The city of Athens is eagerly preparing to host the 39th European Film Awards, marking a significant milestone as the first city in Southeastern Europe to welcome this prestigious event. This highly anticipated ceremony represents a notable achievement for the Municipality of Athens and further cements the city’s status as a premier destination for international film productions.

The Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, said: “It is with great enthusiasm that we will welcome the European Film Awards. Athens is a vibrant and hospitable city, sharing with its visitors its rich cultural heritage combined with its modern, upgraded image. It was rightly named the World’s Leading Cultural Destination for 2024 at the World Travel Awards. And now with the honour bestowed upon us by the European Film Academy, our city’s position as a popular destination for the film industry is officially recognised. In the Municipality of Athens, we attach particular importance to supporting film production. Through the Athens Film Office, we facilitate international and domestic productions, which find in the magnificent monuments, the unique neighborhoods, and the unique vibes that Athens emits the ideal setting to shoot their films. We are waiting for you all at this great celebration.”

In 2024, the Municipality of Athens, through the Athens Film Office, contributed to 28 international productions, which are estimated to have provided the local economy with 2,000 jobs and revenues of €40 million.

On 15 January 2027, the Mayor of Athens, as host of the city, will welcome all the important guests at the Zappeion Hall and on 16/1 the 39th European Film Awards will be held at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC), where international personalities, members of the Academy, nominees and announced winners are expected to attend. The countdown will begin 12 months ago, with a series of events dedicated to Greek and European cinema.

The proposal to host the glorious ceremony in Athens was prepared by the Greek Centre for Film, Audiovisual Media and Creation – Creative Greece and submitted to the European Film Academy, which accepted it. The ECCOMED – Creative Greece, acts as the coordinator of the Greek consortium consisting of the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, the Municipality of Athens, the Region of Attica, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre and ERT.

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, Rome, Barcelona, Warsaw, Warsaw, Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Tallinn, Malta, Riga, Wroclaw, Seville, Reykjavik and, most recently, Lucerne has so far taken over the organisation.