Eighty years after the publication of “Zorba the Greek” (The Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas) by celebrated Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis, the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum on Crete is launching the first Zorbas Art & Literature Festival.
The new festival, which pays tribute to the Cretan author and his charismatic character, Zorba, as both a literary figure and a symbol of freedom, will be held in Heraklion and Myrtia – Kazantzakis’ birthplace – from July 29 to August 2.
The festival opens on Wednesday, July 29, with a screening of the classic film “Zorba the Greek” at Heraklion’s open-air Bethlehem Cinema at 9:30 p.m.
The ID card of ‘Zorba the Greek’ author Nikos Kazantzakis .Photo: Nikos Kazantzakis Museum
Over five days, the program will bring together academics, authors, artists and cultural experts for a series of events, including panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, literary and cultural presentations, street performances, children’s activities, and concerts exploring Zorba’s lasting influence on contemporary Greek identity.
The festival is organized by the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum under the artistic direction of Konstantinos Tsakirelis.
“Zorba is not just a literary character; he is an attitude towards life, an existential proposition that continues to inspire and move readers all over the world,” said Andreas N. Metaxas, president of the Board of Directors of the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum.
First published in 1946, “Zorba the Greek” tells the story of a young intellectual whose outlook on life is transformed through his lasting friendship with the free-spirited Alexis Zorba. The novel inspired Michael Cacoyannis’ acclaimed 1964 film adaptation starring Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Papas and Lila Kedrova. The film won three Academy Awards and helped cement Zorba as one of the most recognizable figures in modern Greek literature and cinema.
More information about the festival is available on the Nikos Kazantzakis Museum website.
