Greece’s Oscar selection controversy: A tale of scandal and survival
A month of turmoil in Greek cinema
In a month marred by controversy and scandal, Greece’s Oscar selection process has been under intense scrutiny. The legitimacy of the process was questioned, and the country’s chances at the 97th Academy Awards seemed in jeopardy. Amidst this chaos, Eva Nathena’s historical drama Murderess emerged as Greece’s official entry for the international feature film category. Out of 26 eligible films, Murderess was the last one standing after the other competitors withdrew in protest.
The selection announcement
Deputy Minister of Culture Iasonas Fotilas announced the selection of Murderess in a brief statement. He mentioned that the decision was made by a “quorum” of industry professionals on the evening of September 10. The six-person committee concluded that the film “meets the requirements for a dynamic presence” in the upcoming Oscar race.
Industry backlash
The Greek filmmaking community quickly voiced its outrage. Many described the selection process as a “disgrace,” a “theater of the absurd,” and an “absolute debacle.” One social media user sarcastically noted, “Murderess competed against itself and came out victorious.” In a scathing commentary, a columnist referred to the film as “the killer of the Oscars, the ‘Murderess’ of dignity.”
A six-week fiasco
The announcement marked the end of a nearly six-week fiasco that began when four members of Greece’s Oscar selection committee were abruptly dismissed just two days after their appointment. Government officials claimed that the four industry professionals had been notified of their selection “by mistake” before their participation had been “finalized.”
A replacement committee was quickly announced, but Greek industry representatives criticized the ministry’s handling of the situation as “unacceptable and distressing.” Several members of the replacement committee subsequently resigned, including Asimina Proedrou, director of last year’s Greek Oscar submission Behind the Haystacks. Proedrou announced her resignation on Facebook, stating that she “refused to legitimize” the government’s mishandling of the selection process.
Last-minute changes
With the Academy’s October 2 submission deadline looming, the Greek culture ministry appointed two new members, U.S.-based cinematographer Anastasios Michos and composer Nikos Platyrachos, to complete the six-person committee. However, just hours after Murderess was selected, both men tendered their resignations, renewing questions about the legitimacy of the process and raising fresh allegations about the swiftness with which the latest selection committee was composed.
The film and its accolades
Based on the celebrated novel by Alexandros Papadiamantis, Murderess is set on a remote Greek island at the turn of the 20th century. The story follows a young woman struggling to survive in a patriarchal society. The film premiered at the 64th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, where it won six awards, including the Fipresci Award for best Greek film and the audience award for the Meet the Neighbors+ competition. It also won five statues at Greece’s Iris Awards, including best cinematography for DoP Panagiotis Vasilakis.
The film received largely positive reviews in Greece. Critics praised its “evocative atmosphere, composed direction, and an exuberant performance by Karyofyllia Karabeti.” The film was also noted for its “dramaturgical consistency and visual dedication,” described as “tight in duration and airtight in style.”
The producers’ silence
Producers Costas Lambropoulos and Dionyssis Samiotis of Athens-based production outfit Tanweer were contacted for comments on why they decided not to withdraw Murderess from consideration, given the widespread irregularities in the selection process. Lambropoulos stated he was currently engaged with other projects and unable to comment, while Samiotis did not reply to several texts. Nathena could not be reached.
The ministry’s stance
Deputy Minister Fotilas declined to make any additional statements about the controversy or comment on why he refused to heed industry calls to scrap this year’s selection process. He emphasized that his role was mainly to appoint committee members and ensure due process. “It is the committee’s duty and responsibility to determine if the movie in question covers the criteria to represent our country,” he said. “From this point on, our role as the Greek Ministry of Culture is to empower the journey of Murderess.”
Calls for change
The Hellenic Film Academy has long championed the idea of handing over the selection process to the film body and its nearly 700 members. Last month, the academy penned an open letter asking for this year’s selection process to be scrapped and for Greece not to submit a film for the international feature film race at next year’s Academy Awards.
“This process needs to change,” said Hellenic Film Academy president Lefteris Charitos. ”It’s a little bit of a one-man rule, in a way. We had one film left, a weak committee handpicked by the minister, and no real process of selection between the 26 films that were initially submitted. It seems like there was no real process of selection, and this has created a breach of confidence.”
Charitos continued, “I think it would be more honest if all films withdrew and we went normally next year — as a country, as a community of people working in cinema.”
A new chapter for Greek cinema
The controversy surrounding Greece’s Oscar selection process has highlighted the need for a more transparent and fair system. As the Greek filmmaking community reflects on this tumultuous period, there is hope that future selections will be handled with greater integrity and respect for the art of cinema.
For more information on Murderess, you can watch the trailer and visit the information page.