Artistic Director
Athena Xenidou
Athena Xenidou is a director, producer and screenwriter. She is the president of the Director’s Guild of Cyprus, a Jury Member for the International Emmy Awards, member of WIFT Greece, and a leading member of the Declaration of Filmmakers, a lobby for Authors’ Rights which launched at Cannes in 2023, then San Sebastian, Venice, Athens, Berlin and EU Parliament, Brussels. While serving as VP of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, she introduced Equality at the Podium, a policy aiming at bridging the gender gap in classical music for female conductors. Athena studied Music and English Literature in Switzerland and holds a BA in Film from University of California Santa Barbara, and an MA in Politics and Media from University of Nicosia. Her film credits as writer, producer and director include awarded shorts Dead End, The Made Guy, Saving Joy, Insidious Invisible, and Unwitnessed Memories, Best Documentary award winner at Worldfest Houston. Among her Greek TV directing credits are reality show Survivor1 and 2 and forty-eight episodes in popular TV series. Passionate for teaching, she founded The Film and Stage Studio, preparing young adults for entry in international acting conservatories and film schools. Athena is a Lecturer in TV Production at the University of Central Lancashire. This year, with her partner Ronan Le Du, she launched RAY, the first agency for global talent and creatives in Greece.