Μake us preferred on Google Christoforos Papakaliatis, creator and star of the series Maestro in Blue, spoke about the importance of the Agora at the 67th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, saying he wished such an initiative had existed when his own generation was taking its first steps. As this year’s Agora ambassador, the well-known actor, screenwriter, and director highlighted its role as a place where filmmakers can meet, network, and find support.
During the Agora’s open public talks, Papakaliatis spoke with the audience in a packed Pavlos Zannas Hall at the Olympion. Joined by the festival’s artistic director, Orestis Andreadakis, he discussed the Agora’s role, his own career path, and the challenges creators face in bringing their work to an international audience.
Much of the conversation turned to Maestro in Blue, a series that began on a Greek island, traveled the world through Netflix, and is set to conclude with its third and final season in December 2026. “For me it is a joy and a truly wonderful experience,” he said of his role as the Agora’s ambassador. He stressed the value of the bridge it builds with the international industry, giving creators the chance to present their work and learn how to promote it abroad.
Asked how he managed without the kind of support the Agora offers today, Papakaliatis said his journey had demanded constant effort and experience, and that he is still learning. He underlined how hard it is to create and promote stories that stand out on a global stage. Circumstance, timing, luck, and having the right people by his side, he noted, all played an important part. He recalled that his first screenplay for the cinema, the film If (An), came when he was younger, and spoke about the importance of patience and persistence. He also observed that, back then, opportunities for young creators came along more easily.
He described Maestro in Blue as the most demanding and longest-running project of his career to date. The series began in 2021 and became a five-year journey that required a great deal of creative energy.
“Maestro in particular has been five years of my life. It’s the longest project I’ve ever worked on, and I became incredibly attached to every part of it. It’s the work I’ve struggled for the most. I’ve knocked on more doors, asked for more things, and I feel boundless gratitude to the people who made everything we’ve achieved possible,” he said, visibly moved.
Papakaliatis made clear that the third season will be the show’s last, promising that its characters will get the ending they deserve. He explained that he accepted Netflix’s offer of another season because he wanted to tell more stories through the characters he created.
Finally, turning to the cast, he described eleven of the actors as equal leads and expressed his admiration and appreciation for what they brought to the finished series. “Each of them, with their own talent and their own personality, took their role and made it soar,” he said.
The event ended with Papakaliatis answering questions from the audience.
