Kostis Velonis, How one Can Think Freely in the Shadow of a Temple, 2010, video, 2 : 45 minutes.
From September 13 to 24, 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture proudly presents Mystery 73: Cine Paradise / Industries of Coexistence. Curated by Marina Fokidis, this captivating event features a series of screenings showcasing new media artworks, non-narrative films, and documentaries, created by 22 internationally renowened artists. The films will be presented—in the presence of their creators—at an enchanting seaside open-air cinema, nestled in the ancient yet contemporary-industrial town of Elefsina, near Athens.
The featured artists include: Marwa Arsanios, Panos Charalambous, Tamar Guimarães and Kasper Akhøj, Johan Grimonprez, Evi Kalogiropoulou, Menelaos Karamaghiolis, Jumana Manna, Hira Nabi, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Theodoris Prodromidis, Ben Russell, Alan Sekula and Noël Burch, Kostis Velonis, Barbara Wagner & Benjamin De Burca, Driant Zeneli, as well as James Bridle, Petros Moris, Eva Papamargariti, Agnieszka Polska (the latests supported by the PCAI collection).
This cinematic journey will also feature an architectural intervention by Aristide Antonas.
What is the common thread between: a documentary filmed in collaboration with the shipbuilders’ association in Gadani, Pakistan; a contemporary interpretation of the lost Atlantis; Hamlet reclining on a garbage hill contemplating the clouds; the voyage of a container from Rotterdam to Los Angeles and Hong Kong; an intense televised debate on the war in Syria; a melancholic sun bearing witness to the moral and environmental decline of our planet; the spirited steps of Brazilian frevo-style dance; and intimate conversations among women in Kurdistan, Colombia, and Lebanon, among others?
Cine Paradise / Industries of Coexistence presents a collection of film narratives that explore various communities, rituals, seas, planetary degradation, labor, and displacement. It aspires to ignite cathartic conversations—however fleeting—across diverse audiences. The project is an experiment in presenting art films in the realm of everyday entertainment spaces, beyond the boundaries of film festivals, museums, and art institutions. The screenings will take place in a quaint open-air cinema, originally built by American soldiers -who were stationed in Elefsina -during the Cold War and sustained over the years by the dedication of local cinephiles.
The title “Cine Paradise” evokes the symbolism of transitioning from the “world of the living” to the “world of the dead,” a theme deeply ingrained in the mythology of Elefsina and the human soul since antiquity. The subtitle, “Industries of Coexistence,” alludes to the significance of labor in propelling our planet forward, even during times of pandemics, crises, and global conflicts. Elefsina, being a hub of Greek workforce, embodies both the virtues and challenges of such locations. The fundamental coexistence of these (and all) different “worlds” is at the heart of this particular quest. Join us.
Please visit here for the detailed program of the screenings.
Production services: Scola Society (Non-profit civil society)
2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture
Project coordination: Zoi Moutsokou—Directorate of Contemporary Art 2023 Eleusis, Yannis Arvanitis—General Coordinator of Artistic Projects Production
