Marking a decade of exciting growth, the New York City Greek Film Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary from September 29 through October 19 with special events, a spectacular film line-up and special guest appearances from some of Greece’s top filmmakers.

In keeping with the celebration, opening night will feature the showing of MYTHOPATHY at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, underscoring the fact that along with rousing entertainment, Greek film is art. Writer/director Tassos Boulmetis, famed for his classic POLITIKI KOUZINA (A TOUCH OF SPICE), will introduce the film. Co-stars Yiannis Niarros and Chara Mata Yiannatou, will also attend.

A tenth anniversary gala at the Russian Tea Room on October 1 will precede the showing of the Greek blockbuster WORLDS APART (ENAS ALLOS KOSMOS), from writer/director/actor Christopher Papakaliatis. This stunning romantic drama probes the human side of the Greek crisis and broke box-office records in Greece. Papakaliatis will be there to introduce the film at the Directors Guild of America Theater. His co-star, Maria Kavogianni, will be with him.

The festival’s selections reflect both the enormous growth in professionalism and originality in Greek films as well as the current problems besetting Greece. Two important documentaries include ATHENS FROM BENEATH, focusing on the victims of the economic crisis; and 4.1 MILES FROM LAND, an unforgettable journey on a Coast Guard cutter as the crew struggles to save refugees from the waters around Lesbos.

In all, fifteen features and seven documentaries will be shown: the psychological drama, SILENT; the suspense thriller, BLIND SUN; a drama from Cyprus about a family struggling to make ends meet, FAMILY MEMBER; JOURNEY THROUGH SMYRNA, a documentary about the music of Asia Minor; and a moody story about middle-aged obsession and young beauty, SUNTAN.

Among the special events are an October 1 competitive screening of fifteen short films, presented in association with the Micro M Festival of Athens; and a free coffee and cake “Meet the Filmmakers” reception at the 3 West Club, 3 West 51 Street, NYC, on October 3, 6:30 pm.

See trailers of our top picks here.

The complete film schedule is here.