As a film enthusiast who’s spent countless hours immersed in celluloid dreams, I must say that “Bearcave” has piqued my interest with its captivating premise and the promise of an unseen perspective into queer women’s lives in Greece. The collaboration between Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis, two talented filmmakers who met while studying at Harvard, seems to be a testament to the power of friendship and shared vision.
In the enchanting cave, a peculiar nettle pastry ignites a heartfelt journey of romance between two old companions who were once inseparable, as portrayed in “Bearcave,” the initial full-length production from filmmakers Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis.
Featuring fresh talents Xara Kyriazi and Pamela Oikonomaki, the movie, now in post-production, clinched the top award this week within the Works in Progress section of Thessaloniki Film Festival’s professional program. This production is a joint effort by Dinopoulos, Papadakis, Arsinoi Pilou, and Thanasis Michalopoulos from Greece’s Pameligo Collective, along with Emily Sky Hickin of Pucci Productions.
Bearcave” is inspired by Dinopoulos and Papadakis’ 2023 short film titled the same, which was awarded the Golden Dionysus for the best film at Greece’s Drama Short Film Festival, and was also screened at the Athens International Film Festival and BFI Flare.
The movie centers around Argiro (Kyriazi), portrayed as a tough and resilient farmer by the directors, and her close friend Anneta (Oikonomaki), who is known in their small mountain village in northern Greece as a popular manicurist. Before Anneta moves to the city with her police officer boyfriend, they decide to take a trek to a legendary, mystical bear cave. This enigmatic cavern holds great significance for them, as it has fascinated them since their younger days.
Discovering the cave leads to a chain of unforeseen acts of treachery, testing the bedrock of their friendship that has spanned lifetimes. As events unfold and hidden emotions surface, Argiro and Anneta face the dilemma of whether their paths will ultimately converge.
As depicted by the filmmakers, “Bearcave” offers a unique insight into the everyday lives of two young queer women residing in Greece. The narrative delves into their relationship, employing a fresh blend of youthfulness, brightness, and humor, which stands in stark contrast to the hardships and suffering often associated with rural LGBTQ+ communities.
The movie was conceived through the camaraderie shared by Dinopoulos and Papadakis, who first crossed paths at Harvard. Amidst the pandemic, they separately found themselves back in Greece, a situation that Dinopoulos referred to as a “return-to-the-roots moment.” Spurred by a creative hunger, they sought opportunities for collaboration. As he expressed, “We were really eager to film something.” They then embarked on a project to create a minimalistic, self-enclosed, experimental, budget-friendly production.
In just under six weeks, they managed to produce their short film through crowdfunding – a project that Dinopoulos referred to as a “whirlwind.” The timing of this production was particularly significant as it coincided with crucial transitions in the lives of the filmmakers. Papadakis found himself gradually relocating back to Greece without much long-term strategy, while Dinopoulos was contemplating moving back to the U.S. for graduate studies.
Eventually, he decided against pursuing the master’s program, and instead, they both settled down in their homeland. “The project served as our pledge to reside in Greece,” stated Dinopoulos. “By the end of the production, we were certain that this was a larger endeavor that required further development.
The characteristic was funded by the Pameligo Collective of Greece, established by the filmmaking group and backed by the Greek Film Center’s small-scale production funding program. Additionally, Hickin from U.K.’s Pucci Productions joined as a co-producer.
As an enthusiast, I find it fascinating that this creative collective was formed with the intention of offering a fresh viewpoint on the art and politics of filmmaking, nurtured by a community-driven approach. As Dinopoulos put it, “It’s a gathering of us, individuals who often take on multiple roles, who yearned to establish a creative sanctuary here in Greece.” This collective was not planned from the outset but rather sprouted naturally during the production of this film. However, it’s something we, the members, aspire to cultivate and grow further.
Hickin remarked, “It’s reminiscent of Greg Kwedar’s parity model he applied to ‘Sing Sing.’ It has a strongly horizontal structure and is focused on treating everyone involved in an independent production with the respect they deserve.
The Thessaloniki Film Festival runs Oct. 31 – Nov. 10.
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2024-11-08 14:46