Athens Makes Its Mark on the International Film and Television Landscape with "The Owl”
Over 200 Networking Meetings Held Between Greek and International Producers at “The Owl Industry Days”
Athens, Greece – From October 1 to 4, 2024, the vibrant Greek audiovisual ecosystem engaged with its international counterparts during an exciting four-day event, “The Owl.” Organized for the third consecutive year by the Athens Film Office (AFO), under the umbrella of the city’s growth agency Develop Athens, this international screenwriting workshop showcased the talents of established screenwriters from Greece and abroad.
Once more, an open call invited experienced screenwriters from both television and feature film backgrounds to submit script proposals with the potential to be filmed in Athens or elsewhere in Greece.
For the first time, the event featured “The Owl Industry Days” (October 3-4), which included presentations, discussions, and panels focused on Greek fiction productions. Hosted at the St. George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel, the event facilitated over 200 B2B meetings between Greek audiovisual professionals and representatives from both Greek and international studios and production companies, fostering valuable collaborations.
In collaboration with the Athens Film Office, the 30th Athens International Film Festival “Nights of Premieres” hosted a workshop led by internationally renowned Intimacy Coordinator Elle McAlpine, known for her work on projects like “Poor Things” and “One Day.” The session, which was attended by industry professionals, received a warm welcome from AFO Director Stathis Kalogeropoulos.
In a statement, Ioannis Georgizas, CEO of Develop Athens S.A., emphasized, “We are proud to have organized and hosted such a successful international event in Athens. Producers and screenwriters from around the world gathered in our city for ‘The Owl,’ strengthening our country’s audiovisual sector. A highlight of this successful event was the awards ceremony recognizing outstanding professionals in film and television. The City of Athens, through Develop Athens and the Athens Film Office, actively supports audiovisual productions by streamlining procedural matters to allow creators to focus on their work. Kudos to all contributors!”
During “The Owl Industry Days,” the Owl Pitching Event allowed screenwriters to present their projects to producers and distributors, with a five-member jury awarding the best feature script and television pilot. Christina Mitropoulou, head of “The Owl,” says, “Many of these projects are already engaged in serious discussions with production companies both in Greece and abroad.”
Among the prominent mentors and guests at the event were Dohna Ferdinand, Head of Content and Co-Production at Beta Film; Hedges Noel, EVP International Acquisitions and Co-productions; Katie O’Connell, Executive Producer; Erik Pack, SVP Global Sales & Co-production at Boat Rocker Studios; Anne Thomopoulos, Television Producer & former Senior Vice President at HBO; and Mirela Nastase, Director of Drama at ZDF Studios.
2024: A Record-Breaking Year
Notably, 2024 is set to be a record year for the Athens Film Office, with 28 audiovisual productions already completed for major international television networks and platforms (BBC, Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc.) by the end of September. This includes various commercials and a music video for the popular band Coldplay, providing over 1,000 jobs for professionals in the Greek audiovisual industry.
Among the productions filmed in Athens are: “Tehran” Seasons 1 & 2 (Apple TV), “Jack Ryan” (Amazon Prime), “Crimes of the Future,” “My Beloved Smyrna,” “Perrier” (international campaign), “Rise” (Disney), “Greek Salad” (Amazon), and “The Little Drummer Girl” (BBC).
This year also broke spending records, with total expenditures reaching €40 million, generating over €150,000 in direct revenue for the City of Athens.
Additionally, for the second consecutive year, the Athens Film Office co-hosted the semifinals of the International Emmy Awards with the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Fourteen Greek directors, actors, and producers voted among six series for Best Comedy, under the supervision of members from the International Academy. The event culminated in a glamorous evening at the City Hall.
About the Athens Film Office
Established by the City of Athens and run by Develop Athens S.A., the Athens Film Office has facilitated over 200 audiovisual productions in its four years of operation. Its primary responsibilities include supporting audiovisual producers and collaborating with other film entities to promote the city internationally through participation in film festivals and exhibitions.
Photos: Thomas Gravanis
