Short film & documentary festival
Samos Cinema Festival
Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Σάμου
Cinema, brought back to where it began — watched together, outdoors, under the olive trees beside the Aegean.
Short film & documentary festival
Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Σάμου
Cinema, brought back to where it began — watched together, outdoors, under the olive trees beside the Aegean.
The festival
Konstantinos Fragkoulis — a director and screenwriter from Samos — once dreamed of the Samotherium, the long-necked ancestor of the giraffe that really did roam this island millions of years ago. In the dream it returned from the water and called out across the sea. He named an association after it, and from that association came a festival.
Five editions on, it remains a free-entry gathering for short films and documentaries. No red carpet, no industry noise — a screen in the dark, the sound of the water, and an audience that stays to talk long after the last frame.
Fifth edition · 300 in the audience · 8 films selected · 2 awards presented
Entries
Submissions
Entry fee rises from €5 to €20 as deadlines pass, the same for both categories. Attending the festival is always free.
Programme 2026
Five years on, the Samotherium has grown so much that this year it celebrates from 28 to 30 August at the Platanaki Beach Bar — free entry. Three nights of feature and short films from around the world, guest artists, a theatre piece and live music.
A record made on Samos, devoted to the jazz spirit the island awoke. Greg Foat on keys and production, Sokratis Votskos on winds, and the Giorgos Pappas Trio weaving oud, bass and drums into our traditional sound.
Dafni, a young judo athlete, leaves Ikaria and settles alone in Athens, following the seasoned coach Yuri and chasing the road to the Olympic Games.
The Nostos company retells Chortatsis's Erofili in a music-theatre celebration that travels through space and time — staged around a table and four chairs, on the road to the world of Love as it meets the arrogance of power.
Documentary and animation shorts from around the world, with Swedish director Felix Swahn presenting his new animation, Being A Dog.
A live acoustic duo. Our guests have played with and opened for the likes of Al Kooper, Al Perkins and Van Morrison, and will set the mood for the festival's closing film.
A black comedy of interwoven stories where love has a hard time of it.
Gallery
A complete archive of past nights on Samos.
Team
Voices
A great honor to have our film screened at your wonderful festival. We hope it becomes a bridge to future collaborations.
Amazing festival in a very nice location. Impeccable hospitality.