The Muses Film Awards, also known as the Levadia International Film Festival, is a prestigious annual four-day event held in the historical city of Levadia, Greece. The 2nd Annual Edition will take place on May 7th, 8th, 9th & 10th, 2026, featuring film screenings, red carpet events, an Official Awards Ceremony, an art fair, and historical excursions.
*This prestigious event welcomes both independent and major films for screening. The Muses Film Awards are given out during the festival in honor of the nine Greek goddesses of the arts, who are said to have inspired musicians and writers with their gifts of song, dance, and joy.
* The nine Muses, In Greek mythology, are goddesses of the various arts such as music, dance, and poetry. Blessed with wonderful artistic talents, they also possess great beauty, grace, and allure. Their gifts of song, dance, and joy helped the gods and mankind to forget their troubles and inspired musicians and writers to reach ever greater artistic and intellectual heights.
The Muses are the daughters of Zeus and the Titan Mnemosyne (Memory) after the couple slept together for nine consecutive nights. In Greco-Roman religion and mythology, any of a group of sister goddesses of obscure but ancient origin, the chief centre of whose cult was Mount Helicon and Mount Parnassus in Boeotia, Greece. They haunted the wells, springs and fountains of these rocky summits, which were sacred to them and to poetic inspiration.
The nine muses are:
Calliope, traditionally the most important (beautiful-voiced and representing epic poetry and also rhetoric),
Clio (glorifying and representing history),
Erato (lovely and representing singing),
Euterpe (well-delighting and representing lyric poetry),
Melpomene (singing and representing tragedy),
Polymnia (many hymning and representing hymns to the gods and heroes),
Terpsichore or Stesichore (delighting in dance),
Thalia (blooming and representing comedy),
Urania (heavenly and representing astronomy).
* Levadia aka Livadia, In antiquity, was a town near the western frontier of ancient Boeotia, described by Strabo as lying between Mount Helicon and Chaeroneia. The ancient town was situated at the foot of a precipitous height, which is an abrupt northerly termination of Mt. Helicon. Pausanias relates that this height was originally occupied by the Homeric city of Mideia, from where the inhabitants, under the conduct of Lebadus, an Athenian, migrated into the plain, and founded there the city named after him. On the other hand, Strabo maintains that the Homeric cities Arne and Mideia were both swallowed up by Lake Copais. Levadia was originally an insignificant place, but it rose into importance in consequence of its possessing the celebrated oracle of Trophonius. The oracle was consulted both by Croesus and by Mardonius, and it continued to be consulted even in the time of Plutarch, when all the other oracles in Boeotia had become dumb. Pausanias himself consulted the oracle, and he speaks of the town in terms which show that it was in his time the most flourishing place in Boeotia. Notwithstanding the sanctity of the oracle, Lebadeia did not always escape the ravages of war. It was taken and plundered both by Lysander and by Archelaus, the general of Mithridates VI of Pontus. In the war against Perseus of Macedon, it espoused the side of the Romans, while Thebes, Haliartus, and Coroneia declared in favour of the Macedonian king.
When Pausanias visited Lebadeia in the 2nd century, he recorded numerous temples. The most remarkable object in the grove of Trophonius was the temple of the hero, containing his statue by Praxiteles, resembling a statue of Asclepius; a temple of Demeter, surnamed Europe; a statue of Zeus Hyetius (Pluvius) in the open air; and higher up, upon the mountain, the oracle (τὸ μαντεῖον). Still higher up was the hunting place of Persephone; a large unfinished temple of Zeus Basileus, a temple of Apollo, and another temple, containing statues of Cronus, Zeus, and Hera. Pausanias likewise mentions a chapel of the Good Daemon and of Good Fortune, where those who were going to consult the oracle first passed a certain number of days.
* Key Highlights of the Muses Film Awards:
Exposure and Recognition: The festival provides filmmakers with exposure to a diverse audience and potential opportunities for wider distribution. Winning awards at the festival can lead to recognition and further opportunities in the industry.
Networking Opportunities: Filmmakers have the chance to network with industry professionals such as producers, distributors, actors, and fellow filmmakers. Building connections at the festival can open doors to collaborations and funding opportunities.
Feedback and Critique: Screenings at the festival allow filmmakers to receive valuable feedback from audiences and industry experts. This feedback helps them improve their craft and refine their storytelling techniques.
Distribution Deals: The festival serves as a marketplace where filmmakers can attract the attention of distributors looking for new content. Securing distribution deals at festivals can lead to wider releases for their films.
Press Coverage: The festival often generates media coverage that promotes filmmakers and their work. Positive reviews and press mentions enhance a filmmaker’s reputation in the industry.
Industry Insights: Attending the festival provides insights into current trends, technologies, and best practices in the film industry through panels, workshops, and Q&A sessions.
Validation and Prestige: Winning awards or being selected at prestigious festivals like Muses Film Awards validates a filmmaker’s talent and enhances credibility within the industry.
Audience Engagement: Interacting with audiences during screenings allows filmmakers to connect directly with viewers, understand reactions, and build a loyal fan base for future projects.
Creative Inspiration: Exposure to diverse films from around the world inspires filmmakers creatively by introducing them to new storytelling techniques and visual styles.
Career Development: Participation in the festival boosts a filmmaker’s career by increasing visibility within the industry.
Muses Film Awards is a serious festival
Important Facts about Muses Film Awards:
*All trophies for winners are provided free of charge; winners do not need to purchase their trophies, physical presence is required though in order to receive a trophy!
*Winners will receive framed award certificates and laurels along with official trophies during the awards ceremony without any additional financial burden.
* All official selections will be presented with certificates and special festival laurels.
*All Winners will be announced at the Award Ceremony.
*All Nominees will be notified via email.
*All Honorable Mentions, Semi-Finalists, Finalists and Official Selections will be notified via email presented with certificates and special festival laurels.
1. BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
2. BEST EUROPEAN UNION FEATURE FILM
3 . BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
4. BEST EUROPEAN UNION SHORT FILM
5. BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
6. BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
7. BEST DIRECTOR
8. BEST ACTOR
9. BEST ACTRESS
10. BEST PRODUCER
11. BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
12. BEST COSTUME DESIGN
13. BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG
15. BEST SOUND DESIGN
16. BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
17. BEST HISTORICAL FILM (feature / short)
18. BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
19. BEST FILM EDITING
20. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
21. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
22. BEST GREEK FEATURE FILM
23. BEST GREEK SHORT FILM
24. BEST LGBTQ
25. BEST HUMAN RIGHTS
26. BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
27. BEST EXPERIMENTAL (short)
28. BEST FIRST TIME FILMMAKER (feature / short)
29. BEST SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY (feature / short)
30. BEST STUDENT FILM (short)
31. BEST LEVADIA FILM (locals only - short)
32. BEST MUSIC VIDEO
33. BEST ANIMATED FILM (short / feature)
34. BEST ANCIENT GREEK MYTH / HISTORY (short / feature)
35. BEST AI FILM (short / feature)
36. BEST SCENOGRAPHY
37. BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY (Script Only - English)
38. BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY (Script Only - English)
NO ONE HAS TO PAY FOR TROPHY
ALL WINNERS WILL PRESENTED WITH A LUXURIOUS TROPHY as long as they personally attend the 3 days event.
Our Jury composed of international artists, filmmakers, industry insiders, and other professionals with expertise in cinema and arts. The jury members are chosen based on their body of work, respect within the industry, and their ability to evaluate and appreciate the art of filmmaking.
The jury holds the sole responsibility for determining which films will be awarded prizes at the film festival. They watch all the films in competition, discuss their merits, and ultimately make decisions on the winners based on various criteria such as quality, acting, directing, storytelling, originality, and overall impact.
