52nd KNE–“Odigitis” Festival enters final phase

According to 902.gr, The central Athens festival will take place on September 23–26 at the “Antonis Tritsis” Environmental Awareness Park. The four-day programme will include political discussions, concerts, exhibitions, theatre, dance and other cultural activities, with more than 400 artists participating.

The political culmination will take place on September 26, when the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas will address the main political gathering, while KNE Central Committee Secretary Thodoris Kotsantis will also speak.

The corresponding three-day festival in Thessaloniki will begin on September 17 at the former Karatasio Camp and will similarly conclude with speeches by Koutsoubas and Kotsantis.

Nationwide Programme

Before the Athens and Thessaloniki culminations, festival events are continuing in numerous cities.

Among the principal activities scheduled for August 29–September 5 are:

• Lefkada: Political speech by KKE Central Committee member Maria Andreadou, accompanied by a concert, a screening on the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE), an exhibition on the struggle for socialism, a children's area and a book exhibition.
• Aigio, September 2: Speech by KKE Central Committee member and MP Nikos Karathanasopoulos, together with a tribute to composer Mikis Theodorakis and a concert devoted to rock music.
• Agrinio, September 4: Speech by KKE Executive Committee member Eleni Bellou, student concerts, a tribute to Stelios Kazantzidis and a popular music programme. Exhibitions will focus on the 80th anniversary of the DSE and its activity in Western Central Greece.
• Kastoria, September 4: Speech by Tina Kouziaki followed by traditional music.
• Arta, September 4–5: A particularly extensive programme including a tribute to the 200 communists executed at Kaisariani, concerts, discussions and exhibitions on Kaisariani and the DSE.
• Lesvos, September 4–5: Speech by KKE Executive Committee member Louisa Razou, a tribute to the 200 executed communists of May 1944, a discussion on the DSE through the publications of Modern Era, and several concerts.
• Sparta, September 5: Speech by KKE Executive Committee member Themis Gionis, concerts, a folk music programme, children's activities and a book exhibition.
• Pyrgos, September 5: Speech by KKE Secretariat member Sotiris Parisis followed by a concert.

Political and Historical Emphasis

The programme combines political mobilization, cultural activity and historical education. A recurring theme is the history of the Greek communist movement, particularly the Democratic Army of Greece, the 1944 executions at Kaisariani and the broader history of communist resistance.

The festival therefore functions not simply as a cultural event but as a major KKE/KNE political and organizational campaign, connecting contemporary political messaging around socialism with historical memory and cultural activity.

Parallel KNE Activities

KNE is also organizing a series of activities leading up to the festival:

• On August 30, the 14th KNE Sports Camp begins with a six-hour historical hike on Mount Parnitha, following the locations associated with DSE fighters.
• On September 13, the KNE Attica Regional Organization will organize a voluntary blood donation at the KKE Attica Party Organization offices.
• On September 19, the Sports Camp will include a climbing meeting in Attica.
• On September 20, the 14th People's Road Race will take place at Tritsi Park.

A KNE Stockholm branch will also organize a historical walk through Södermalm on August 30, focusing on sites connected with the international communist and anti-fascist movement, including the Stockholm Appeal against nuclear weapons, the International Brigades and political imprisonment.

Short Film Festival

Another major component is the 4th KNE Short Film Festival, organized by the KNE Central Committee's Culture Committee on September 18–19 at the Trianon cinema.

The organizers explicitly position the event as defending cinema against censorship, the replacement of human creativity by artificial intelligence, and the standardization and commodification of artistic production. They emphasize cinema as a medium capable of challenging audiences, presenting alternative perspectives and encouraging discussion rather than simply providing entertainment.