A packed council chamber at Thessaloniki's City Hall rose to warm applause on Thursday evening as internationally acclaimed filmmaker Costa-Gavras and his wife, Michèle, were welcomed at a special public event in his honour.
The tribute, organised by the Municipality of Thessaloniki in collaboration with the Mikis Theodorakis Museum of Zatouna and the Thessaloniki Film Festival, recognised the veteran director's contribution to world cinema and his imprint on collective memory.
Addressing the director personally, the city's mayor, Stelios Angeloudis, thanked him "for all that you have offered and for all that you have taught through your work and your life". Referring to Costa-Gavras's own understanding of cinema, he noted that films are not made to practise politics or deliver messages, but to tell stories. "Thank you for telling stories," Angeloudis said, drawing applause before presenting the filmmaker with an honorary plaque.
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Costa-Gavras expressed his gratitude to the organisers and attendees. "Thank you for inviting me to honour the film and Giorgos Lambrakis," he said, making special reference to his landmark 1969 political thriller Z. He noted that the film became possible thanks to "the support and strength of thousands of Greeks who rose at that time", singling out composer Mikis Theodorakis, whose music became inseparable from the film's identity. Theodorakis's daughter, Margarita, was also in attendance at the event.
Also present at the tribute was the French Consul General in Thessaloniki, Jean-Luc Laveau, who said: "Mr Costa-Gavras, Thessaloniki honours you today, but you know that you already have the full recognition of France." The celebrations concluded in the City Hall foyer with a musical programme featuring songs by Mikis Theodorakis, performed in tribute to the director as he marked his 93rd birthday.
Costa-Gavras' film Z (1969) is a political thriller based on the novel of the same name by Vassilis Vassilikos, which portrays the 1963 assassination of peace campaigner Grigoris Lambrakis in Thessaloniki. Attacked by far-right extremists after speaking at a rally, Lambrakis later died from his injuries. The case exposed links between extremist groups and elements of the state, sparking widespread outrage. The killing became a watershed moment in modern Greek political history and inspired one of the twentieth century's most influential political films.
By Sophia Agnanti - adapted from Greek by Vassia Barba
