The Mykonos Biennale is an intellectual event which brings together the work of artists from all over the world to create something new, to break the borders of art, using the telluric energy and hermetic beauty of this cosmopolitan island.

The international multicultural events will interact with the local memories, traditions and historical spaces creating a unique experimental event.

The art exhibitions, the installations, and performances of the artists, the musicians and dance group will spread through out the monasteries, the museums, the old houses, the ancient island of Delos, the windmills and other monumental buildings, like a treasure map of the old island. The heart of the Mykonos Biennale is the video film festival which in 2023 is divided into two categories:

Video Graffiti - Throughout the old town of Mykonos, famous for its white building and thus often called the bride of the Aegean, art videos will be projected on the walls of houses and gardens transforming this town that never sleeps into a living theatre of video graffiti.

Dramatic Nights - A selection narrative short films, documentary and art videos will be screened in the open air theatre of the island and at the important Gryparion center.

Orphic Mysteries and Revolution is the theme of the 2023 Mykonos Biennale.

What happened to the Thirteenth Month?

The Thirteenth Month is based on the Luna month of twenty-eight days. Multiplying this by twelve months of the calendar gives three hundred and thirty-six days. Subtracting this from three hundred and sixty-five leaves twenty-nine extra days that belong to the Thirteen Month.

In mythology, the twelve months correspond to the twelve gods and goddesses of the Olympic Pantheon. The missing thirteenth month is the god of celebration, Dionysus. This fallen god was exiled because he symbolized the opposition to the principle of authority. Celebration disrupts order, dissolves fear, and reverses logic through the dimension of intoxication. It breaks down borders, awakening a common consciousness.

Dionysus declares Freedom a higher good than any material gain or hierarchy. He paces the Ego at the center of the world with human rights as law, honoring animals and nature. His army mainly comprises women and Kineids, and he has a hermaphrodite nature.

The binary (dio) reference of his name to the dual nature of the god that unites the female with the male and has the duality, a siamese-twin of one god of monotheism with the countering Prometheus the Zeus. In his "Dionysiaca," Nonnos mentions that Dionysos had twins from the nymph Aura. Iacchos, who is Dionysos of the Eleusinian Mysteries. Zagreus Dionysus was saved by his father from the flaming fire that consumed his mother, Semele. In Euripides' Bacchae, his cousin Pentheus was devoured by his mother, Hecuba. Maia also gave birth to twin Orphic Dionysus, one of whom she swallowed. May is the month that honors this hidden-eaten baby and is named after Maia.

The Thirteenth Month was shared and devoured by the twelve remaining months, gods or apostles. This is the meaning of the Last Supper, the sacrifice and impregnation through the Holy Communion. This common guilt is the acceptance of the secret cult that mourns its dead, that it cannot protect from death and eats them to be reborn

This cannibalism is an act of love. It is also Eve's original sin, who ate the dead Abel. The repetition of the Resurrection (Anastasis) every year carries the meaning of the Revolution (Epanastasis). With this symbolic ritual, people mourn happily and with ideals, maintaining the instinct of defiance with the universal consciousness. Easter is a floating feast based on the year's first moon cycle, and the number Thirteen is considered the Unlucky number.

Lydia Venieri
Maroussi, December 2022

The Golden Pelican will be awarded to selected entries.

Not all entries can be publicly screened during Mykonos Biennale 2023. A pre-screening selection committee comprised of filmmakers, video artists, and other artists associated with the Mykonos Biennale will view each entry to determine which works are selected for screening during the Festival.

All creative works under 20 minutes will be welcomed.

Please fill out the entry form at filmfreeway.com. All entries must be submitted in digital format. Mykonos Biennale can only accept, consider and notify entries submitted with valid entry form and the non-refundable entry fee.

The Mykonos Biennale can only accept works that you have the right submit and they should not subject to any claims or litigation and is not threatened by any claims or litigation.

Late Entries: If you are unable to meet the deadline, please contact the festival office at info@mykonosbiennale.com.

Results will be posted or notifications will be emailed. Selected finalists will be notified.

Entry materials such as preview media or press kits cannot be returned. It is the sole responsibility of the Applicant to secure clearance from the copyright holders of any copyrighted materials in the Video/Film.

The Applicant releases and discharges Mykonos Biennale, its employees and agents from any and all claims, demands or causes of actions related to misappropriation or infringement of copyright or violation of any other right arising out of or relating to this Video/Film.

By agreeing to these terms you give the Mykonos Beinnale the right to use excerpts, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Video/Film for promotional purposes in all media and social media including MB’s website, twitter, facebook, instagram. Mykonos Biennale will reserve the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the Video/Filmmakers and the Videos/Films and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information.

In the event that the Video/Film is accepted by Mykonos Biennale, the Applicant hereby agrees to the following rights and requests and grants to MB without reservations, conditions or qualifications:
Mykonos Biennale reserves the right to screen your video/film during Mykonos BIennale.
Mykonos Biennale reserves the right to coordinate ALL publicity and press outreach concerning the Video/Film’s presentation at Mykonos Biennale, including but not limited to:
Mykonos Biennale reserves the right to use excerpts, stills and/or titles, and information from or relating to the Video/Film for promotional purposes in all media including MB’s website. MB reserves the right to issue and authorize publicity concerning the Video/Filmmakers and the Videos/Films and to use all associated names, likenesses and biographical information. Mykonos Biennale reserves the right to provide contact information for the director and producer(s) of the Video and to grant Mykonos Biennale the right to provide this information to Video/Film industry organizations sponsoring Festival events at its discretion. The right to retain a preview video copy of any work selected as a finalist for festival's research and education library. MB reserves the right to disqualify, without refund of any or all submission fees, any entry which is in violation of the guidelines and participation agreement.

Having said all this we are just protecting the festival and will try our best to promote the festival and your work. We are humans and flexible so if you have any issues, problems and questions feel free to contact us.

Finally we are still under the thrall of COVID and although we will do our best nothing is guaranteed. Our dates and locations could be subject to change and Mýkonos could be locked down.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • My film was selected as part of the program. I think Mykonos Biennale is potential to be a special, niche festival that art makers or filmmakers can consider. The idea seems fantastic. Communication is good enough, they reply my email fast. The minus for me is only about appreciation for contributor. I've asked for acces to photo or video documentation particularly when my film is screened but I didn't receive it yet. For non profit events it is important to appreciate the contributor for example by giving access for documentation. Hope you get better in the next events, guys.

    November 2023
  • Thank you very much for choosing my film 'Let's Talk' for screening at the festival :)

    November 2023
  • Gilveranio Riaño Zamora

    Muchas gracias esperamos poder visitar tan maravilloso evento y lugares

    October 2023
  • nice to be in a very special and artistic category like 'video grafitti' with my videoart 'self portrait'..thanks!!

    October 2023
  • Honored to be a part of the Biennale. I wish I could have made the trip to Mykonos. If I am invited in the future, I'll be sure to attend. Great communication and web presence. Thanks!

    October 2023