“Cinema, theater, literature and music enjoy the special regime of freedom and protection provided by our Constitution with articles 14, 15 and 16” and “the State in no way attempts to censor Art” he clarified the Deputy Minister of Culture, Christos Dimasanswering a topical question from her MP “NIKIS” Komninos Delveroudisthat “the Documentary ‘Stray Bodies’ which participates in the 26th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, uses a poster that blasphemes holy symbols and persons of the Orthodox Christian faith”.

The deputy minister pointed out that “any promotional material, such as posters and trailers, is the choice of the contributors and neither the Ministry of Culture nor the Thessaloniki festival is involved”.

Mr. Dimas said that “this particular poster, I also consider that it suffers aesthetically. But you know, very well, that the Greek society of people has such a mature judgment, knowledge and perceptive ability and in no way is the orthodox Christian faith in danger from it. Throughout history, humanity has put up very long and bloody struggles to achieve freedom of expression within the framework of the functioning of a democratic state.

The deputy minister pointed out to the deputy that the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival is organized every year by the private legal entity under the name “Thessaloniki Film Festival” which enjoys autonomy. This year, the 26th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival is being organized, which has managed to become an international institution with a great response from the leading documentary festivals in the world. This year its program is rich and diverse, as are its parallel actions in the context of the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. In this way, the festival tries to open the dialogue on the current issues that concern citizens and society, acting as a forum for international reflection and discussion and of course giving the platform to many young Greek and foreign creators”.