‘Bearcave’ Offers ‘Unseen Perspective’ Into Lives of Young Queer Women in Rural Greece
Christopher Vourlias A mystical cave, a nettle pie and an unexpected betrayal spur a romantic adventure between two childhood friends in “Bearcave,” the feature-length debut of co-writers and -directors Stergios Dinopoulos and Krysianna Papadakis.
Starring newcomers Xara Kyriazi and Pamela Oikonomaki, the film, which is currently in post-production, won the top prize this week in the Works in Progress section of the Thessaloniki Film Festival’s industry program.
It’s produced by Dinopoulos, Papadakis, Arsinoi Pilou and Thanasis Michalopoulos of Greece’s Pameligo Collective, and Emily Sky Hickin of Pucci Productions. “Bearcave” is based on Dinopoulos and Papadakis’ 2023 short film of the same name, which won the Golden Dionysus for best film at Greece’s Drama Short Film Festival and also played at the Athens Intl.
Film Festival and BFI Flare. The film follows Argiro (Kyriazi), described by the filmmakers as a “badass farmer,” and her best friend Anneta (Oikonomaki), a manicurist and local “It” girl living in a remote mountain village in northern Greece.
