Dora Masklavanou’s third feature, Polyxeni [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film], which premiered last year at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, is Greece’s submission for the Best Foreign-language Film Academy Award, which will be handed out on 24 February 2019.

Polyxeni is a period drama set in 1970s Istanbul. In 1957, a couple of prominent Greek Istanbulites adopt an orphaned Greek girl from their home town. They offer her a powerful family name and devote all their attention to her. Twelve-year-old Polyxeni is separated from her younger brother. She embarks on a new life and a future that looks bright. She receives an education, comes of age and falls in love. She has a lust for life, but is unaware of the devious and deadly plan that others are hatching behind her back, targeting her large inheritance.

Polyxeni was awarded the Tamouda Prize for Best Film at the 24^th Mediterranean Film Festival of Tetouan in Morocco. Earlier this year, it also received four Greek Iris Awards – for Best Actresses (both in leading and supporting roles), for Katia Goulioni and Lidia Fotopoulou, respectively; Best Cinematography, for Claudio Bolivar; and Best Original Score, for seasoned composer Nikos Kypourgos.

Polyxeni was produced by Fenia Cossovitsa (Blonde Audiovisual Productions), and it was supported by the Greek Film Centre.