Statement on producing & artworking Hellas Filmbox Berlin

For me, Hellas Filmbox has been a conceptual art project right from the start. My aim was not to create just another „normal film festival,“ but rather an „undogmatic communication model“ that transcended conventional boundaries. I envisioned an institution steeped in creativity and freedom – a vision that initially existed only in my mind but gradually took shape with each successive festival, culminating in the third one held at the Urban Spree location (Berlin-Friedrichshain) in January 2018.

Now, as we – referring to Sandra von Ruffin, Ina, and myself – entrust the festival to the capable hands of Sofia Stavrianidou and Elisa Deftos, I have encapsulated and visualized the artistic and political essence of the four festivals (2016-2019) during my tenure as the creative director. The artwork we developed and the accompanying marketing materials exude the energy we aimed to convey.

Collaborating with Sandra, Ina, Achilleas Gatsopoulos, Dom Quichotte, and many other talented individuals, along with the invaluable support from peppermint and Gero Angreß, we cultivated a distinct, „berlinesque“ identity – artistic and unconventional, yet profoundly unique.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved for their fantastic cooperation. Together, we have created something extraordinary, unforeseen, and truly beautiful.

Asteris Kutulas, Co-Founder & Creative Director Hellas Filmbox Berlin (2016-19)

Hard Facts 2016-19

• 300 screenings with approx. 230 films
• 65 of which translated into German
• road shows with 30 films in 15 German cities
• more than 150 Greek directors present at the festival
• over 15.000 spectators
• more than 200 German and international filmmakers, artists and professionals present at the festival

Press Quotes

• „The small Greek Berlinale “ (Zeit online)
• „…contemporary, daring and creative cinema, as rarely seen before…“ (Goethe Institut)
• „Look towards Greece! A group of artists are trying to save the image of a nation through art-house cinema.“ (Stern)
• „Contemporary Greek cinema and its insights into the situation of this land.“ (Tagesspiegel)
• „The most heartfelt film festival in Berlin!“ (Jüdische Zeitung)

Press & Media Impact 2016-19

 

 

 

 

Hellas Filmbox Berlin

• was established in 2016 to highlight the current, highly artistic Greek film scene and present it to the German audience
• to gives an insight into Greece’s current situation, its people, inner conflicts and secrets
• to takes the German audience on a unique journey into the human soul through the eyes of Greek filmmakers
• believes in films as an alternate way of thinking and seeing Greece
• creates a constructive artistic dialogue between Greece and Germany by highlighting the current emotional and political cracks between the two

 

Guests & Contributors

More than 350 filmmakers, artists and professionals from Greece, Germany, Turkey, the United States, France, etc. participating in …

• Screenings
• Panels
• Exhibitions
• Workshops
• Theater productions
• Concerts
• Open Discussions etc.

The Festivals from 2016 to 2019

The first festival – the SOUTH: loud, radiant, hot, with nude art, overcrowded, like the firstholidays in Greece.

The second festival – the WEST: structured, progressive, international, masculine & feminine, with Oscar winnerCosta-Gavras, with Ulrich Tukur, Rolf Hochhut, Dani Levi and manyothers.

The third festival – the EAST: horny, dirty, honest, with a lot ofheart, with a different focus andlocation, in the Urban Spree – a street art gallery on the „naughty“ neighbourhood of Friedrichshain.

The fourth festival – the NORTH: more reserved, calm, thoughtful, influenced by the numerousexperiences of the previousfestivals. Different again! No walls! More geil! 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall.

 

The Artworkers

Creative Director: Asteris Kutulas // Art Director: Achilleas Gatsopoulos // Photography: DomQuichotte & Achilleas Gatsopoulos // Creative: Ina Kutulas, Sandra von Ruffin, DomQuichotte // Body Painting: Johny Dar // Costumes: Heike Hartmann, Annabell Johannes, Ina Kutulas // Models/Actors: Sandra von Ruffin, Annabell Johannes, Friedrich Liechtenstein, Ioanna Kryona, Dimitris Argyriou

Statement

Für mich war Hellas Filmbox von Anfang an ein Konzeptkunst-Projekt. Ich wollte kein „normales Filmfestival“ kreieren, sondern ein über sich hinaus weisendes „undogmatisches Kommunikationsmodell“. Eine Institution, die nach Kreativität und Freiheit riecht. Das ist sicherlich etwas, das nur in meinem Kopf existierte, aber ich habe versucht – vor allem mit dem dritten Festival (2018) in der Urban Spree Galerie –, mich dem sehr anzunähern.
Jetzt, da wir – damit meine ich Sandra von Ruffin, Ina und mich – das Festival in die Hände von Sofia Stavrianidou und Elisa Deftos legen, habe ich das künstlerisch-politische Konzept der ersten vier Festivals (2016-2019), bei denen ich auch Creative Director war, zusammengefasst. Dieses von uns entwickelte Artwork und das dazugehörige Marketing offenbaren die Energie, auf die es uns ankam. Zusammen mit den Artworkern Sandra, Ina, Achilleas Gatsopoulos, DomQuichotte und zusammen mit vielen anderen sowie der wunderbaren Unterstützung von peppermint und Gero Angreß haben wir ein sehr eigenes, „berlinerisches“ und gleichzeitig sehr künstlerisches und ungewöhnliches Erscheinungsbild von Hellas Filmbox kreiert.  
Ich danke Euch allen für die phantastische Zusammenarbeit! Wir haben gemeinsam etwas Verrücktes, Überraschendes und sehr Schönes erschaffen.

Asteris Kutulas
Co-Founder & Creative Director Hellas Filmbox Berlin