I was so excited when Nikita Chronis invited me to a meeting about his plans to create GAFS- the Greek Australian Film Society, dedicated to the preservation, celebration and creation of beautiful Greek-Australian Film. The meeting outlined the plans for the society, attended by a wide range of proud Greek- Australians, like myself. For me, the stand out focus was the commitment to create a memory bank for future generations of Greek-Australians, so our ethnos will continue to flourish outside of Greece.
So with my metrio freddo espresso in tow, I caught up with Nikita, the founder of GAFS, ahead of the inaugural launch event on October 27th.
MG- Material Girl
NC- Nikita Chronis
MG: While I have known you are a star since you were a young boy, what are you currently working on?
NC: I am an actor, having recently performed as Xanthus in Taika Waititi’s upcoming Apple T.V. rendition of “Time Bandits”. I’m also producing a docu-series for Melbourne-based soccer club Moreland City FC in conjunction with OneHouse Productions. I am also focused on growing the Greek-Australian Film Society (GAFS).
MG: What inspired you to create the Greek-Australian Film Society (GAFS)?
NC: I am immensely proud to be a Greek-Australian. Growing up, I always had a deep fascination and love for the performing arts, beginning with the Children’s Performing Company of Australia. More recently, particularly over the lockdown period, I delved deeper into modern Greek history, culture and folklore, and found myself overwhelmed by an urge to somehow mend my two passions - the Greek-Australian ethos and the arts - into one. This prompted me to reach out to notable Greek-Australians in the theatre and film world, and slowly, the idea of forming a Greek-Australian Film Society emerged.
MG: For anyone reading this post, share with us what GAFS is about..
NC: GAFS is a network of Greek-Australian cinephiles with a shared passion for Greek-Australian film and cinema more broadly. We operate as a channel through which Greek-Australian artists in the film industry can be contacted for professional purposes. Our members can communicate, brainstorm and collaborate on creative projects. We are dedicated to preserving, presenting and celebrating historical Greek-Australian films through screening events, panel discussions and workshops. As a society, we are committed to the creation of Greek-Australian film based on our foundational values and through the internal collaboration of our members. We see ourselves as a memory bank for future generations of Greek-Australians - that through the restoration of historical Greek-Australian narratives and the creation of innovative works, we can ensure the survival and flourishing of our ethnos. GAFS is committed to fostering a dynamic film body that embraces both the enjoyment of our history, and the exploration of new artistic pathways.
MG: What does being Greek -Australian mean to you?
NC: My grandparents on my mother’s side are from Florina, Macedonia, and my grandparents on my father’s side are from Stymphalia and Tripoli respectively, in the Peloponnese. My heritage means everything to me. Being a Greek-Australian runs at the core of my identity, and I firmly believe that the qualitative principles at the centre of my heritage are more profound and universal than people tend to realise. This is why I constantly reaffirm that Hellenism and Australian-ism are not simply ethnic or national categories, but also reflect certain modes of being that both transcend cultural boundaries, yet nevertheless, retain their particular uniqueness. Leventia, philotimo, agapi, philoxenia, mateship, fairplay - these virtues are what make up the constitution of a true Greek-Australian, in my opinion.
MG: What are the immediate goals for GAFS?
NC: GAFS is seeking to preserve, platform and produce beautiful Greek-Australian films. We want to be a network of Greek-Australian creatives, both online and in person, for the mutual promotion and benefit of Greek-Australian artists. We want to create stories that reflect philotimo, leventia, agapi, eros, philoxenia and the like, and embody these qualities ourselves throughout the creative process. We want to produce films that are truthful, raw, revealing, redemptive and hopeful so that future generations of Greek-Australians can preserve their cultural identity without relying solely on external customs. If you are a Greek-Australian who wants to be involved in a community such as ours, our door is always open. The easiest way to find out more about GAFS is to contact me at info@gafsinc.org and to follow our Instagram page (@gafscom) and Linkedin account https://www.linkedin.com/company/greek-australian-film-society
MG: The upcoming launch event on October 27th looks exciting! What can guests expect from the event?
NC: The launch event will officially introduce the Greek-Australian Film Society to the world and celebrate the brilliant artistic talent of our members. Our event is dedicated to the celebration and promotion of Greek-Australian cinema! There will be delicious Greek delicacies & beverages, live performances and entertainment, short film screenings from our very own GAFS members and supporters and an opportunity for networking and socialising.
To support GAFS or buy tickets to the launch event, click here
Check out Nikita below on set along with a group shot from the inaugural GAFS meeting. I am a sucker for brilliant branding and the GAFS logo below is the perfect representation of the brand's focus and values. Bravo Nikita, Ruby and the GAFS team. Kaλές δουλιές!
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