ERTFLIX International: Tribute to Greek Language Day
ERTFLIX International presents a special tribute to the International Greek Language Day, celebrated on February 9th, the anniversary of Greece’s national poet Dionysios Solomos.
This initiative is a collaboration between ERT’s Department for Greeks Abroad, the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, and the E’ General Directorate of Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aiming for the widest possible international outreach. The tribute is under the auspices of the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy.
Starting February 9th, Greeks around the world will be able to enjoy on-demand the special tribute, featuring documentaries, concerts, dedicated programs, as well as rare footage from the ERT archive.
Included in the tribute is the episode “Living Anthology – Tribute to Odysseas Elytis” from ERT’s archival series “Behind the Curtain,” showcasing a collage of footage capturing citizens in the streets of Athens reciting verses from the poetry of Odysseas Elytis.
A notable feature of the tribute is its presentation of Greek poetry through music. The program features an episode from the series “The Adventure of a Poem,” highlighting the poet Manolis Anagnostakis, set to the music of Mikis Theodorakis, as this year marks the centennial of both great Greek creators.
Behind the Curtain – Living Anthology: Tribute to Odysseas Elytis | ERT Archive
This episode of “Behind the Curtain” is a collage of footage capturing citizens in the streets of Athens reciting verses from the poetry of Odysseas Elytis. Randomly selected passersby in streets, squares, and other public spaces of Athens read excerpts from the great poet’s work, as a tribute to his legacy.
Greek Writers and their Times: Dionysios Solomos – Parts I, II & III | Documentary Series
“Greek Writers and their Times” is a series of independent, self-contained documentaries that present literary figures—poets or prose writers—within the social context that shaped their work. To provide a deeper understanding, the episodes incorporate visual material from public and private archives, while scholars and experts discuss the authors and their contributions, offering viewers new insights.
From his birth to the Hymn (Part I): The first part of the episode explores Solomos’ childhood, family background, early works, and historical aspects of the Ionian Islands.
The Corfu period (Part II) & Contemporary Approaches (Part III): The second and third parts of the episode on Dionysios Solomos focus on the great poet and his work, examining modern literary studies that highlight his contribution to modern Greek literature.
National Symphony Orchestra: Hymn to Liberty – Kalavryta | Concert
The National Symphony Orchestra of ERT participated in the celebrations marking 200 years since the
Greek War of Independence, organized by the Region of Western Greece, with Hymn to Liberty by Dionysios Solomos, set to music by Nikolaos Mantzaros. A concert that stands as a true hymn to freedom, touching the hearts of all Greeks. The concert is conducted, orchestrated, and arranged by composer and maestro Alkis Baltas. Joining the orchestra are the Mixed Choir and Children’s Choir of the “Polyphonic Choir of Patras,” while mezzo-soprano Irini Karagianni recites select excerpts throughout the performance.
Like a Dream of Dawn: Emmanuil Kriaras, memories of a Century (Dir. Stella Theodoraki) | | Documentary
A documentary on Emmanuel Kriaras, professor of Medieval Greek Philology and a leading researcher of the Greek language. A fervent supporter of demotic Greek since his school years in Crete, Kriaras was one of the key figures in the movement for the adoption of the demotic language. The film traces his journey through Milos, Chania, Paris, and Thessaloniki, presenting images and personal accounts of his life from 1906 to 2005. It highlights his encounters with major intellectuals of the 20th century (such as Psycharis and Kazantzakis) and his lifelong efforts for linguistic reform. Friends, colleagues, and students share their insights on his work and legacy, particularly his invaluable archive, which he entrusted to the Center for the Greek Language for the completion of the “Lexicon of Medieval Greek Vernacular Literature.”
The Adventure of a Poem – Manolis Anagnostakis, Mikis Theodorakis | ERT Archive
In this episode of the series “The Adventure of a Poem”, the portrait of Manolis Anagnostakis is sketched, and songs based on his poetry, composed by Mikis Theodorakis, are presented.
Mikis Theodorakis describes his encounter with Manolis Anagnostakis and the friendship that developed between them. He talks about their correspondence, initiated by Anagnostakis, which led to their collaboration and Theodorakis’ musical adaptations of his poems.Poet Titos Patrikios speaks about Anagnostakis’ poetry, its combative and sarcastic approach to life, which the poet proposes through his works. He emphasizes the simplicity of Anagnostakis’ writing, which seems to encapsulate the entirety of life and the world within few lines and the repeated titles of his collections. He also highlights the unique relationship between Anagnostakis’ work and the city of Thessaloniki, which in his poetry becomes a place where all human dramas unfold.
Titos Patrikios selects and reads excerpts from Anagnostakis’ poetic collections, such as “Preliminary Draft of a Political Action” (ΠΡΟΣΧΕΔΙΟ ΔΟΚΙΜΙΟΥ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΗΣ ΑΓΩΓΗΣ), while Mikis Theodorakis and Maria Dimitriadi, accompanied by musicians like Giorgos Dalaras, Petros Pandis, and Tassos Karakatsanis, perform his musicalized poems, including “Milo” (ΜΙΛΩ), “Charis” (ΧΑΡΗΣ), and “Old Roads” (ΔΡΟΜΟΙ ΠΑΛΙΟΙ). The program also includes an excerpt from Nikos Koundouros’ film “The Songs of Fire” (ΤΑ ΤΡΑΓΟΥΔΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΦΩΤΙΑΣ), where Maria Farantouri sings, under Mikis Theodorakis’ direction, the musical works of Manolis Anagnostakis.
Perspectives: The Modern Individual and Language | Informative Show
Giorgos Bampiniotis sits down with Titos Patrikios to discuss the modern individual and the evolution of language in the era of contemporary communication.
Behind The Curtain: “Mario Vitti: A Modern Greek” | ERT Archive
Mario Vitti was born in Constantinople in 1926 to an Italian father and a Rumi mother.
From his school years, encouraged by his teacher Dimitris Manos, he began studying modern Greek literature and writing for the magazine “Art of the City.”
From a very early age, Mario Vitti started translating Greek writers into Italian—especially Seferis, Elytis, Kazantzakis, and others. He taught modern Greek literature at Italian universities and quickly established himself as the foremost modern Greek scholar, with a rich literary output and significant discoveries.
Mario Vitti documented his life and work through his camera’s lens and recounted rare moments from his encounters with the most important Greek writers.
The great modern Greek scholar was also discussed by poet and critic Nasos Vagenas, Alexis Politēs (an honorary professor of modern Greek literature at the University of Crete), Angelos Delivorias (director of the Benaki Museum), Vrasidas Karalis (professor of modern Greek literature at the University of Sydney), historian Dimitris Arvanitakis, Dionysis Kapsalis (director of the Educational Foundation of the National Bank of Greece), and Dr. Filippos Pappas, a scholar of modern Greek literature.
Screenplay – Direction: Kyriakos Angelakos
Philhellenic Poetry and the Greek Revolution 1821 – 2021 | Commemorative Program
The President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, invited the ambassadors of 9 countries—France, the United States of America, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Romania—to recite poetry from their homelands inspired by the Greek Revolution.
Direction: Maria Andreadelli
Produced by Athina Varsou
Digamma: Thanasis Valtinos | A Show on Creative Writing by ERT
Some say he is the most important. Some say he wrote about our wounds, about the difficult years, about things that no one dared to spell out in words. Some say he created a mirror for those things that have passed, so that future generations would have a way to face their past. This episode is dedicated to the great Greek prose writer Thanasis Valtinos.
For more information, please visit ERTFLIX International website.
