Afestive ceremony marked the official inclusion of Thessaloniki’s iconic White Tower in the European Film Academy’s prestigious list of Treasures of European Film Culture. The event took place on Friday, Nov. 7, in White Tower Square, as part of the 66th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
Organized by the Festival in collaboration with the European Film Academy (EFA) and the National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication, the celebration was held with the support of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Thessaloniki City and the Museum of Byzantine Culture.
The evening opened with a warm welcome from Vassilis Terzopoulos, associate of the Festival’s Greek Program. EFA Board Chairman Mike Downey then took the floor, highlighting the importance of building a network of film heritage landmarks across Europe. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the EFA Board and its President, Juliette Binoche, to all those who contributed to making this initiative a reality.
“The White Tower is the first monument in Greece to join this growing network, which reflects the richness and magic of European cinema,” Downey noted. “It carries a long history as the symbol of Thessaloniki and has served as the backdrop for numerous films by Theo Angelopoulos, arguably the most important figure in Greek cinema.”
Since 2008, the White Tower has housed a permanent exhibition dedicated to Thessaloniki’s history—from its founding in 316 BC to the 20th century—showcasing the city’s multifaceted cultural heritage. To present such a wealth of information within a compact space, the exhibition combines multimedia displays with graphic panels, while archaeological artifacts are kept to a minimum.
The White Tower’s inclusion in the EFA’s cinematic treasure map not only celebrates its historical and cultural legacy but also affirms Thessaloniki’s enduring connection to the art of film—standing tall, once again, as a beacon of stories that unite Europe’s past and present.
Source: tovima.com
