Screenings as part of a one-day festival organized for 2023 Eleusis European Capital of Culture
30/09/2023 Elefsina, Greece
An improvised open-air cinema hosted a one-day festival at the Arkopolis site in Elefsina, screening 3 movies by Menelaos Karamaghiolis, dedicated to strays and people who voluntarily strive for solutions pertaining to crucial environmental issues of the Thriassio Plain. This action reflects the ways in which people who feel like strays themselves find solace in art as an effective tool for solidarity, care and essential interventions in enduring local issues.
The model of an improvised movie theatre set up in an unpredictable space creates an alternative proposal for the management of public spaces and the problems that political power is usually unable to address effectively. The films screened were pivotal to the surrounding space and its problems.
Mystery 99 – The Ark by Timecircus, stars in two movies of Mystery 69 – Greekies. Through a dynamic twist of events they find a swift solution for the peaceful coexistence of the makeshift shelter for strays, the Youth Arc Arkopolis and the skate park.
An abandoned space comes to life, a stray dog found injured in the rubbish bins of this space connects two different Mysteries of 2023 Eleusis and becomes a symbol of a different management of public spaces through artistic actions. Horsey, the stray from Elefsina, who accompanied Timecircus throughout their hiking journey across Europe, giving birth to her seven puppies along the way, becomes an encouraging, perspective-setting symbol.
This stray dog attended the screening of the films, moving among the spectators, participating with barking in response to the stray dogs who were featured in the films, cancelling borders and prejudices about disability.
The event participated in the opening of a site that for decades had been an abandoned garbage dump. The film captures the event in all its phases, the discussion with the audience, the artistic director and the artists of Mysteries 99 and 69 and the party that followed involving local groups and communities that provided food for the event. The animal lovers and volunteers of Elefsina, on the occasion of these films, discussed, exchanged ideas and celebrated a new space in their city that adopts stray animals, ideas, loves and stories.
Timecircus members, Michail Marmarinos, director and general artistic director of 2023 Eleusis and representatives of local organisations participated in a panel between screenings which was moderated by Menelaos Karamaghiolis.
A party full of surprises curated by Timecircus followed.
Movies screened:
GREEK ANIMAL RESCUE Duration: 65’
HORSEY IS GREEK OR THE SON OF HORSEY Duration: 17′ 50’’
MY NAME IS OLIVER, OR HOMER? ARISE, O GOD Duration: 17′ 30’’
