The European Film Awards will be held in the Greek capital of Athens in January 2027.
This was announced today by the European Film Academy and the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (HFAC) – Creative Greece, acting as the coordinator of the Greek consortium comprised of the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Economy and Finance, City of Athens, Region of Attica, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre, and the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT.
For the first time traveling to Southeastern Europe, the ceremony of the 39th European Film Awards 2027 will take place in the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), preceded by the traditional Mayor’s Night reception on the eve of the award ceremony at the Zappeion Megaron
HFAC-Creative Greece, as the leader of the Greek consortium supporting the event, will organise a year of promotion of Greek and European cinema in the 12 months prior to the award ceremony. Details about this promotion programme will be announced in the first weeks of 2026.
Dr. Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture of the Hellenic Republic: “Athens welcomes one of the most iconic events in European cinema, having the honour of hosting, for the first time, the 39th European Film Awards ceremony. The initiative belongs to the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center S.A. – Creative Greece, which also co-organises the event. The selection of Athens confirms its dynamism as an international cultural hub, hosting events of global significance, serving as a vibrant nucleus of the contemporary creative industry, and boosting the extroversion of domestic audiovisual production. At the same time, it presents an outstanding opportunity to renew the ties between Greek creators and their European counterparts. It highlights the high-quality work of Greek creators, proving that the systematic efforts of the Ministry of Culture, through continuous encouragement and substantial support of the Greek audiovisual sector, are bearing fruit. By combining artistic excellence with commercial extroversion, it demonstrates that culture constitutes both a good and a product, supporting those who work in the sector. I am confident that, in a few days, creators and audiences will enjoy a unique event, whose success is guaranteed”.
Haris Doukas, Mayor of Athens: “With great enthusiasm, we will welcome the European Film Awards. Athens is a vibrant and hospitable city that shares its rich cultural heritage with visitors, combined with its modern, upgraded image. It was rightfully recognised as the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2024 at the World Travel Awards. At the Municipality of Athens, we place great emphasis on supporting film production. Through the Athens Film Office, we facilitate international and domestic film productions, which find in our magnificent monuments, unique neighbourhoods, and the unparalleled vibes of our city the ideal setting to shoot their films. We look forward to seeing you all at this grand celebration”.
Leonidas Christopoulos, CEO of the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece: “We are incredibly proud that the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre – Creative Greece has successfully secured Athens as the host city of the 39th European Film Awards an event that takes place for the first time in the Southeastern Europe. The selection of Athens highlights the city’s long and rich cultural heritage and also reflects Greece’s growing dynamism and influence in the European film and audiovisual industry. We feel ready, with the support of the European Film Academy, to welcome this grand celebration of European cinema that will honour art, creativity, talent and the innovative spirit of filmmakers from across Europe.”
“We are delighted to announce that the European Film Awards will be taking place in the magnificent city of Athens,” says Matthijs Wouter Knol, Academy CEO. “Greece, with its rich cultural heritage and profound cinematic history, provides the perfect backdrop for celebrating the achievements of European cinema. The vibrant Greek film industry of today will undoubtedly inspire a celebration of European cinema, also during the annual Month of European Film that precedes the award ceremony. We look forward to honouring the best in European filmmaking in such an extraordinary setting.”
The European Film Awards were first presented in Berlin in 1988, to promote and support the European film industry. They are held every second year in Berlin and travel throughout Europe in the other years: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Malta, Riga, Wroclaw, Seville, Reykjavík, and, most recently, in Lucerne. Wherever they go, the awards attract many international guests, ranging from esteemed Academy members and representatives of the European film community, nominees and pre-announced winners, as well as international press and media representatives to come to the hosting country.
The event provides a great opportunity for Greece to promote Greek art, culture and design, and to focus on Greece as a high-quality destination for film shoots and as an attractive partner for co-productions, thanks to a recently improved and excellent support cash rebate scheme. The choice for Athens is an important recognition of the Greek film industry and presents the country as an interesting filmmaking destination as well as an integral part of Europe’s film culture right in the Southeastern part of the European continent.
Greece and Athens are delighted to offer a stage for European film in the upcoming period. In the promotion program, also other key events in Greece, such as the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, will serve as important platforms for networking and discussions for the film industry.
A high number of Greek talents (158) are members of the European Film Academy. Several Greek films have received the prestigious European Film Award so far: The legendary Greek director Theo Angelopoulos received three European Film Awards – for LANDSCAPE IN THE MIST (1989), ULYSSEE’S GAZE (1995) and THE WEEPING MEADOW (2004). Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Filippou were named European Screenwriter 2015 for THE LOBSTER. Yorgos Lanthimos also received the award for European Director for THE FAVOURITE, for which for which Yorgos Mavropsaridis won European Editing (both 2019). Finally, the Eurimages International Co-Production Award 2018 was given to Greek producers Konstantinos Kontovrakis and Giorgos Karnavas, the latter being an Academy Board member since 2024.
The location Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC) is designed by the leading Italian architect Renzo Piano and his firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 2016, thanks to the vision and donation of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The SNFCC hosts the premises of the Greek National Opera and the National Library of Greece, and at the heart of this public domain lies the Stavros Niarchos Park, the largest public Mediterranean garden in the world. It is considered a cultural and social hotspot renowned, among other things, for its international high-profile events well beyond the borders of Greece and it is a modern landmark in a city that is considered the cradle of Western society. Centrally located, it is linked to the city’s historical center with on one side the world-famous Acropolis and on the other, the Faliro Bay.
Around 1,300 guests will attend the award ceremony in 2027. Media partner ERT, the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, supported by the European Broadcasting Union, will air the show live in Greece and throughout Europe as well as enable European partners to livestream the event simultaneously.
