Vasilis Georgiadis, Stelios Tatasopoulos, Grigoris Grigoriou, George Skalenakis, Panos Glykofrydis, Giorgos Papakostas, Odysseas Kosteletos, Errikos Thalassinos, Marios Retsilas, Orestis Laskos, Nikos Avrameas, Ilias Mylonakos, Ilias Mahairas, Omiros Efstratiadis, Antonis Tempos, Giorgos Dizikirikis, Kostas Lychnaras, Kostas Andritsos, Kostas Strantzalis and Nikos Koutelidakis sign the guild’s founding charter named Greek Cinema and Television Directors Guild.

More than two hundred directors and artists take part in the events inside the National Polytechnic School of Athens and broadcast their message through the radio station:

“We, the directors, actors, and television technicians inside the Polytechnic School of Athens stand with the free Greek people. We encourage all of you working in the creative sector to go on strike. Especially you, working on television, responsible for informing the Greek people of the news, go on strike immediately. Fellow workers, we all need to be on the streets to overthrow the dictatorship and gain popular sovereignty.”

The state approves the charter, and the Guild starts operating. Orestis Laskos is the Guild’s first president, and Giorgos Dizirikis the first secretary-general.

After the failed military coup staged in Cyprus and the Turkish invasion, the Colonels' dictatorship collapsed, and a democratic Government under Kostantinos Karamanlis was established. Renowned figures in the creative, science and political fields undertake the management of public television. 

The Guild immediately proceeds to elections for its new Border of Directors. Grigoris Grigoriou is the new President, and Giorgos Dizikirikis is the Secretary-General. The BoD’s first actions were to demand the repatriation of writer Dimitris Chatzis and participate in the panhellenic interventions regarding the Polytechnic School of Athens events.

Τhe newly formed guild stages a public intervention against Article 14 of the Constitution, which allows censorship of public spectacles. At the same time, it amends its statutes, resulting in the registration of dozens of directors in the guild.

The International Federation of Trade Unions of Audio-Visual Workers (FISTAV) is founded.

At the same time, the guild is being reorganised internally and moving to Mantzarou Street. It stages a public intervention for the abolition of YENED (the military television channel) and appoints representatives to the group working “On the Establishment and Operation of Private Schools of Cinema and Television”. It openly opposes the state’s decision to forbid the film “The Travelling Players” by Theodoros Angelopoulos to represent Greece at the Cannes International Film Festival. It proposes the creation of a Balkan Film Festival. Finally, Panos Glykofrydis is elected as the new president of the Guild, and Iraklis Papadakis the new secretary-general.

The Ministry of Industry and the cinematographers agree on a new Regulation for the organisation and operation of the state’s Film Festival, with the participation of representatives and associations. In the same year, the National Radio and Television Foundation (EIRT) was renamed Hellenic Radio Television (ERT) (Law 230/1975), while YENED was still in operation.

The Guild sets up working committees after many members willing to assist in the union's work join its forces.

At the same time, it becomes a member of FISTAV and sends a Greek delegation to the 1st Congress in Moscow (October 12-17, 1976). Thus begins the development of the Guild’s international relations with meetings with directors' unions from Poland, Italy, the German Democratic Republic, France and the USSR, with which they sign a cooperation protocol. The Guild strengthens its communication with domestic associations and makes plans for joint actions.

Growing cases of censorship lead to a series of interventions.

The General Directorate of Cinema Enterprises (GKE), established by the Dictatorship to control film production, with coordinated actions of the unions, is evolving into the Greek Film Centre (EKK).

Konstantinos Karamanlis is re-elected to the country's leadership in the parliamentary elections.

The enactment of Law 542/1977 offers tax reliefs and exemptions from taxation to companies and banks. Small tax exemptions are also given to directors and other artists, employees, and freelancers.

However, the Minister of Industry, Konstantinos Konofagos, with the unilateral circumvention of the 1975 agreement for the Film Festival, provokes the reactions of the entire film community, and the issue reaches the Parliament.

Despite the reactions of the filmmakers, the Ministry and the conservative circles of Thessaloniki proceed to organise the state festival.

Then, in October, the filmmakers, with the support of most of the press, all cultural associations and social organisations, decided to organise the "Greek Film Festival '77" at the “Radio City” Cinema in Thessaloniki despite the blackmail and persecution. The “Antifestival '77”, as it became known, was held with impeccable democratic procedures and was welcomed by the audience and many foreign journalists.

At that crucial moment for the cinematic things, the Guild reformed as the Greek Directors Guild and accepted theatre directors into its forces.

In the Guild’s next elections, Grigoris Grigoriou is elected president, and Lambros Liaropoulos is the new general secretary. The Guild forms committees to elaborate on the film industry's issues and shape its views. It stages interventions against the malfunction of the Film Directorate, the reform of the Regulation of the Film Festival and the censorship that continues to reject scripts and whole films.

The Guild participates in the 2nd FISTAV Meeting in San Remo (6-9 June).

In the same year, the Drama Short Film Festival is founded.

Greece enters a new phase in its history with its accession as a full member of the European Economic Community.

Lambros Liaropoulos is elected president of the union, and George Dizikirikis, its general secretary, in the Greek Directors Guild elections. The Guild intervenes to protest the refusal of the Ministry of Finance to refund the public entertainment tax and raises the issue of uninsured veteran directors in an extensive discussion.

As the Guild grows, so do its needs. A larger space on Demokritou Street in Athens becomes its new house. Pantelis Voulgaris is elected president and Thanassis Rentzis general secretary in the year's elections.

The Guild participates in the three-day Conference on Cinema and Image Rights in Hyères, the VERONA International Film Week and the International Convention of FISTAV in Moscow.

The Federation of European Film Directors is founded, and the Greek Directors Guild is among its founding members.

The film sector is delegated to the responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture. Until then, it was under the Ministry of Industry.

Grigoris Grigoriou is elected as the new president of the Guild and Thanassis Rentzis as the general secretary.

The Greek Directors Guild, in collaboration with other creatives’ unions and associations, co-organises the First Panhellenic Film Conference (December 12-14, 1980).

The Guild publicly denunciates the persecutions of the military regime of Turkey.

Following the resignation of President Grigoris Grigoriou in May, Thanasis Rentzis, as president with Nikos Kanakis as general secretary, led the Guild to elections. Theo Angelopoulos is elected as the new president and Nikos Kanakis as general secretary in the November elections. The new BoD conducts a press conference to reform television and create quality TV programs.

In collaboration with the Municipality of Piraeus, the Guild organises screenings of films by young cinematographers in various squares and districts of the city.

It also organises in Athens the Conference of the European Federation of Screen Directors (FERA) titled “Democracy & Freedom of Expression”, in collaboration with the Greek Film Centre and under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture.

The Guild is represented in the Group working “On the Restructuring of the Law “On Artistic Education of Film Schools”.

The increase in cinematographic film prices leads to the public intervention of the Greek Directors Guild. 

Representatives of the El Salvador Revolutionary Film Institute meet with representatives of the Guild.

At the same time, Greece was going through significant changes. The socialist party, PASOK, succeeds the New Democracy party in the country's governance. 

Melina Mercouri becomes the new Minister of Culture. The management of the national television ERT is now under George Romeos.

A constructive dialogue begins with the Ministry of Culture on issues regarding the film industry. The Greek Directors Guild stages an intervention regarding the bill drafted by the Ministry of Culture to recognise directors as artists.

Opening of ERT to cinematographers.

Thanassis Rentis becomes a member of the administration committee of the European Federation of Screen Directors (FERA)

The Guild participates in the international film Meetings of Saint Etienne.

The Regulation for the state Film Festival is reformed anew.

The Guild participates in the 3rd Conference of the International Federation of Trade Unions of Audio-Visual Workers (FISTAV) in East Berlin (November 2-5).

At the same time, the Guild’s representatives are increasingly involved in the film's decision-making centres.

With the Law 1288/82, YENED (military television channel) ceases to function as a military radio and television station, becomes a public service and is renamed ERT2.

Kostas Koutsomytis is elected as the new president of the Guild, and Manos Efstratiadis as general secretary.

The Guild conducts a press conference on the topic: “Initiative for the establishment of a Cinema Museum”.

The Guild is represented by two members at the Hungary Festival 1983.

A printed tribute in memory of the former president Lambros Liaropoulos was published after his sudden death.

The Greek Directors Guild celebrates its tenth anniversary with various events and a Panorama of Greek Cinema.

Yilmaz Güney is declared an honorary member of the ECA.

The film community forms creative collaborations to develop a new Law on Cinema.

The Guild agrees to cooperate with the Union of Hungarian Artists.

The First Panhellenic Conference on Radio and Television (December 12-14, 1980) is conducted.

At the end of the year, the Guild nominates a new president, George Karypidis, with Nikos Antonakos as general secretary.

The Greek Directors Guild conducts a Press conference to promote the Draft Law on “Greek Cinema - production - distribution - exploitation”.

A Guild’s delegation visits the Soviet Union within the cultural-trade union agreement.

The Guild stages a public intervention to abolish the anti-labour Law 3239/1955.

Directors can now redeem employment years at a low cost, relieving dozens of veteran directors who could now receive medical treatment and the possibility of retirement.

The Greek Directors Guild in a TV press conference.

The editorial activity of the Greek Directors Guild flourishes. The books "Greek Cinema 1914-1984" by Stathis Valoukos and "Essay on Editing" by Takis Davlopoulos are published.

The Guild participates in the 4th Conference of FISTAV, where decisions on Greek issues are made. The Guild soon amends its charter. 

The charter of the AIDAA - International Association of Audio-Visual Writers and Directors (March 21, 1985) is published. The two representatives of the Greek Directors Guild also sign the charter (Dimitris Stoupis and Manos Efstratiadis).

The executive office of FISTAV meets in Athens on March 3.

The Guild organises the FERA’s Conference in Athens (28/3 -1/4).

And soon after, it organises the Greek Cinema Panorama.

Theodoros Angelopoulos as president and Pantelis Voulgaris as general secretary in the transitional management of the Guild for three months.

The Guild stages public interventions regarding the delay of establishing the Law on Cinema in the Parliament.

In the 1986 elections of the Guild, a new board of directors is nominated with Nikos Koundouros as president and Nikos Antonakos as general secretary.

The Guild publicly protests against the attitude of the national television- ERT2 management towards filmmakers.

The Parliament votes for the 1597/1986 law titled “Protection and development of cinematic art, strengthening of Greek cinema”, admittedly the first comprehensive law for cinema.

That year, the Guild moved to the three-storey building at 11 Tositsa Street. With Koundouros' personal interest, the building is renovated; the new, modern headquarters of the Guild include a reception hall, a screening room, an archive room, a film library, and meeting rooms, becoming "The Directors' Home".

The Young Directors Guild organises the “Week of Short Films” with the support of the Greek Directors Guild.

The representatives of the GDG abstain from the Thessaloniki Film Festival committees opposing the removal of directors from the Festival’s institutional organs.

The Greek Directors Guild participates in the Conference for the Municipal Regional Theaters titled "Municipal Theater and Local Government".

It stages a Press conference to condemn the delay in implementing the 1597 law, titled "Cinema - Theater - Television, problematic crafts".

Law 1717/1987 is passed for the reform of radio and television.

The Guild intervenes in favour of the insurance of unemployed directors.

At the same time, the Guild is represented at the 3rd BIENNALE in Barcelona, participated in the “Manakia Events ’87”, and organises a short film anti-festival in Thessaloniki, which retook place over the next two years, and the 2nd Panhellenic Film Convention.

Overall, the issue of the modernisation of the copyright legislation of audiovisual authors by developing new technologies has become dominant in the international trade union dialogue.

1988 was named the World Year of Cinema and Television. The Greek Directors Guild celebrated it by hosting various activities.

Nikos Koundouros is re-elected in the Guild’s presidency with Nikos Kanakis as general secretary.

FERA initiates the Delphi meeting, and the Delphi Charter for Audiovisual Works is composed.

The Greek Directors Guild organises the “Short films - Open screen” event and participates in the “Greek Film Festival USA”.

The Guild and the national broadcasting company formulate a draft employment contract between the two organisations. Respectively, it initiates an agreement for collective employment contracts with regional municipal theatres.

Diagoras Chronopoulos is nominated as the new president and Nikos Antonakos as general secretary.

The Greek Directors Guild takes action to sign an employment contract between the national broadcasting station ERT and the GDG. FISTAV intervenes in support of the GDG at this crucial moment.

The government changes, and Tzannis Tzannetakis becomes prime minister.

The Parliament voted for the 1866/1989 Law involving the assignment of radio and television frequencies to individuals.

The new law dictates that private television stations invest 1.5% of their annual income in the production of cinematographic films.

The Greek Directors Guild organises “Screenplay Week” with the participation of Greek and foreign screenwriters and playwrights.

The Screenwriters' Association is founded with the contribution of the Greek Directors Guild.

For the first time, an Employment Contract is signed between the national broadcasting company ERT and the Greek Directors Guild.

The right of directors to working years redemption to receive a decent pension is promoted and extended. 

The Greek Directors Guild intervenes so that the management of the national broadcasting company ERT repays its accumulated debts to the directors-producers and producers.

Elections in the Guild; a new board of directors is formed with Dinos Katsouridis as president and Lefteris Charonitis as general secretary.

Representatives of the GDG conduct meetings with the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture to draft a Presidential Decree on the process of television stations returning 1.5% of their annual income towards the production of films.

At the same time, the Guild establishes a committee to study the subject of Copyright.

The GDG plans its cultural interventions. Among them is establishing a Film Club under Thanasis Xiros, a Ministry of Culture employee seconded to the GDG.

One hundred and fifty directors-producers and producers interrupt the meeting of the Board of Directors of the national broadcasting company, ERT. They only leave when the members of the Board agree to sign an honour protocol to repay the outstanding debts within three months.

At the same time, the Board of Directors of the GDG adopts the innovative PENDEFILM program of George Zervoulakos to return to the beneficiaries of a film their percentage automatically.

The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture, Panagiotis Foteas, joins the Greek Directors Guild’s Board of Directors at one of their meetings and discusses the serious issues of the film sector with them, offering valuable solutions.

The new administration of the GDG forms under the chairmanship of Paul Sklavos with general secretary Panos Papakyriakopoulos.

The Cinema Club of the GDG takes on a crucial initiative entitled “The first films in black and white” that includes seven days of 14 film screenings in various municipalities of Attica.

The Cultural Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Greek Directors Guild co-organise the Week of Contemporary Iranian Cinema in Athens.

The national broadcasting station, ERT, reneges on the honour protocol agreement, leading the film directors’ community to re-mobilize.

The Greek Directors Guild actively supports the national broadcasting station ERT workers on strike and stages interventions to reform the station’s status. 

At the same time, a working group appointed by the GDG prepares the Draft Law for the 1.5% of the private broadcasting channels and submits it to the Ministry of Culture.

The European Film Academy accepting the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into FELIX under the name ‘Macedonia’ caused a strong reaction from the GDG. At this time, the GDG proceeded to meaningful international connections with copyright organisations and trade unions to shape a well-informed stance given the new law formed in Greece.

Finally, the GDG bids farewell to Orestis Laskos, one of its founding members and its first president.

On its 20th anniversary, the Greek Directors Guild organises an important celebratory meeting for the founding members. At that time, it also coordinates a seminar for the national coordinators of MEDIA DESK.

The Greek vice-president, Panos Papakyriakopoulos, of FERA, makes a keynote speech at the GATT meeting in Geneva.

The Greek Directors Guild proceeds with other guilds of the creative sector to joint protest for the transformation of the theatre of Epidaurus into a commercial centre of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (EOT).

The 2nd Panhellenic Mass Media Conference is organised.

The 285/1993 presidential decree for the return of 1.5% is signed, while the 2121/1993 Law is voted to regulate “Intellectual property, related rights and cultural issues”, securing the Guild’s various proposals for the directors.

The GDG participates at the 2nd European Forum in Babelsberg for FERA.

1993 Elections: president Dinos Katsouridis, general secretary Tassos Lertas.

The Greek Directors Guild puts together events dedicated to the influential figure of Greek cinema, Filopoimin Finos and commemorates the deaths of Tonia Marketaki and Frieda Liappa.

The GDG takes action for abidance to the copyright law.

In 1994, the regular meeting of the General Assembly of FERA took place, coordinated by the GDG in Thessaloniki during the 35th Film Festival.

The Greek Directors Guild continues the public interventions to implement the presidential decree for the return of 1.5%.

It creates cinematic tributes to Tonia Marketaki and Frida Liappa.

The GDG, through the member of Nikos Perelis, intervenes in the operation of Municipal & Regional Theatres.

At the same time, a two-day working meeting of ISETOU/FISTAV is organised in Athens.

1995 Elections: new president Pavlos Tassios and general secretary Takis Simonetatos, followed by Pavlos Filippou.

The Greek Directors Guild donates 100,000 drachmas to construct schools for the Kalash people in Pakistan in memory of Odysseus Elytis.

Joao Korea, the Secretary-General of FERA, visits Athens and conducts fruitful working meetings with the board of directors of the GDG.

In collaboration with the Greek Film Centre, the Guild co-organises “Directors' Nights, " including Greek film screenings.

The Guild’s General Assembly takes place in the presence of the Secretary-General of the FERA for copyright. AIDAA mobilises.

The Guild conducts a “Docs Without Frontieres” seminar dedicated to the documentary. 

The Guild submits a memorandum to the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

The Greek Directors Guild conducts a public intervention to repair the damage caused by a fire in the Greek Film Archive building.

The Guild forms a formal complaint about its exclusion from the Standing Committee on Educational Affairs of the Hellenic Parliament.

The Balkan Film Week is co-organised by the GDG.

The GDG intervenes against the process by which the 2557/1997 Bill titled “Institutions, measures and actions for cultural development” was drafted and voted.

During that year, the GDG makes a public announcement regarding the mendacious documentaries on the activities of Theodoros Angelopoulos during the military regime.

After the resignation of Pavlos Tassios, Takis Simonetatos is appointed as the new president and George Mylonas as general secretary.

The Greek Directors Guild intervenes against the grant received by the Greek Film Centre from the Ministry of Culture regarding how it happened and the amount given. 

At that time, the Guild co-signs a letter from the EBU to international copyright organisations.

In 1998 the Presidential Decree No 113/1998 for the organisation and operation of the Greek Film Centre was signed.

The Greek Directors Guild supports the foundation, staffing and operation of ATHINA - the Society of Authors of Dramatic and Audiovisual Works (SADA), the unique Collective Management Society in Greece for Directors and Screenwriters. 

This year, the established honorary pensions to artists are extended; they now include directors, the Film Directors Relief Fund is set, and the Inter-party Committee on Film Education is founded.

Panos Papakyriakopoulos is re-elected as the vice-president of FERA.

The GDG publishes a protest against the arrest of the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.

2000 Elections: a renewed board of directors is appointed. Haris Papadopoulos is the new president, and Yannis Lambrou is the general secretary.

A period of extroversion and promotion of the Greek Directors Guild's cultural role and the directors' work commences.

The GDG organises an event in honour of the great director of the Greek Diaspora, Nikos Papatakis.

The GDG starts the research on “Employment prospects in the audiovisual sector” [National Employment Observatory] and organises various “Music in Film” events.

Resolutions are conducted in FERA and MEI.

Stelios Tatassopoulos is declared President Emeritus of the GDG.

The program titled “The creator in the Foreground” is implemented.

The First Panorama of Greek Film, the Lamia Panorama of Greek Cinema, and the first period of the Guild’s film club's winter season are organised.

A collectable CD with excerpts from music films of that year's production is published within the “The Creator in the Foreground” campaign under the responsibility of Antonis Boskoitis. This publication will continue for the next nine years.

The festivities and meetings “Just before the Drama Festival” begin.

The Centre for Audiovisual Studies is founded following a proposal by the director-theorist Diamantis Leventakos. The Greek Directors Guild supports the Centre’s foundation, and the two organisations share the GDG’s house.

The Centre for Audiovisual Studies conducts weekly seminars on video and audio and audiovisual theoretical issues with great success.

The GDG moves against the Lehne proposal on copyright (Article 5 (3)q). At the same time, it composes a memorandum titled “The problems of distribution and promotion of Greek film”.

The Greek Directors Guild organises a “Meeting for Greek films” that includes the current production in collaboration with the Municipality of Agia Varvara.

In collaboration with SAPOE (Audiovisual Producers’ Association of Greece), they co-organised a conference on "Current state and prospects of Eurimages today".

The first branch of the Greek Directors Guild is established in Thessaloniki.

The Guild bestows an honorary Award to director George Skalenakis for his contribution to cinematography.

In collaboration with the ELEFTHEROTYPIA newspaper, the Guild organised an event in honour of director Panos Glykofrydis during the 15th Panorama of European Cinema.

The GDG organises a campaign including signatures collecting for the return of 1.5%.

The GDG undertakes the cost of the academic publication “Audiovisual Culture”, edited by the Centre for Audiovisual Studies.

2002 Elections: Re-election of Haris Papadopoulos in the presidency. Giannis Diamantopoulos is elected Secretary-General.

The Inter-Party Committee takes an important initiative against the negotiations of the Ministry of Culture with the owners of private television stations on the issue of the law of 1.5% implementation, which took place in secrecy.

To protest the violent intervention of the American forces in Iraq, the GDG mobilises outside the Village Center complex against American films.

The GDG highlights once more the issue of work years redemption. To that end, it establishes influential contacts with the Ministry of Social Services.

Showing its support, the GDG cooperates with the very successful Independent International Digital Film Festival “VIDEO PLATFORM”, promoting the work of young directors from Greece and around the world.

2004 Elections: Haris Papadopoulos is president of the Greek Directors Guild, and Tonis Lykouresis is appointed general secretary.

The GDG Film Club continues its activity, creating tribute events for important film figures.

The GDG bids farewell to Panos Papakyriakopoulos, who remained Secretary-General for many years at the GDG and was elected Vice President of FERA two times.

The Guild’s cultural events program is released, titled “The Arts in Conversation”.

The Guild collaborates with Ptolemaida’s Sirios Film Club, and they organise a Panorama of Greek Cinema.

The downsizing of public television leads the Greek Directors Guild to compose a Memorandum that includes twelve proposals.

“Women directing” is the title of the women's short film festival organised at the building of the Greek Directors Guild (March 4 to 10).

The GDG publishes a series of portrait books of contemporary and older directors. The first part of the series was about George Panousopoulos, George Stampoulopoulos, Costas Ferris and Tassos Psarras. The Ministry of Culture and IOM supported these publications.

The GDG bids farewell to its long-time president and founding member, Grigoris Grigoriou.

This year, the GDG proceeds to protest-complaint about the formulation of the regulation of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival in the absence of their creators.

The GDG organises celebratory events during the 46th Thessaloniki Film Festival.

The Greek Directors Guild composes an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture regarding the withdrawal of the bill titled “On Cinema Policy”. The letter is also supported by the Guild’s honorary members: Jules Dassen, Nikos Koundouros, Costa-Gavras, Roviros Manthoulis, Giannis Dalianidis, Costas Ferris, George Katakouzinos, Theodoros Adamopoulos and Theo Angelopoulos.

The GDG stages an intervention to the Intellectual Property Organization for the significant omissions of Law 2121/93 regarding theatre directors and their exclusion from copyright rights. The timing seems right given the forthcoming Revision of the Copyright Law.

A two-day meeting titled "Theater & the State" is organised (May 8-9) at the Jenny Karezi Theater with unions, associations, theatre people, lawyers, Municipal and Regional Theatres’ representatives and Embassies.

The GDG stages an intervention in the Ministry of Labour to change how the redemption of time is recognised under Law 3232/2004.

The Inter-Party Committee prepares a draft of the Ministry of Culture bill to establish a "National Theater and Dance Centre".

2006 Elections: Haris Papadopoulos is re-elected to the presidency and Tonis Lykouresis to the general secretariat of the Guild.

Significant associations of the Film Community hold meetings to organise the 3rd Film Conference.

The GDG composes a protest-letter supporting the Lebanese and Palestinian people against the ruthless attacks of Israeli forces.

On the occasion of the inclusion of the Greek Film Centre in the DEKO status (State-owned Corporations and Organisations), the Greek Directors Guild held a press conference, hinting that this would turn the art of cinema into a completely commercialised product.

The 3rd Panhellenic Cinema Conference titled “Greek cinema; Greece's window to the world” is organised from May 6-7 at the Megaron the Athens Concert Hall.

The conclusions of the Conference are used as the basis for a new Draft Law.

The Greek Directors Guild bids farewell to former president Takis Simonetatos.

FERA intervenes in the Greek authorities to protest the illegal refusal of the private television stations to return 1.5% of their annual income for film production for the past fourteen years.

For the first time, the GDG organises a masterclass in collaboration with the 48th Thessaloniki Film Festival.

The documentary entitled "Images of the 21st Century" has been released.

The GDG forms proposals for the enrichment of the Greek Public Television program.

Open meetings and film screenings are held with the participation of non-governmental organisations (New European Federalists, Hellenic Social Forum - Section Against Racism, ACT-UP-DRASE, HELLAS FILMFEST etc.). Events are co-organised with Amnesty International to raise public awareness of crucial rights issues.

The Greek Directors Guild seeks to activate the film community. A joint proposal for changing the film law to the Ministry of Culture was drafted and submitted in October 2008, accompanied by 500 unique signatures.

The Inter-Party Committee of the audiovisual sector intervenes regarding the current situation in the field.

Film events for young short film creators and screenings of films produced by the postgraduate program of the Department of Communication, Media and Culture of Panteion University are organised.

Jules Dassin passes away. The GDG, paying its respect to the memory of its long-time honorary member, unanimously decides to establish a “JULES DASSIN” award for young creators of Greek Cinema.

The GDG contributes to the co-organisation of the MasterClass of the 7th International Film Festival “ECOCINEMA” called “Iranian cinema in conditions of Peace and War”.

The GDG intervenes with several proposals related to the 10th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

The 1st Meeting of Theatrical Groups (June 6-8) is organised under the auspices of the Greek Directors Guild.

The GDG and the Thessaloniki branch hold an event that includes the screening of documentaries produced in 2007-2008. At the same time, the 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival takes place.

The Inter-Party Committee composes a proposal of principles for the audiovisual sector given the reform of the Law "On Cinema policy".

The Greek Directors Guild is awarded for contributing to the evolution and development of the institution of the Thessaloniki Film Festival.

The GDG reviews and amends its Statute Articles.

The non-profit organisation SEE - Greek Directors Guild is founded to produce cultural and artistic work by members mainly of the Greek Directors Guild. The three-member Board of SEE will always be elected by members of the respective Board of the GDG.

The GDG and the Thessaloniki Branch organise an event involving screenings of documentaries produced in 2008-2009 while at the same time, the 12th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival takes place.

An honorary event is held for the 100 years of Giannis Ritsos titled “Giannis Ritsos in Film”.

The GDG bids farewell to its Secretary-General, Nikos Antonakos, who has suddenly passed away.

The “Spring 2009” program is set in motion. The Workers' Home Organisation provides free tickets for Greek film screenings.

The Ministry of Culture decides on the forced expropriation or direct acquisition of the GDG building at 11 Tositsa Street to be offered to the directors.

The General Assembly of the GDG proceeds to a resolution (October 12) where it unanimously condemns the divisive tactics of the president of the Greek Film Centre against the film community, calling Greek directors to rally around GDG. The Guild, supporting the Thessaloniki Film Festival as an institution, invites directors who wish to participate in the Film Festival to discuss their participation with the board. At the same time, the Guild submits a proposal for an extensive open discussion as part of the events of the Festival.

The Greek Directors Guild organises the cultural events within "The Creator in the foreground". A series of film screenings and a masterclass by creators of the audiovisual space are also organised.

An open thematic conference on social reflection on "Television and the Greek society" occurs.

2010 Elections: Haris Papadopoulos takes over the presidency. Giannis Mortzos takes over as general secretary, and then Tonis Lykouresis.

The GDG bids farewell to its former President and founding member Panos Glykofrydis.

The Inter-Party Committee stages an intervention regarding the debts left by the outgoing administration of the Greek Film Centre.

The GDG protests against the abolition of social benefits by the government. At the same time, it submits a memorandum on the bill of the Ministry of Culture that has been submitted to the Committee on Educational Affairs.

Law 3905/2010 is passed regarding the "Enhancement and development of the Cinematic Arts and other provisions".

The Greek Directors Guild stages an intervention to strengthen the Greek Free Theater.

At the same time, along with the Thessaloniki Branch, they support the collaboration of independent theatre groups of Thessaloniki with the State Theater of Northern Greece and the signing of a collective agreement with the directors.

Meetings of the theatre sector are held on theatrical grants, Municipal and Regional Theatres, state theatres and festivals.

The GDG honours former president Dinos Katsouridis at an event at IANOS with the first screening of the film "The Athens of my heart".

The continuous cases of police violence during this period led the GDG to denounce the phenomenon.

Culture and sports come at the forefront through ten directors who create ten-minute documentaries - 10 × 10: Culture documentaries.

The GDG supports the struggle of media workers.

At the same time, it stages an intervention saying, "No to the downsizing of public television and the closure of ET-1 (National Broadcasting Company)".

SEE-Greek Directors Guild enters into a cooperation agreement with Public Television. Fourteen young Greek creators, active members of the Greek Directors Guild, submit their creative proposals for the first season of fourteen episodes of a documentary series entitled "Outside the Walls" on immigration.

The GDG bids farewell to former presidents Dinos Katsouridis and Pavlos Tassios.

Greek directors “turn their lens” to the future of Hellenism, the one of creation and innovation. Α series produced by SEE-Greek Directors Guild airs on NET.

The GDG issues a statement regarding the death of its honorary member and former president, Theodoros Angelopoulos.

The presidents of the audiovisual sector associations hold a meeting with the chief executive of ERT for the 1.5% issue to enhance film production and the unemployment that plagues the audiovisual sector.

At that time, disagreements with the Greek Film Centre surface.

The GDG launches a Support Line, a service that operates through the Guild’s website to communicate with and inform its members about the job market (supply and demand).

The Greek Directors Guild takes on the initiative to hold a meeting for theatre creators on dealing with problems concerning the present and future of the municipal and regional theatres and the grants for the Free Theatre.

The government of Antonis Samaras closes down ERT TV channels (the channels of the national broadcasting agency).

The GDG stages a ten-point intervention for the immediate reopening of ERT and the support of the employees and fellow directors.

Public Television reopens as NERIT (New Hellenic Radio, Internet and Television).

2013 Elections: Haris Papadopoulos is re-elected to the presidency of the guild. Stamatis Tsarouchas and later Tonis Lykouresis take over the duties of general secretary.

The GDG intervenes against the disestablishment of the committee responsible for granting and revoking the technicians' licenses in the film and television industry.

At the same time, the GDG filed an appeal against NERIT regarding the selection process of television programs and staged an intervention against the Mayor of Athens regarding the closure of multiple cultural spaces.

The Guild drafts a memorandum to the Minister of Labour, Social Security and Social Solidarity on the issue of redeeming proven employment time by directors of theatre, cinema, television, etc. and exempting them from the provisions of Law 3996/2011.

Events are organised for the directors Erricos Andreou and Gianna Spyropoulou.

The Greek Directors Guild denounces the Minister of Culture's interventions in electing the Greek Film Centre's general director and the absence of a cinematic policy.

The GDG bids farewell to former president Diagoras Chronopoulos.

At the same time, it stages an intervention for the abolition of the special tax on cinema tickets intended to support Greek Cinematography as defined by Law 1731/1987 and renewed by Law 3905/2010.

A GDG delegation visits the President of the Hellenic Republic to protest the abolition of the excise tax on movie tickets.

The National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) is founded (Law 4339/2015).

Elections in May: Haris Papadopoulos is the president, and Stamatis Tsarouchas is the general secretary.

The GDG’s projection room is upgraded by replacing the analogue video and audio machines with modern digital devices.

The GDG bids farewell to former president Kostas Koutsomytis.

The Greek Directors Guild composes an open letter to the Minister of Culture with critical remarks for a more efficient way of operating the Greek Film Centre.

The GDG bids farewell to its former president Nikos Koundouros.

The Rating Committee of the Ministry of Culture continues operating in the screening room of the GDG.

The GDG draws up a comprehensive plan for the Ministry of Culture to utilise and transform the now preserved building of the Guild into a "roof" for new filmmakers.

The weekly documentary series “Stories of everyday people”, organised and produced by SEE-Greek Directors Guild and focused on current social problems, airs on VOULI TV.

The GDG submits proposals for the draft law "Creation of an institutional framework for establishing a Private Investment Support scheme for the development of audiovisual production in Greece" and designs programmes to combat extremism: “Actions and programs to raise public awareness.”

At that time, the GDG contacts the Ministry of Education to promote university-level Audiovisual Education.

The Greek Directors Guild highlights five points for the revitalisation of cinema and theatre:

1. Request to sign a contract between the National Theater, the GDG and the National Theatre of Northern Greece.
2. Restructuring of the Greek Film Centre.
3. Restoration of the annual state quality awards.
4. Establishment of a National Film Council.
5. Acquisition of permanent housing for the GDG.

The “SINANTISIS” Experimental Film Festival, a ten-day screening of films by young artists, is organised in the presence of the creators. The Festival’s theme revolved around ​​ “useful tips for a useful future”.

The GDG participates in the "Licensing in the new audiovisual environment" conference of the Ministry of Digital Policy, Telecommunications and Information.

During that period, the Guild denounced ERT's decision to allocate the total amount of the “reciprocal fee” to foreign companies to acquire ready-made foreign programmes.

A new meeting point for the people in the Audiovisual sector is created by utilising online platforms (Vimeo, Tumblr, etc.) where each creator uploads their films and can watch movies made by others, with the ability to comment if they wish.

A renewed employment contract is signed between ERT and the GDG.

SEE-Greek Directors Guild produces the “Acrobatics” project, a modular film made by six awarded directors, all members of the GDG. The film was screened at the Queer Cinema section of the 59th Thessaloniki Festival. The Festival awards the Greek Directors Guild for its contribution to culture.

The Greek Directors Guild bids farewell to its former president Giorgos Karypidis.

Efforts to sign a collective labour agreement between the National Theater and the Greek Directors continue.

At the same time, the GDG proposes signing a collective agreement with the National Theater of Northern Greece.

The GDG takes on the initiative to draft a plan for the creation of a HUB of new creators.

2019 Elections: Haris Papadopoulos is re-elected president and Tonis Lykouresis general secretary.

A meeting is held to discuss the crisis at the Greek Film Centre.

The GDG submits a proposal to the Ministry of Culture to establish a special council in the Greek Film Centre after the ongoing crisis within it.

The No Budget Film Festival 2019 is successfully organised.

The work of collecting, organising and arranging the archival material of the GDG begins. In consultation with the General Archives of the State, Grigoris Daniel is in charge of this work.

The space hosting the Greek Directors archive is organised and renovated.

The entire building housing the Greek Directors Guild is renovated. All ventilation and heating devices are replaced, and the facilities are fully equipped with audiovisual media to communicate, inform our members, and organise multiple events and meetings. 

The GDG organises an event on a “National Cinematography” with the participation of ten organisations in the Audiovisual sector.

Following multiple meetings and discussions among the film community’s associations, the fundamental points of a new Law for National Cinematography are formed.

The Greek Directors Guild organises “Moments of Truth” (January 31 - February 4), the first Festival of Documentaries, feature-length and short, for young creators. The awards include a monetary prize.

The GDG bestows honorary awards to three Greek filmmakers for their overall contribution to culture and their work that has been distinguished in major Regional Festivals. The winners are Antonis Papadopoulos (Drama Short Film Festival), Stavros Ioannou (Greek Documentary Festival-Docfest of Chalkida), and Dimitris Spyrou (Olympia International Film Festival for children and young people).

The GDG stages an intervention against the Covid-19 programme announced by the Ministry of Culture that excludes a critical number of audiovisual professionals.

Being in communication with associations of the film community, it discusses the problems of the employees in the audiovisual sector caused by Covid-19.

In a statement, the GDG expresses its support for its members in the current developments of the health crisis.

The GDG stages an intervention regarding the amendment of the cash rebate (tax exemption of a percentage of the corresponding amount that someone invests as a sponsor-producer in a film) initiated by Law 4487/2017.

Amid the challenging conditions of unemployment and exclusion due to the pandemic, the GDG supports the financially weak colleagues who need it.

The fully equipped editing room of the GDG is put into operation and is available for editing short films by our fellow directors.

The Greek Directors Guild stages an intervention regarding the draft law that returns 1.5% of the platforms to EKOME, not the Greek Film Centre. 

By letter to the Minister, the GDG submits proposals on the provisions of some of the articles of the new draft law. 

At the same time, it stages another intervention regarding the accusations raised in the artistic field to correct chronic deficiencies in the cultural sector.

Directors from all over Greece participate in an online masterclass of GDG themed: “Old and modern cinema - The inherent difficulties of its production”.

At the same time, composes a petition in collaboration with Audiovisual associations on staffing of the National Cinema Council, "Greek cinema in vertigo: A Unifying Initiative for its Present and Future".

The GDG stages an intervention regarding the exclusion of many independent films from ECC funding.

It files a memorandum for the protection of workers in culture and appeals to the Transparency Authorities, asking for transparency in the action of the Greek Film Centre.

Regarding the European Parliament resolution, the GDG composes a memorandum: “It takes political will and courage to protect workers in culture”.

The GDG joins POTHA (Panhellenic Federation of Audio-Visual Associations) and elects representatives on its board of directors.

Under the supervision of the fellow director and designer Theodoros Kalomirakis, an architectural intervention is carried out in the screening room of the Guild’s building for the permanent installation and operation of a film club that will include films from Greek and world cinema.

The GDG stages an intervention aiming to recognise the equivalence of previous years' diplomas of film school graduates.

The detailed documentation of the 50 years of operation of the GDG begins with the processing of archival material from the association's founding until today to publish an anniversary album.

The GDG submits a proposal to digitise cinematographic films that were distinguished outside Greece. For this reason, it composes a letter to the EKOME.

The Greek Directors Guild website is redesigned, and the initiative to create an online digital database to promote the work of Greek filmmakers is set in motion.

In a teleconference with the leadership of the Ministry of Finance, the Greek Directors Guild raises the following issues:

1. Continuation of financial support for the entire duration of the pandemic and specifically of the special purpose compensation for August until December 2021. Also, the continuation of the compensation for 2022, after January.
2. Supplementation of the existing Register of Artists and Creators in coordination with the respective associations, as the proposals of the audiovisual sector employees had never been listened to.
3. Inclusion in the special compensation of artists registered in the Register after 2021.
4. Return to the film production of the excise tax on the theatre tickets that was abolished and increase the funds for the production of cinematographic works.
5. Increase in the number of honorary artistic pensions, with a corresponding increase of the corresponding amount.
6. Proposal for an additional special programme for dealing with problems caused by COVID-19, with short and feature films, documentaries, animation, playwriting, etc., as an emergency support fund for fellow artists.

The GDG organises a Short Film Panorama (31/3-4/4/2022), where more than 100 films are screened, and a meeting where a discussion themed “Short films: Production and Distribution. Present and Future” takes place. 

The GDG reviews and amends specific articles of the Guild’s Statute to democratise further and strengthen the association's labour character.

The GDG launches its completely renewed website and the Greek Directors Database.