Takis – A Story of Rescue and Hope | CineDoc Season Opener

EVENT INFO

When: 18 Sep 2025 - 11 Oct 2025
Where: Various Locations
Title: Takis – A Story of Rescue and Hope | CineDoc Season Opener

Takis – A Story of Rescue and Hope | CineDoc Season Opener

The documentary Takis. by director Michalis Roubis and creative producers Eleni Alafouzos and Anna Podara opens the new season of CineDoc, following the film’s premiere at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival and the 27th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. The film will be presented as part of the CineDoc Festival, which hosts a series of Athenian premieres, special screenings and parallel events from September 2025 to April 2026. The full list of films can be found here.

The film's premiere in Athens will take place on September 18 at the open-air cinema “Anesis” in the presence of the film's crew. Additional screenings will follow at Danaos Cinema on September 19, 20, 21, and 22. The film is nominated for the Audience Award and viewers will be able to vote by scanning the QR code they will be given on the days of the screenings. Additional screenings will also take place on October 4 and 11 in Volos and Rethymno, respectively.

Regarding the film's premiere on September 18 at the open-air cinema “Anesis”, the CineDoc team invites the audience to attend the screening with their dogs, as they will be offered a special ice cream treat, courtesy of Maraboo Ice Cream.

The screenings are being held in collaboration with Zero Stray Pawject, the Ilioupoli Animal Welfare Union, Cat Cafe Athens, the Attica Rescue Team, the Nea Anchialos Animal Welfare Association SYNYPARCHO, and the Volos Animal Welfare Association KOSMOS & FYSI, with Q&A sessions following the screenings.

About the documentary

In the documentary, Takis Proestakis, founder of the famous Takis Shelter in Crete, narrates his story: After selling his nightclub in Ierapetra, he finds a few abandoned dogs in a local dumpsite and decides to take action. Gradually, he takes care of more and more stray animals, while trying to raise awareness on the local community. Although he faces challenges every day, Takis' vision becomes a symbol of hope for animal lovers around the world. Having earned their trust and support, he has now managed to create a model animal shelter, which is visited daily by people from all over the world. To date, approximately 2,500 neglected dogs have been rescued and 1,500 have been adopted, mainly abroad. For more information about the shelter and how you can support it, please visit: https://takisshelter.org/

SCREENINGS SCHEDULE

ATHENS – Thursday, September 18, 2025 | ANESIS open cinema

Address: 14 Kifissias Avenue, Athens

Doors open at 7:15 pm and the screening starts at 8:00 pm.

TICKETS

The film will be screened with Greek and English subtitles. A Q&A session with the film's crew will follow.

ATHENS – Friday, September 19 2025 | DANAOS cinema

Address: 109 Kifissias Avenue, Athens

Start time: 7:00 pm

TICKETS

The film will be screened with Greek and English subtitles. A Q&A session will follow with Stamatina Stamatakou, Director of the Academy of Zero Stray Pawject (Zero Stray Academy).

ATHENS – Saturday, September 20, 2025 | DANAOS Cinema

Address: 109 Kifissias Avenue, Athens

Start time: 7:00 pm

TICKETS

The film will be screened with Greek and English subtitles. A Q&A session will follow with Spyros Chrysanthopoulos, President of the Hellenic Rescue Team of Attica.

ATHENS – Sunday, September 21, 2025 | DANAOS Cinema

Address: 109 Kifissias Avenue, Athens

Start time: 7:00 pm

TICKETS

The film will be screened with Greek and English subtitles. A Q&A session will follow with Marilena Papagiannopoulou, president of the Ilioupolis Animal Welfare Union, Iris Roussi, member of the Ilioupolis Animal Welfare Union team and Natalie Sellenidou, founder of Cat Cafe Athens.