You have probably heard of the larger film festivals like Sundance, Cannes, and Tribeca, but perhaps the most glamorous place to watch movie premieres is not among that list. Instead, try the Aegean Film Festival, which takes place every July on Patmos, a gorgeous Greek island whose bohemian background plays into the festival’s fabric. Patmos itself offers spectacle and drama, and is full of contradictions. Behind the main town, you can see the monastery of Saint John the Theologian guarding Greek treasures. The festival itself, which was founded in 2010, is also full of juxtapositions.
“On the one hand, the program needs to reflect the openness of the sea,” said film critic Alin Tasciyan, according to Town & Country. “On the other hand, the festival’s outdoor screenings need to respect the community’s ancestry.”
The festival is the only opportunity to watch a film on the big screen under the stars. It has attracted the attention of big names including filmmaker Alexander Payne, Tribeca Film Festival artistic director Frederic Boyer, and documentarian Jesper Jack.
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