All year round various groups and individuals work ceaselessly on their art, and the busy summers with visitors flooding in, is the perfect opportunity for all this work to shine. Some of the festivals being held have gained international recognition, and the spotlight is on Chania as a center of groundbreaking cultural events that push forward artistic boundaries and bring new ideas to the table.
Chania Film Festival
The Chania Film Festival constitutes an international film festival that quickly transitioned from being an organization to a validated institution counting many collaborations and simultaneous events. It is a celebration of the 7th art and a place where local and international filmmakers have the artistic freedom to present their work and interact. Every year, during a 10day period starting from the last week of October, the Chania Film Festival along with the cine-Classes, which is the educational branch of the festival, there is an artistic and creative, cinematic buzz across the city in so many levels.
www.chaniafilmfestival.com
Dance Days Festival
The International Festival of Contemporary Dance “Dance Days Chania” was created in 2011 by the association of expressional dance “Syn-Kinisi”in an attempt to infuse dance in our lives as a means of expression, liberation and rejuvenation as well as offering a platform to Greek and non-Greek artists and performers to connect and exchange views. Artists from around the world participate by giving lectures, organizing seminars and performing across the city. The Dance Days Chania festival has been certified by EFFE Label 2017 – 2018 and in 2019- 2021 by the European Organization EFA.Chess
Rock under the Clock Festival
The rock scene is alive and kicking in Chania! Every summer the Rock Under the Clock Festival brings together local rock bands and artists in an effort to showcase local rock talents as well as to for people of all ages to rock till they drop! This year it is the 6th in a row rock festival and it will be held at the East Moat theatre on the 13t and 14th of August
Jazz in July Festival
If you love jazz music, then seize the opportunity and attend the jazz festival held in the picturesque village of Vamos at the municipality of Apocorona in Chania. “Jazz in July” is one of the biggest jazz festivals in Greece, the only one in Crete and it is held annually since 2012. The 10th “Jazz in July festival” returns this summer, and will be held in special outdoor venue over the green hills of Vamos.
www.jazzinjuly.gr
Chaniartoon Festival
The Sketch Workshop of Chania along with the group +anima, following a journey that began in 2012 with a high school illustration exhibition organized by a devoted and ambitious principal, host the 1st Chaniartoon – International Comic & Animation Festival in 2017. Since then the festival has been embraced by locals and by people from around the world with short animation entries from all corners of the globe. The animation films are viewed at the open air cinema of the Municipal Garden and it is a very special experience.
www.chaniartoonfest.gr
Chania International Photo Festival
Chania International Photo festival was created by Blank Wall Gallery and it aims at bringing together more than 300 photographers from around the world each year. The Municipality of Chania, acknowledging the artistic and cultural value, the photo festival adds, is contributing as a co-organizer by providing many of the venues. Thanks to the wide acceptance and participation, the Festival has become an established international institution and every year it is turning the town of Chania into an international center of artistic expression with photograph expositions around town.
www.cipfestival.com
Municipal Cultural Summer Festival
The Municipal Cultural Summer Festival takes place every year during the summer season, from July to the end of September. It is an initiative of the Municipality of Chania in collaboration with the ΚΕΠΠΕΔΗΧ-ΚΑΜ and it includes a plethora of cultural events, such as theatrical and musical plays, concerts, dance shows etc.
www.chania-culture.gr