The documentary “150 Years of Grande Bretagne – The Story Within History” was awarded the Silver Dolphin in the History and Personalities/Portraits category at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2024.
The documentary stood out among numerous entries from 46 countries, highlighting the rich history and heritage of Athens‘ most iconic hotel, the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
The award ceremony took place on Thursday, September 26, at the Annex Beach restaurant on the famous La Croisette in Cannes.
The President of the Hellenic Hotels Company LAMPSA, Chloe Laskari, stated: “We are particularly pleased with the award for the documentary ‘150 Years of Grande Bretagne – The Story Within History’ at the Cannes festival. This is an important work created as part of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Athens’ most iconic hotel, of which we are very proud. We share this honorary distinction with the contributors to the documentary and all those who participated in it, along with their personal stories.”
The documentary, directed by Thodoris Papadoulakis, presents the history of the “Grande Bretagne” through an impressive retrospective of a century and a half, emphasizing the historical connection of the hotel with the evolution of Athens. The production was executed by Indigo View, in co-production with ERT, with a script by Natasha Segou and music by Minoas Matsas, while the narration was done by journalist Pavlos Tsimas, who also took on the role of chief editor for the project.
Director Thodoris Papadoulakis commented: “For me, this documentary was a unique opportunity to tell the story of a living monument. The Grande Bretagne, since the moment it was built, holds countless stories that unfold through the decades, and we attempted to bring them to light with creativity and color.”
The film includes rich audiovisual material from the late 19th century to the present day, as well as testimonies from personalities connected with the hotel. Significant interviews feature historian and author Angel F. Vlahos, Apostolos Doxiadis, great-grandson of founder Efstathios Lampsas, journalist Nikos Vatopoulos, former Queen of the Hellenes Anna Maria, Professor Kostas Kostis from the University of Athens, shipowner Athanasios Laskaris, and the President of the Board of Directors of LAMPSA, Chloe Laskari.
The award for the documentary is a tribute to the long history of the hotel and its special contribution to the cultural heritage of Athens. The film presents the relationship between the hotel and the city through significant events and personalities, capturing the changes and influences it has had over the decades.
The award-winning documentary is now available on ERTFLIX, the ERT platform, offering viewers the chance to discover the fascinating stories and rich heritage of the Grande Bretagne Hotel through an impressive audiovisual narrative that highlights its historical significance.
