GREEX
Greek music and film
GREEX—Culture—Music & Film

Culture · Music & Film

Music &
Film.

Greece has a rich and distinctive musical tradition — from the haunting melancholy of rebetiko to the popular energy of laïká, from the classical compositions of Mikis Theodorakis to the contemporary Athens music scene. Greek cinema, meanwhile, has produced some of the most distinctive films of the past two decades.

Music

The Sound of Greece

Rebetiko — the blues of Greece — emerged in the urban underworld of Piraeus and Thessaloniki in the early 20th century, brought by refugees from Asia Minor. It is one of the most distinctive and emotionally powerful musical traditions in the world, and it has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Mikis Theodorakis, the composer of Zorba the Greek and the Mauthausen Cantata, is one of the great composers of the 20th century. His music is inseparable from the story of modern Greece.

Film

The Greek New Wave

Greek cinema has undergone a remarkable renaissance in the 21st century. Directors like Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Favourite, Poor Things) and Athina Rachel Tsangari have brought Greek cinema to international attention, winning major awards at Cannes, Venice, and the Oscars.

The Athens International Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are important events in the European film calendar.

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