02 Nov PRESS RELEASE 2/11/2026 – 17th INTERNATIONAL POLYTHEMATIC BRIDGES FESTIVAL – Corinth, Peloponnese, Greece
17th INTERNATIONAL POLYTHEMATIC BRIDGES FESTIVAL
BRIDGES connect the arts with society, creativity with knowledge, and culture with the values of inclusion and equality in Corinth.
The 17th International Polythematic BRIDGES Festival took place from 19 to 25 October 2026 at the Municipal Theatre of Corinth, “Thomas Thomaidis”, transforming the city into a meeting point for art, culture, science and creativity.
The Festival was held under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and the Municipality of Corinth.
More than 140 artists representing different fields of the arts, scientists, representatives of schools and cultural organisations from the Corinthia region participated in a week of diverse cultural and educational activities. The Festival also welcomed visitors from across Greece and abroad.
The programme featured cinema, music, theatre, dance, visual arts, photography, tributes to prominent figures of Greek culture, presentations and educational sessions. Particular emphasis was placed on educational activities focusing on filmmaking, with Alexis Chaviaras as instructor, and screenwriting, with Petra Terzi, as well as discussions addressing contemporary issues of art and intellectual property rights.
A special place in the programme was dedicated to autism awareness, in collaboration with the Fasma Association. The event was attended by local school students and aimed to promote awareness, acceptance and inclusion.
We invite you to experience a glimpse of the Festival’s many activities through the following audiovisual highlights.
The 17th International Polythematic BRIDGES Festival in 3 minutes:
MONDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2026
OPENING CEREMONY – A TRIBUTE TO GREEK MUSICIANS
The Festival opened with a tribute to three outstanding figures of Greek music:
- Dionysis Savvopoulos and Mimis Plessas – performed by the “Melifono” Mixed Choir of the Municipality of Corinth, conducted by Glykeria Moraitaki.
- Mikis Theodorakis – presented by Elena Michailidou’s Dance Group.
OPENING OF THE ART EXHIBITIONS
Two group exhibitions were inaugurated as part of the opening ceremony:
- “Corinthian Gaze – One City, Many Perspectives”, an art exhibition featuring artists presenting their own creative interpretations of Corinth.
- “Things We Pass By – Things We Pass By”, a group photography exhibition organised in collaboration with the Corinthian Photography Club and the Cyprus Chapter of Women in Film and Television (WIFT Cyprus).
TUESDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2026
TRIBUTE TO JENNY KAREZI – ATTENDED BY HER SON, KONSTANTINOS KAZAKOS
A special tribute to the celebrated Greek actress, bringing together memories, personal testimonies and moving moments.
- A personal testimony by Kypros Kyprianou, who experienced displacement as a child during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and shared his personal acquaintance with Jenny Karezi.
- An excerpt from the theatrical play “Our Big Circus” (To Megalo Mas Tsirko), presented by the Petrosophy Theatre Workshop, featuring Spyros Masouris, Aggeliki Patsatzi and Stefanos Riskas.
- Musical performances by the Choirs of the Senior Citizens’ Centres (KAPI) of the Municipality of Corinth, conducted by Makis Psaradellis.
WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2026
AUTISM AWARENESS TRIBUTE – AWARENESS, ACCEPTANCE AND INCLUSION
The Festival hosted a special tribute to autism, in collaboration with the Fasma Association, attended by students from local schools.
The initiative provided an opportunity to inform and raise awareness among young people, encouraging dialogue about diversity, acceptance and every person’s right to equal participation in society.
THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2026
TRIBUTE TO CORINTHIAN AUTHOR VASILIS XYDIS
A tribute to Corinthian author and creator Vasilis Xydis, featuring his latest film “Anadiataxis Part B” screening and an exhibition of his books, screenplays and essays, highlighting his intellectual and artistic contribution.
FRIDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2026
THE HISTORY OF COMICS WITH PERIKLIS KOULIFETIS
A journey through the world of comics, presented by Periklis Koulifetis, comic artist, political cartoonist, illustrator and columnist.
SATURDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2026
BRIDGES – THEATRE MONOLOGUES | BRIDGES MONOLOGUE CHALLENGE
A meeting of amateur and professional actors through the art of the theatrical monologue, featuring three distinctive theatrical interpretations:
- Vasiliki Kalachani – “Pearls”
- Dimitris Vasileiadis – “The Myth of Asclepius” (Hesiod)
- Maria Christodoulou – “Proikio”
SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2026
CONFERENCE: ART, CREATIVITY & RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
From cinema and music to classic cars.
An insightful conference addressing the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, the protection of creative work and intellectual property rights in the fields of culture and motoring.
The speakers included:
- Argyris Theos, President of the “ISOKRATIS” Collective Management Organisation.
- Ioannis Papageorgiou, representative of PANSEKTE.
- Theopoula (Poly) Dagkopoulou-Tsogka, lawyer.
- Vasiliki Meleti, judicial officer at the Athens Court of First Instance, PhD in Social Policy and author.
- Katerina Siampou, economist.
- Avraam Papadopoulos, President of HATSE (Hellenic Automobile & Touring Services Club) and representative of FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile).
- Jason Barouxis, FIA Mobility Activities – HATSE Greece.
SUNDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2026
GOLDEN PEGASUS AWARDS CEREMONY 2026
The Festival’s grand awards ceremony was accompanied by musical and theatrical performances.
Musical Programme – Nefeli Koutsoukou
- 0:00:59 – Piano: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, K. 397, Fantasia in D minor.
- 0:46:11 – Flute: Wilhelm Popp, “Zigeunerlied”.
- 1:00:40 – Piccolo Flute: Eugène Damaré, “Le Merle Blanc”, Op. 161, for piccolo flute and piano, with Aris Pistolas.
Petrosophy Theatre Workshop
0:28:47 – Spyros Masouris and Stefanos Riskas (The Stranger) presented Luigi Pirandello’s monologue “The Man with the Flower in His Mouth”.
A CREATIVE WORK BORN WITHIN THE FESTIVAL
BEFORE CARNIVAL | ΠΡΙΝ ΤΟ ΠΑΝΗΓΥΡΙ
A short film created during the Festival as part of the creative process of the Pegasos Cinema Lab.
A Pegasos Cinema Lab production, in collaboration with the Petrosophy International Cultural Centre, directed by Petra Terzi and written by Petra Terzi and Alexis Chaviaras.
The film is a practical expression of the Festival’s philosophy: going beyond the presentation of art to create opportunities for the production of new works and the development of emerging creators.
BRIDGES CONTINUES ITS JOURNEY!
Cine@Art Cultural Company and the Festival’s Artistic Director, Petra Terzi, look forward to welcoming audiences and filmmakers once again on 4–5 December 2026, at the 9th International Nafplio BRIDGES Film Festival!
We continue to create encounters, bring cultures together and provide a platform for stories, ideas and people who deserve to be heard.
BRIDGES – Connecting global culture with Corinth and Greece.
For more information:
www.bridgesfest.eu