As part of the Festival’s parallel activities, we introduced “The Juniors of Agon”, an internationally pioneering educational and cultural initiative.
Guided by the belief that we must first inspire before we educate—and that we truly love only what we come to know deeply—we aim to cultivate in pupils and students a meaningful connection with the sometimes distant past, while strengthening their hope for a better future. At a time when everything seems to fade into oblivion, we must remain vigilant.
“As long as people have memory, they can live in today’s fragile world. Without it, they live nowhere,” says renowned documentary filmmaker Patricio Guzmán, reminding us that memory is, ultimately, our origin.
Our goal is to highlight creations that are entirely their own. Starting from simple stimuli that train both mind and eye, we seek to enhance creative imagination, observation, and critical thinking—encouraging young participants to become active creators rather than passive recipients.
- • Thematic Focus
The theme is open and may include any stimulus capable of sparking imagination. For example, a simple excursion to any location can become the starting point of a powerful creative moment: observing the ground and discovering fragments of a clay jar, or a piece of white marble that evokes ancient statues, buildings, or admired historical figures.
Participants may also record—using even their mobile phones—elements of folklore such as fairy tales, lullabies, customs, traditional crafts, old recipes, a grandmother’s lacework, or a grandfather’s flint lighter—objects and practices that are gradually disappearing, becoming the archaeology of tomorrow.
They may further document industrial objects that are being replaced by modern technology—such as photographic film superseded by digital cameras, vinyl records replaced by CDs, and many other items that quietly pass through our lives and are forgotten.
Students with special learning or other needs will compete in a separate category, enabling the jury to take their particular circumstances into account. Clarifications will be provided to all special schools following prior communication.
- • Terms of Participation – Information
The Festival “AGON’s Little Ones” is held annually during the academic year. The competition concludes each year on Thomas Sunday.
Short films and videos (3–5 minutes) should be submitted to the Festival “AGON” or to the magazine Archaeology & Arts, marked “For AGON’s Little Ones,” in order to be evaluated by a special committee. Submitted films are uploaded every three months to the website of the magazine Archaeology & Arts, screened during the AGON Festival or on the magazine’s website, or presented at another selected venue. The best entries receive awards.
Distinctions are granted by the Festival Jury, the website visitors, and recognition is also given to students, teachers, and their schools. Awarded films are promoted internationally, as they are submitted to selected international festivals, contributing to the outward-looking character of the event and to the promotion of Greek cultural creativity abroad.
The initiative was conceived by the founder and president of the Biennial International Festival of Archaeological and Cultural Documentary Films “AGON,” director Memi Spyratou.
It is worth noting that the official AGON Festival already includes an award titled “AGON’s Little Ones,” dedicated to short films up to 10 minutes in length.
