5th FEST OF FESTS
Narrative Structures in the Digital Era
International Audiovisual Media Experts Gather in Athens
At the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
From May 27 to May 30, 2025
Four high-level sessions will be hosted by the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation as part of the international program Fest of Fests, bringing together leading professionals and academics in the field of audiovisual media from Greece and abroad.
The sessions will explore critical questions regarding the impact of video games on children’s health, development, and social behavior. Topics include digital addiction, parental control, and the educational potential of gaming—issues of growing relevance amid the digital transformation of media.
Now in its fifth year, Fest of Fests has established itself as a global platform for dialogue and collaboration among institutions dedicated to youth media. This year’s lineup includes international figures such as David Kleeman (U.S.A) renowned expert in children’s media, Senior Vice President of Global Trends for Dubit, a strategy/research consultancy and digital studio based in Leeds and Pavel Jech (Czech Republic), Dean of the prestigious FAMU Film School in Prague and professor at Chapman University, as well as Greek professionals including Lena Rammou, media expert, coordinator of the webinars, Elise Jalladeau, General Director of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Katerina Evangelakou, film director and educator, Maria Leonida, Artistic Director of KARPOS, Olga Malea, filmmaker, and Pantelis Panteloglou, President of the European Children’s Film Association.
The program concludes the annual cycle of the Fest of Fests initiative, inspired by the educator and producer Athina Rikaki. Earlier highlights included innovative documentary and film education workshops for youth and educators.
The opening session on May 27 will feature welcoming remarks by Xenia Kaldara, President and General Director of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, and also a keynote address by Christina Kefalogianni, Deputy Regional Governor of Athens (Attika Region). During the last day of the sessions a keynote speech will be delivered by Leonidas Christopoulos, President and CEO of the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME).
The event is part of the International Network of Youth Film Festivals, an initiative of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, implemented under the action “Establishment and Promotion of International Contemporary Cultural Institutions in Attica”. It is co-funded by the European Union (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program “Attica” under the 2021–2027.
FEST OF FESTS 2025
TOPIC: NARRATIVE STRUCTURES IN THE DIGITAL ERA
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation
206, Piraeus Str., Tavros 17778, Athens – E-mail: fofcoordinator@mcf.gr
Tuesday, May 27 – Day 1, 18:00–20:00 EEST
Moderator: Lena Rammou (Film Festivals, Film & Media Training, MEDIA Program & Audiovisuals Expert)
Greetings by officials
Panel A – This year’s FoF: Models and Workshops
Short retrospective on FoF by Lena (video)
Speakers:
- Katerina Evangelakou (Film Director, Film Educator – she will invite Dionysis Vithoulkas – Principal of the 2nd Experimental High School of Agia Varvara, and a student of her workshops).
- Maria Leonida (Film Director, Film Education Designer – she will invite a High School teacher, and a student of her workshop).
They will present their work for this year’s FoF and show a video from their workshops.
Panel B – Shaping Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in Childhood and Youth through Audiovisual Media
Speakers:
- Maria Louka (Documentarian-Journalist, President of WIFT GR)
- Olga Malea (Film & TV Director, Treasurer of WIFT GR)
- Rea-Emilia-Alexandra Walldén (Filmmaker, Film Theorist, Assistant Professor at the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
- Niovi Anazikou (Documentarian-Journalist, Vice President of WIFT GR)
Video of WIFT GR festival (two last editions).
Followed by a reception.
Wednesday, May 28 – Day 2, 13:00–16:00 EEST
Panel A – Successful Family Content: Case Studies
Moderator: Joanna Solecka (Film Marketing Strategist and Awards Consultant, Head of Alphapanda Warsaw)
Speakers:
- Pavel Jech (Dean of FAMU International, Professor at Chapman University, California, author of the book “Seven Minute Screenplay”)
- Pantelis Panteloglou (President of ECFA – European Children’s Film Association & Artistic Director of Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People)
- Kristoffer Rus (director of successful children’s films released in theaters and available on NETFLIX, showing clips from his films)
Panel B – Film Education at University Level: How Conscious Is the Choice?
Moderators: Joanna Solecka (Film Marketing Strategist and Awards Consultant, Head of Alphapanda Warsaw) & Carol Colmenares (children’s series producer, contributor to an EMMY Award-winning production)
Speakers:
- Rafael Parra (Professor and Chair of Media Studies at The New School, New York; two-time EMMY Award-winning for children’s series editor)
- George Varotsis (Faculty Member of the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
- Yannis Skopeteas (Professor and Chair of the Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens)
- Pavel Jech (Dean of FAMU International, Professor at Chapman University, California, author of the book “Seven Minute Screenplay”)
Thursday, May 29 – Day 3, 18:00–20:00 EEST
Moderator: Carol Colmenares (children’s content producer, contributor to an EMMY Award-winning production)
Part A – Keynote/Lecture by Pavel Jech. Subject: “Writing Short Scripts in the Digital Era”
Panel B – European and Greek Initiatives for Film Education
Speakers:
- Elise Jalladeau (General Director of Thessaloniki Film Festival – will discuss the Festival’s educational policy)
- Isabel Miguillon (Director of NEXTUS [https://nextus.global/EN], implemented in schools at six European countries)
- Eirini Delidaki (educational programs of the Museum of Cinema and NEXTUS in Greece [https://nextus.global/el])
- Kelly Alchanati (Creative Producer, film director & children’s book author)
Friday, May 30 – Day 4, 18:00–20:00 EEST
Moderator: David Kleeman (SVP Global Trends, Dubit [https://www.dubit.io/])
Panel A – Online games, comics, animation
- Why did DUBIT pivot towards online games?
- What role do online games play in the development and relationships of children?
- Video from ROBLOX game (DUBIT Production)
Speakers:
- Irene Andriopoulou (Media and Culture Expert, Director of Creative Hub GR, Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece – EKKOMED),
- Vasilis Mitropoulos (Senior Software Consultant, IBM Hellas, Gamer)
- Nikos Tsouknidas (Animator, Illustrator, Engineer, will discuss the relationship between comics and audiovisual works)
- Carol Colmenares (children’s content producer, contributor to an EMMY Award-winning production)
SCREEN DEEP – podcast – Reference by David Kleeman or Carol Colmenares– a series of podcasts about the impact of different screen types on children (focus on the episode featuring presenter Kris Perry – to be confirmed if it will be online – in conversation with Dr. Douglas Gentile, Professor at Iowa State University and expert in video games).
Topics include:
- How various aspects of video games can affect children’s health and development.
- The impact of violent media, including video games, on children’s emotions and aggressive behaviors.
- Video game addiction frequency and features that make games potentially addictive.
- Positive effects of video games on social behavior and learning.
- How parents can influence their children’s media use and behavioral outcomes.
Panel B – The Present and Future of Film Education
Speakers:
- Katerina Giotopoulou (Special Teaching Staff, Department of Digital Arts and Cinema, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in film in education)
- Maria Leonida (CEO of KARPOS)
- Ilias Tassopoulos (Head of CINEDU Platform at EKKOMED)
- Vassilis Karamitsanis (Secretary General at CIFEJ – International Centre of Films for Children & Young People)
- Stathis Kalogeropoulos (Athens Film Officer)
Conclusions by: David Kleeman and Lena Rammou
CLOSING Greeting by Leonidas Christopoulos (CEO, Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece – EKKOMED)
Followed by a reception.
