Zagori Fiction Days – Screenplay Competition Results and Round Table Discussion

The Zagori Fiction Days 6 Screenplay Competition has once again come to a successful conclusion. Following the evaluation of the submitted screenplays, the jury decided to award the prize to Ms. Anastasia Rizou for her screenplay "The Chimera Nebula” («Το Νεφέλωμα της Χίμαιρας»), which is an adaptation of her novel of the same title.

Among the screenplays this year were not only those based on classical Greek literature but also those of new writers who are screenwriters, distinguished by the application of new narrative methods. Despite the formal and structural shortcomings that often characterize such early-stage endeavors, these new approaches signal a departure from the formulas of traditional television fiction and a turn toward the exploration of new, out-of-the-box themes, content, and references. In this respect, the choice of this year’s first prize reflects less the dominance of a traditional model of television storytelling and more the contemporary state-of-the-art transitional value comparison between different, competing narrative models — from the old to the new.

As part of the Zagori Fiction Days 6 events, a round table discussion entitled "Screenwriting Today” was held on Thursday, December 4, at the "2 Sternes” Hall of The Land Beyond. The discussion participants included jury members: Giannis Ragkos (author–screenwriter), Panayota Balopoulou (The Land Beyond), and Spyros Kogkas (Imagine Heritage), along with members of the audience. Joining the discussion online were Anastasia Rizou (author), Athina Balopoulou (translator), Dimitra Rogkoti (Head of the Film Office, Region of Epirus), as well as the shortlisted candidates Gerasimos and Vlasis Mantziokas.