Tribute to Akira Kurosawa at the 30th Athens International Film Festival

“Man is a genius when he is dreaming”
Akira Kurosawa

The tribute, which is a long-cherished dream of the Festival team, takes place on the occasion of the Festival's 30th anniversary and coincides with "2024: Japan-Greece Year of Culture and Tourism" with the support of the Embassy of Japan in Greece and the sponsorship of M/Maritime. The shipping company M/Maritime, honoring the land of the Rising Sun, gives with its actions new impetus to the Greek-Japanese relations, respecting the maritime and intercultural ties of the two countries.

Akira Kurosawa was a revolutionary master of the camera, movement and (later on) of colour, a brilliant thinker of the modern human condition, a philosopher of the relationship between cultures and of the sweeping impact of history. Admittedly the more "western" of the great Japanese school, he influenced 20th century cinema as few others have, stood as a reference point and constant inspiration for the world's greatest filmmakers, and universally translated an unparalleled humanism, delivering an expansive yet affably gracious filmography, deeply concerned with the human condition, in service of all that could make us a better species.

The Athens International Film Festival's great tribute, entitled "AKIRA KUROSAWA: ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED", will present to the audience - in their fullest and most impressive restoration - 13 iconic films, timelessly positioned among cinema's unshakable masterpieces. Among them are the "SEVEN SAMURAI", which we will have the opportunity to see for the first time in our country in its complete version and in a 4K restoration currently screened worldwide.

THE FILMS OF THE TRIBUTE

RASHOMON  (1950, 88’)
THE IDIOT | HAKUCHI (1951, 166’)
DOOMED | IKIRU (1952, 143’)
SEVEN SAMURAI | SHICHININ NO SAMURAI (1954, 207’)
THRONE OF BLOOD | KUMONOSU-J (1957, 110’)
THE HIDDEN FORTRESS | KAKUSHI TORIDE NO SAN AKUNIN (1958, 139’)
THE BAD SLEEP WELL | WARUI YATSU HODO YOKU NEMURU (1960, 151’)
YOJIMBO (1961, 110’)
HIGH AND LOW | TENGOKU TO JIGOKU (1963, 143’)
RED BEARD | AKAHIGE (1965, 185’)
DODES’KA-DEN (1970, 140’)
RAN (1985, 162’)
DREAMS | YUME (1990, 119’) 

The film still is from the making of “Ran” (1985) Credit: BFI

The full program of the 30th Athens International Film Festival will be announced during the PRESS CONFERENCE on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024 (location and time TBA).

The Athens International Film Festival, sponsored by Nova, will take place from October 2 to 14. The venues that will host this year's event are: DANAOS I & II, CINOBO OPERA I & II, ASTOR, ASTY, MEGARON ATHENS CONCERT HALL and PALLAS. 

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