The Greek Animated Films programme of the ReA Festival 2026. Poplars by Alvo (Alexandros Vounatsos) (11:20 min) Lesvos, 1997. A father waits at the port as his two sons cross the gulf by boat. They arrive older than when they left. In an olive field, three poplars grow with them as time accelerates. The father falls, becoming the tree, a living memory. Years later, the sons return, embraced by its leaves. The life and work of Yanoulis Halepas by Zina Papadopoulou (6:32 min) An animated mini-biopic featuring the life and work of the sculptor Yanoulis Halepas. Born on the island of Tinos in the mid-19th century, he met with massive acclaim at a young age, spent years in a psychiatric hospital, and was artistically reborn in the twilight of his life. The Synthetic Age by Dimitris Armenakis (7:39 min) In a city where people consume cartoons, a dog reconciles with its old friends, and together, they try to escape from humans. The distance between the staircase and the sky by Katerina Athanasopoulou (7:00 min) Ascending a staircase in the centre of Athens makes room for reflection on everyday life, as both otherworldly and mundane. On a planet lit by neon and on a beach powered by cicadas, we twirl into a void measured by walking - one step at a time. DREAM by Semiramis Mamata (4:44 min) Inspired by Paul Éluard’s poem Homme Utile, DREAM is a magical, visually rich escape from reality. When the weight of the world becomes unbearable, a human creature drifts into a surreal dreamscape where colours bloom and logic fades. What begins as an escape becomes a quiet exploration of freedom, rest, and the beauty found in simply being. The Mushroom Man by Petros Niamonitakis (4:02 min) The film is about the life of a boy, childbirth, school, friendships, love, everyday life, and death. Everything seems to be predestined. Will he finally be able to discover his true self? Black Cities by Christos Magganas (16:00 min) Black Cities takes a modern approach to the classic fairy tale The Three Little Pigs. Under the constant threat of power, the violence of society and the fear of strangers, the three pigs finally manage to react and ultimately overthrow the totalitarian regime. So now, they have the opportunity to build a New City.