'The Enigma of Keros', a Greek entry at The Archaeology Channel's (TAC) International Film Festival in Oregon, that documents the archaeological discoveries on Keros island in Greece, received the Audience Favorite prize in Oregon. The 87-minute film directed by Kostas Macheras can be watched on ERTFLIX and ERTFLIX International.
Christian Pappas
'The Enigma of Keros' is an 87-minute film directed by Kostas Macheras and produced by Michael Dimitrakakos. The film, which has been produced by a crew from ERT, Greece's national radio and television broadcaster, has also been awarded as best documentary and for best direction at the London Greek Film Festival, and as the best educational film at the international archaeological film festival 'Agon' in Athens.
The film records the excavation on Keros, an uninhabited Greek islet 10 km southeast of Naxos, by the British Archaeological School and the University of Cambridge, under the supervision of Lord Colin Renfrew and Dr Michale Boyd, in collaboration with the Cycladic Ephorate of Antiquities. Renfrew, a world-renowned archaeologist on Bronze Age Greece, focused on trying to resolve a long-standing enigma in the scientific community: why the hundreds of fragments of Cycladic figurines, found at the island's site of Dhaskalio, do not join to form complete figurines.
According to Renfrew, Keros is the world's earliest maritime sanctuary and was used first in the Early Bronze Age. The site also produced bronze items and is also known for its innovative architecture.
Screenplay and direction: Kostas Macheras
Research and narration is by Adriana Paraskevopoulou
Director of photograhy: Manolis Vourexakis
Camera: Konstantinos Rigopoulos
Sound: Nikos Paliatsoudis
Editing: Danae Manousaridi
Music: Vagelis Fabas
Producer: Michael Dimitrakakos
'The Enigma of Keros' is available on ERTFLIX in Greek and English subtitles as well as sign language, at: https://www.ertflix.gr/en/series/ser.125834-to-ainigma-tis-keroy.
TAC International Film Festival is "one of only two public competitions in the Western Hemisphere featuring films about the human past and cultural heritage," according to the Festival' site, and has been running for 21 years. In 2024, the competition included 77 entries from 24 countries, of which 27 were selected for screening at the competition.
