Chania Film Festival announces 14th edition and opening ceremony

The 14th Chania Film Festival is set to begin on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, at the Chania Spiritual Center. The opening ceremony will honor Marinella Vlachaki and Dimitris Kalogerakis for their significant contributions to the cultural and theatrical life of Crete.

The festival program features a diverse range of categories, including Greek and international short fiction, documentaries, animation, podcasts, and student films. Special awards include the Youth Award, decided by a jury of teenagers, and the Audience Award.

In addition to honoring local figures, the festival will pay tribute to Nikos Koundouros by honoring his family. The opening film will be the classic ‘Dráko’. Other scheduled highlights include a screening of the documentary ‘NAZA’ by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, a panorama of Cypriot films, and musical performances by Melentini.