Statement on producing & artworking Hellas Filmbox Berlin

For me, Hellas Filmbox was a conceptual art project from the very beginning. My aim was not to create just another „normal film festival“, but rather an „undogmatic communication model“ that would transcend conventional boundaries. I imagined an institution imbued with creativity and freedom – a vision that initially existed only in my head, but gradually took shape with each successive festival, culminating in the third festival at the Urban Spree location (Berlin-Friedrichshain) in January 2018.

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

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

I would like to thank everyone involved for their fantastic collaboration. Together we have created something extraordinary, unexpected 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 films translated into German
• roadshows with 30 Best of films in 15 German cities
• over 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 audiences
• to gives an insight into the current situation of Greece, its people, inner conflicts and secrets
• to take the German audience on a unique journey into the human soul through the eyes of Greek filmmakers
• believes in films as an alternative way of thinking and seeing Greece
• creates a constructive artistic dialogue between Greece and Germany by highlighting the current emotional and political rifts between the two countries

 

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 first holidays in Greece.

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

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

The fourth festival – the NORTH: more reserved, calm, thoughtful, influenced by the numerous experiences of the previous festivals. Different again! No walls! „More geil!“ (Even cooler!) 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall.

 

The Art Workers

Creative Director: Asteris Kutulas // Art Director: Achilleas Gatsopoulos // Photography: DomQuichotte & Achilleas Gatsopoulos // Creative: Ina Kutulas, Sandra von Ruffin, DomQuichotte & Achilleas Gatsopoulos // Body Painting: Johny Dar // Costumes: Heike Hartmann, Annabell Johannes, Ina Kutulas // Models/Actors: Sandra von Ruffin, Stathis Papadopoulos, Annabell Johannes, Friedrich Lichtenstein, 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

Hellas Filmbox Berlin Team

Idea & Concept: Asteris & Ina Kutulas
Founder: Ina & Asteris Kutulas & Sandra von Ruffin
Title: Ina Kutulas
The great Hellas-Filmbox-Team 2016-18: Adam Adamopoulos, Argyro Antoniadou, Dimitris Argyriou, Michalis Argyrou, Rafika Chawishe, Elektra Daniilopoulou, Elisa Deftos, Elena Diesbach, Vassilis Dimitriadis, Giannina Erfany-Far, Elina Fotinou, Achilleas Gatsopoulos, Costas Giannacacos, Katharina Hein, Gerd Helinski, Galya Hristova, Julia Jendroßek, Dimitris Karras, Stella Kalafati, DanisKaraisaridis, Myrsini Karamanli, Maria Katsikadakou, Dareos Khalili, Vaios Kolofotias, Petros Koloutouris, Angela Konti, Ioanna Kryona, Andreas Malliaris, Eva Micropoulou, Brigit Mulders, Nefeli Myrodia, Mihalis Palaiologos, Michaela Prinzinger, Demian von Prittwitz, Nora Ralli, Klaus Salge, Yianna Sarri, Susanne Schickl, Sofia Stavrianidou, Iro Stratigaki, Maria Sventeriki, Dyonisios Tzavaras, Marsia Tzivara, Alexandra Zoe and many many more