Opening Nights: the Athens International Film Festival every October

🎬 Until the next Opening Nights (estimate)

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The festival usually starts on a Wednesday around 1 October and lasts twelve days. The programme is announced in September.

Every autumn, for twelve days, Opening Nights (Nychtes Premieras) fills the cinemas of central Athens with films from the world’s big festivals, such as Cannes, many before they reach cinemas. The Athens International Film Festival took place for the 32nd time in 2026, from 30 September to 11 October. In 2027 we expect it from Wednesday 29 September to Sunday 10 October (estimate; the dates have not been announced). One of its cinemas, the Trianon, is a 9-minute walk from Ioulianou 50.

At a glance

12 days

From a Wednesday around 1 October to the second Sunday after.

Since 1995

2026 was the 32nd edition, with premieres, a competition and retrospectives.

Subtitled

Foreign films are screened in their original language with Greek subtitles.

9 minutes

On foot from Ioulianou 50 to the Trianon cinema.

What you’ll see

The programme has two sides. One is the big premieres: films with well-known names coming from the world’s major festivals. In 2026 the festival opened at the Athens Concert Hall with Jordan Firstman’s «Club Kid» and closed at the Olympia with Martin McDonagh’s «Wild Horse Nine». The other is discoveries: an international competition with 20 films, 10 fiction and 10 documentaries, and 42 Greek short films chosen from 392.

Around these there are retrospectives and special evenings. In 2026 there was a full retrospective of the Korean director Lee Chang-dong, Yorgos Lanthimos presented films of his choice, and on 7 October «Pink Narcissus» was screened with live electronic music. The festival’s masterclasses and parties were free.

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A singer and musicians with double bass and cello on the stage of the Trianon cinema, in front of the screen — Trianon
The historic cinema on Kodrigktonos Street, 9 minutes from Ioulianou 50. The short film awards were held here in 2026.

The entrance of the Stoa Korai with the sign Galleria Korai and café tables inside the arcade — Stoa Korai · Astor
The Astor is inside this 1938 arcade, between Stadiou and Korai Streets.

People in front of the lit entrance of the Olympia Municipal Music Theatre «Maria Callas» in the evening — Olympia «Maria Callas»
On Akadimias Street. The closing ceremony took place here in 2026.

The Muses Foyer of the Athens Concert Hall with chairs set out for a rehearsal and a stage with lights — Athens Concert Hall
In 2026 the opening ceremony and a masterclass took place here.

Photos: Ggia (CC BY-SA 4.0), athenswalk (CC0), StrangeTraveler (CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.

Where the screenings are

The festival sticks to the city’s classic cinemas. In 2025 the screenings were at the Danaos, the Astor, the Trianon, Cinobo Opera, the Asty, the Athens Concert Hall, the Olympia and the Onassis Stegi. Most are near Omonia and Syntagma:

Trianon, Kodrigktonos 21: on foot from Ioulianou 50.
Astor (Stadiou 28), Asty (Korai 4), Cinobo Opera and Olympia (Akadimias): Line 1 to Omonia and Line 2 one stop to Panepistimio.
Onassis Stegi, Syngrou Avenue: Line 1 to Omonia and Line 2 to Syngrou-Fix.
Danaos, Kifissias Avenue in Ambelokipi: Line 1 to Omonia, Line 2 to Syntagma and Line 3 to Panormou.

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The main hall of the Onassis Stegi with its curved rows of seats and the lit stage — Onassis Stegi
The main stage. In 2025 the Stegi was one of the festival venues.

The Stegi foyer with glass stairs lit in blue and curved golden walls — The Stegi foyer
Arrive a little early to get a good seat.

Stadiou Street at night with street lamps and car lights in white trails — Stadiou, after the screening
From the Astor to Syntagma is a five-minute walk.

Car lights in curving red and yellow trails at a junction on Stadiou Street at night — Nights in the centre
The centre stays lively until late on festival nights.

Photos: StrangeTraveler (CC BY-SA 4.0), George E. Koronaios (CC BY-SA 4.0 and CC BY-SA 2.0), Wikimedia Commons.

Tickets

Pre-sales open a few days before the opening: in 2026 they started on Friday 25 September at 12:00, with festival passes a day earlier. Tickets are sold on the festival website (aiff.gr) and on more.com. Online sales close 15 minutes before each screening; after that, whatever is left is at the cinema box office. For premieres with well-known names, book early.

How to get to the Trianon

Ioulianou 50 → 3is Septemvriou: walk east along Ioulianou, about 260 metres, to 3is Septemvriou Street.
3is Septemvriou → Kodrigktonos: turn left and walk up 3is Septemvriou for about 400 metres, to Kodrigktonos Street.
Kodrigktonos 21: turn right; the Trianon is 40 metres on, just before Patision Street.

About 700 metres in total, 9 minutes.

🎬 From Ioulianou 50 to the Trianon

About 700 metres on foot. Tap the Trianon to open the route in Google Maps.

Ioulianou 50 Trianon cinema

Kathy’s tip: don’t just chase the big premieres. Try a competition film or a documentary too: that is where the best discoveries happen. If you are staying with us, start with the Trianon: it is in the neighbourhood, and after the screening there is food on Patision Street and Victoria Square.

Frequently asked questions

When is Opening Nights in 2027?

The dates have not been announced. Based on recent years, we expect the festival from Wednesday 29 September to Sunday 10 October (estimate).

Will I understand the films if I don’t speak Greek?

Foreign films are screened in their original language with Greek subtitles, so English-language films are no problem. For Greek films and films in other languages, check the programme for English subtitles.

Where do I buy tickets?

At aiff.gr and more.com, from late September. If online sales have closed, try the cinema box office shortly before the screening.

Are there free events?

Yes. In 2026 the festival’s masterclasses and parties were free, and unemployed people got free tickets.

Which cinema is closest to the apartments?

The Trianon, at Kodrigktonos 21, a 9-minute walk. The cinemas on Stadiou and Akadimias are about 15 minutes by metro.

— Kathy