The 31st Athens International Film Festival, “Premieres Nights,” is preparing a major surprise this year, as the elusive three-time Oscar-winning British actor Daniel Day-Lewis is set to attend the Greek premiere of his new film Anemone. The premiere will take place on Sunday, October 12, at the Athens Concert Hall and will have a charitable focus, with all proceeds going to the Society for the Protection of People with Cerebral Palsy / Open Door.

Although Day-Lewis announced his retirement from acting in 2017, he could not resist actively supporting the directorial debut of his son, Ronan Day-Lewis. Daniel takes on a central role in Anemone and co-wrote the screenplay, which also stars Sean Bean.

In the film, Day-Lewis portrays a hermit whose middle-aged brother comes searching for him in Northern England. Their relationship is shaped by a mysterious and complex past, making their bond fragile yet occasionally tender, forever marked by a traumatic event from decades earlier.

Reduced Program Due to Funding Cuts

The festival organizers, who have established the event as a key and productive fixture in Greece’s cinematic landscape over the past 30 years, announced at a press conference at the French Institute that this year’s program—running from October 1 to 12—will be significantly reduced due to decreased state funding.

“From 2012 until now, the Ministry of Culture and the Attica Region actively supported the festival through EU-funded programs covering those 13 years. On June 27, 2025, in Elefsina, despite prior assurances, we were suddenly informed that the EU funding would not be extended for this year’s edition of Premieres Nights,” explained festival director Tatiana Pappa. She urged the government not to allow the festival to shrink, emphasizing:

“This year’s program redesign, due to reduced public funding, is a wake-up call about the fragile position of contemporary culture in state priorities. Uncertainty and discontinuity threaten not only the scale and prestige but also the very existence of an institution that has proven its value to the country’s cultural, social, and economic life. Premieres Nights are part of our identity. Losing them means losing something deeper: our collective memory and the power to dream.”

Artistic director Loukas Katsikas added that, due to budget cuts, this year’s festival will feature only half the number of films compared to previous years, which often exceeded 100 screenings. Four major sections—Tributes, Special Screenings, the Midnight section, and Music & Film—have been canceled.

The full program of the 31st Athens International Film Festival, Premieres Nights, will be announced on September 24.