Canadian Content Galore in Athens and beyond! More Change at CIG

 

Canadian Content I:  Greek Premiere of the Canadian Film “The Grand Seduction”

This evening, the 19th, at 20:00 at the Danaos I Cinema (Λ. Κηφισίας 109 - ΜΕΤΡΟ Πανόρμου) is the Greek Premiere of the 2013 Canadian film “The Grand Seduction”. This is the latest work of director Don McKellar whose earlier efforts (Last Night, Red Violin, The Adjuster, Existenz, and Blindness) have received much acclaim over the years. This delightful, widely-praised “dramedy” (http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-grand-seduction-2014) written by Ken Scott and Michael Dowse is set in fictional “Tickle Head” Newfoundland and stars Brendan Gleeson and Taylor Kitsch. It had its world premiere last September at the Toronto International Film Festival. McKellar will be at the screening to discuss the film and to answer questions afterwards.

This premiere is part of the 20^th “Nychtes Premieras” Athens International Film Festival (www.aiff.gr) that runs from September 17^th through the 28th. The cost of a ticket is just 6 Euro! The Canadian Embassy in Athens has helped to bring the film and its director to Athens.  Metaxia and I hope to see you there tonight!

Canadian Content II:  Historical Novel Presentation by the Canadian Author W. Ruth Kozak

On Wednesday, September 24^th the Vancouver based author and travel writer, and frequent visitor to Greece, W. Ruth Kozak (www.ruthkozak.com) will present her newly-published historical novel at 18:30 at the Athens Centre (48 Archimidous Street) in Mets. The work is entitled Shadow of the Lion: Blood on the Moon (volume 1 of 2) and it is published by MEDIAARIA CDM of Bristol, UK. The book is available through Amazon.com.  The e-volume version will be out in 2015 and the second part (The Fields of Hades) will be published in 2016.

As the first part is set in the after-shocks following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC this novel presentation is perfectly timed to enhance the “Amphipolimania” that has engulfed Greece. Go and meet the engaging author and learn who she thinks is buried in the Tymbos at Kasta near Amphilpolis! She will be in Athens and Greece until October 8^th.

Canadian Content III:  Margaret Atwood at the Megaro Mousikis

How can it be that two Canadian authors are featured on the same evening in Athens? Well, when it rains it pours, so to speak, eh! Also on Wednesday evening, the 24^th at 19:00 in the Dimitris Mitropoulos Hall of the Megaro Mousikis will be a conversation between the Booker Prize winning Canadian novelist, poet, literary critic and environmental activist Margaret Atwood (http://margaretatwood.ca/) and the well-respected Greek journalist Thanasis Lalas. They will examine the theme “Dystopias and the Greek influence on them.”  The discussion will be in English with simultaneous Greek translation.  This is part of the Megaron Plus series (http://www.megaron.gr/default.asp?pid=5&la=1&evID=2146) .  The Canada Council for the Arts and the Canadian Embassy are co-supporters of the event. While entrance is free, you will have to go to the Megaron Mouskis beforehand, starting at 17:30, to pick up an entrance pass. It should be noted that the seating is limited.

Canadian Content IV:  New exploration of the Antikythera shipwreck site using Canadian technology

In 1900 sponge divers from Kalymnos discovered in the deep water off the coast of Antikythera the now famous 1^st-century BC shipwreck which had the “Antikythera Mechanism” on it along with many marble and bronze statues probably intended for Rome. The wreck has been revisited since then several times. A new project by marine archaeologists from the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities is about to begin with the assistance of a marine archaeologist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the United States (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite4_1_16/09/2014_542935).

The key component of the planned exploration will be the use of what is called the “Exosuit”. This is a cast-aluminum rotary joint atmospheric diving system (ADS) designed and built by Nuytco Research Ltd. in North Vancouver, BC for diving and working longer up to 350 m below sea level (http://www.sea-technology.com/features/2013/1213/1.php).

The Institute knows Antikythera well as it was surveyed by Canadian team from Trent University in cooperation with the 26^th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. Further, a team from McMaster University worked as well with our Greek colleagues in the Underwater Ephorate on the Underwater Survey of Kalamianos Harbor on the Saronic Gulf.

The CIG Blog has moved!

As of this iteration, the famous CIG Blog will only be posted on our revamped and enlarged CIG website (where you are now).  The old residence, www.cig-icg.blogspot.gr, will be retained as the Archive of the all of the invaluable blogs posted between January, 2011 and early September, 2014. Moving forward to serve our members and supporters!

Cordially,
David Rupp
Director