Documentary “ANZAC: The Greek Chapter” – Premiere in Crete, Chania 22nd May

WHEN: 22nd May, at 20.00
WHERE: Cultural Centre, Andrea Papandreou 70, Chania

First public screening in Crete of the documentary “Anzac: The Greek Chapter” by New Zealand producer and director John Irwin. It is a 90-minute film based on 130 hours of interviews, which tells the story of the brave defense of Greece by Australian and New Zealand soldiers (Anzacs), after the Nazi invasion in April 1941. 
In their own words, the veterans tell their previously unknown stories of their service in Greece and Crete, the fierce battles and suffering they endured and reveal how lasting bonds of love and respect were created between the Anzacs and the Greeks. 
On 28 April, the Australian Embassy in Greece hosted the Greek premiere of the film at the Athens War Museum. The film was funded by the Saluting Their Service Commemorations Program of the Australian Government’s Department of Veterans Affairs and the Gallipoli Lemnos Memorial Committee in Melbourne.

Organised by: Region of Crete-Chania Regional Unit, Chania Cultural Centre
John Irwin:

“Our film ‘Anzac: The Greek Chapter’ had it’s Greek premiere recently at Athens War Museum hosted by Alison Duncan, the best Australian Ambassador ever! Thanks to the Embassy team and the work of Jim Claven it was brilliant to see the docu screening to an audience in Greece at last and to have friends and colleagues in attendance. We all owe Peter Ewer a huge debt of gratitude for having the vision to document the veterans on video so well, 25 years ago. Special thanks also to Antonis Voutsinos for his work in making the picture look so good. And a big fat Greek thank you to Sotiris Goritsas for his enthusiastic endorsement of the work. And thanks to the Athens “Griwis” who showed up and wept buckets! Looking forward to the Cretan premiere of the film in Chania May 22.”

John Irwin – Director, Producer & Editor

John is a documentary filmmaker of many years standing. Since 1989 John and his company, Wild Sweet Productions has been documenting firsthand accounts of Anzac and local Cretan participants and witnesses in the Battle of Crete and the Greek resistance movements. John has also conducted field research across Greece, from Lemnos and the WW2 battlefields of northern and central Greece to those of the Peloponnese and Crete.

See also Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc

Source: Programme 2025 Battle of Crete