Costa Navarino Hosts ‘Democracy and Film’ Weekend by The New York Times

Ali Hossaini, Paul Mason and Roger Cohen at Costa Navarino

Costa Navarino, the prime sustainable destination located in Messinia in the Peloponnese, recently hosted the Democracy and Film Weekend, within the framework of The New York Times’ 5th Athens Democracy Forum.

The 3-day event featured a series of film screenings, discussions and cultural activities and culminated in a lively debate set against the Messinian backdrop.

Exploring how film and filmmakers are shaping viewers’ perception of current events and the world at large, journalist and filmmaker Paul Mason and New York Times Op-Ed columnist Roger Cohen engaged with the audience in an interactive discussion, curated and hosted by artist and producer Ali Hossaini.

“Particularly over the last couple of years, ideas are swirling around democracy and its future. Film can make a decisive difference in the way you look at the world and think about these issues,” Mark Thompson, president and CEO of The New York Times Company said in his welcome speech.

As the enduring nature of democracy comes under question, the role and power of film have come into focus. “Democracy falters when we lose our sense of common purpose. At its best, film creates empathy for opposing views by unraveling the easy truths of social media,” Ali Hossaini commented.

On his part, Paul Mason focused on the changes in our societies. “In the past 20 years elites tried to reduce our concept of human life to homo economicus; ‘zoon politikon’ (political animal) has been eroded or sidelined,” he said.

“An international filming location”

Costa Navarino has been the filming location of international productions, according to Achilles Constantakopoulos, chairman and CEO of TEMES S.A., the developers of Costa Navarino. Furthermore, the resort for the second consecutive year hosted the Faliro House | Sundance Institute Mediterranean Screenwriters Workshop.

“It is our hope that such initiatives will help showcase Messinia’s unspoiled, diverse landscape which, together with the full support we provide, make our region a great filming location,” Constantakopoulos said.

Discussion on the connection between Democracy and Ancient Drama at Costa Navarino.

A series of screenings were held during the “Democracy and Film” Weekend, while parallel events included the Philosophy Walk under the theme “Democracy and Ancient Drama”, guided art tours and an evening dedicated to the science of astronomy.