GFF25 The Greeks of South America

A loco Greek-Aussie-Lesbian is visiting the Greeks of South and Latin America in 2024 and 2025. Greeks have been in the Americas since the early 1800s, leaving their imprint on societies in Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Cuba. On an epic year of travel that took in 23 countries, Cotsis takes us to some of the more prominent Greek communities in the Americas, introducing us to multi-generational Greek speakers, Greek businesses, Churches, and dancing—opa! Each of these communities has tried to preserve their language and connection to Greece or Cyprus in lands that are distant to Hellenes. The film presents some of their stories and, more importantly, highlights some of the synergies between Greeks and the peoples of the Americas. Food, the spirit of Zorba, and adventure seem to be some of the commonalities between the two. As we follow a Hellenic path across the Americas, the film will highlight the beauty of local landscapes and the power of the Greek language.