The Anafi International Film Festival (ANAFIFF) was established in 2023. It is an independent initiative that explores the boundaries of cinema, emphasizing unconventional storytelling, freedom of expression, and the connection between film, place, and community.
Its aim is to create an open space for screenings, idea exchange, and artistic exploration, where cinema intersects with visual arts, music, and poetry. The festival supports independent filmmakers, amplifies their voices, and encourages dialogue between artists and audiences. It features screenings of Greek and international independent films, special tributes, masterclasses, panel discussions, professional workshops, and educational activities for children and teenagers.
ANAFIFF collaborates with local organizations, educational institutions, and artistic collectives, such as the ASTRO collective, to develop programs that connect art with society. The festival places particular emphasis on sustainability, implementing environmentally friendly practices such as zero-waste initiatives, recycling, and the use of renewable resources. On Anafi—a island embodying unconventionality and autonomy—ANAFIFF establishes a dynamic platform for cinema without boundaries.
The grant supports the initiative “Show Me Your Place.” The project aims to strengthen the local community of Anafi through artistic research and participatory storytelling, fostering a dialogue between memory, identity, and landscape.
The initiative promotes the sustainability of island communities by enhancing cultural heritage and providing residents with new methods of expression and documentation of their connection to place. It engages the community through participatory practices that highlight the island’s cultural identity, while ensuring cultural sustainability by preserving local knowledge and memory for future generations. Using tools of artistic and anthropological documentation, counter-mapping, and co-design, the project creates a community archive that reflects the stories of residents. The estimated number of beneficiaries over the course of the grant is approximately 70 individuals.
The initiative is implemented through a grant from the Athina I. Martinou Foundation as part of the “Points of Support ” Program, under the thematic focus: “Strengthening Island and Other Coastal Local Communities.”