12 avril 2025
Winner of the "Coup de coeur" prize from the French Federation of LGBTQIA+ Film Festivals, LESVIA by Greek filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou is more than a documentary: it's a political act, a poetic tribute, and a vibrant testament to the lesbian community of Eressos, on the island of Lesbos.
Watch the official trailer on Vimeo On Demand. watch the interview of Tzeli Hadjidimitriou on Youtube
Recovering an erased history In the 1980s, the sleepy Greek village of Eressos unexpectedly became a haven for women from around the world. Amidst a time of invisibility and shame, lesbians found in Eressos a place of freedom, sisterhood, and natural beauty. "We don’t exist in the archives," says Hadjidimitriou, who experienced this story firsthand and felt compelled to preserve it.
An essential archive After over a decade of work, the director gathered more than 100 hours of interviews and rare analog footage and photographs. LESVIA gives voice to the women who came, loved, fought, and celebrated together. Told in the filmmaker’s own voice, the film weaves a deeply personal and collective narrative of European lesbian history.
Eressos as a protagonist The island isn’t just a backdrop—it is a character. Hadjidimitriou captures the changing seasons and the soul of Eressos, where freedom is tangible. LESVIA is as much a love letter to a place as it is to a people.
A journey of healing By documenting this history, the film offers reconciliation. "This film healed me," says the director. For future generations, it becomes a beacon, reminding us of the power of memory and visibility.
A future for lesbian heritage Tzeli Hadjidimitriou now plans to create a Lesbian Archive Center in Eressos, drawing from the extensive material already collected. LESVIA will continue its journey throughout the 2024–2025 season, featured across LGBTQIA+ film festivals in France—including Chéries-Chéris in Paris and Face à Face in Saint-Étienne—a call to remember, celebrate, and pass on the legacy.
Cinéastes, critiques et réseaux LGBTQIA+ :
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Tzeli Hadjidimitriou –Dans films documentaires
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Festival Chéries-Chéris – Programme sur Allociné
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La Fédération française des festivals LGBTQIA+ – Page sur QueerScreen
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Critique de LESVIA – FrenchMania ou Têtu
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Sappho – Présentation sur Poetry Foundation
Autres festivals LGBTQIA+ partenaires :
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Festival Vues d’en Face (Grenoble) – Site officiel
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Festival Cinepride (Nantes) – Site officiel
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Festival Désir Désirs (Tours) – Infos sur Cinéma Studio Tours
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Festival Image+Nation (Montréal) – Page officielle
Ressources historiques et culturelles :
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Sappho : fragments traduits – Traduction bilingue
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Archives LGBTQIA+ en Europe – European Queer Archives Network (EQAN)**
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Projet d’archives lesbiennes (présenté dans LESVIA) – Détail sur le site officiel du film
