassis

On Xerxes’ Throne | Big Short Films 2023

On Xerxes’ Throne by Evi Kalogiropoulou

04.10.2023

Special Jury Prize, DISFF. CANAL+ Award, Cannes IFF. Available online from 16th to 23rd October.

Embedded media

If you want to enjoy embedded rich media, please customize your cookie settings to allow for Performance and Targeting cookies. Your data may be transferred to third-party services such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud and Issuu.

Customize Cookies

Embedded media

If you want to enjoy embedded rich media, please customize your cookie settings to allow for Performance and Targeting cookies. Your data may be transferred to third-party services such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud and Issuu.

Customize Cookies

Duration: 15΄ | At onassis.org | 16-23.10.2023

Synopsis:

A dystopian workplace at the Perama shipyard. A ban on physical contact has turned human interactions into otherworldly simulations. The suppression of touch has alienated the workers communication, transforming the boatyard into a charged landscape of alienation and repressed sensuality beyond stereotypical heteronormative desires.

According to local legend, the Persian King Xerxes watched the overwhelming defeat of his fleet at the naval battle of Salamis in 480 BC from his throne on the rocky peaks of Mount Egaleo, in today’s Perama.

Festivals & Awards:

The film had its world premiere at the 61st Semaine de la Critique (Critics Week) of the 75th Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Canal+ Award. Since its premiere, it has screened in over 20 countries and 40 festivals, some of which include:

45th Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF), 2022, Greece: Special Jury Award

21st Concorto Film Festival, 2022, Italy: Special Jury Prize

Orvieto Cinema Fest 2022, Italy: Best Short Film

18th Kinemastik International Short Film Festival, 2022, Malta: Best Film

Dublin International Film Festival, 2022, Republic of Ireland: Special Mention

South East European Film Festival, 2022, Los Angeles, USA: Honorable Mention

28th Sarajevo Film Festival, 2022, Bosnia and Herzegovina

28th Athens International Film Festival (AIFF), 2022, Greece

Queer Lisboa 26, 2022, Portugal

Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival, 2022, Bristol, UK

AFI Fest (American Film Institute), 2022, Los Angeles, USA

Chéris-Chéris, 28th LGBTQI+ International Film Festival, 2022, Paris, France

51st Festival du nouveau cinéma, 2022, Montréal, Canada

Credits:

Directed by Evi Kalogiropoulou

Screenplay: Giorgos Teltzidis

Curatorial Direction: Afroditi Panagiotakou

Direction of Photography: Evan Maragkoudakis

Editing: George Zafiris

Original Music: Kid Moxie

Sound: Dimitris Demirakos

Sound Design: Leandros Ntounis

Set Design: Evelina Darzenta

Costumes Design: Anna Zotou

Costumes: Georgia Boura

Makeup: Maria Vez

Line Production: Neda Film

An Onassis Culture production

Cast: Yorgos Mazonakis, Angela Brouskou, Myrto Kontoni, Ksenia Dania, Lorenzo Sarzan, Kevin Zans Ansong, Jordan Genidogan, Vassilis Koutsogiannis

Bio

More in: