30 Mar With great participation, the award-winning documentary “Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor” was screened in Ohio, USA.
.The documentary “Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor” was screened with great participation from all major neighboring metropolitan areas on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the CLWCC (Community Center for Literature and Culture) in Lowellville, Ohio. Many second- and third-generation Greek-Americans from the neighboring cities of Pittsburgh, PA, Akron, OH, Cleveland, OH, Canton, OH, Youngstown, OH, Lowellville, OH, and Campbell, OH, attended the screening with great interest. The President of the Venizelos Foundation USA and President of the World Council of Cretans (WCC), Mr. Nikos Kastrinakis, stated: “We are delighted to have managed to screen the documentary about Eleftherios Venizelos in a region that, while seemingly remote, has shown great, enthusiastic, and meaningful participation, proving that Eleftherios Venizelos continues to inspire everywhere.” Among the attendees were the former and first President of the WCC and former President of the Pancretan Association of America, Mr. Stavros Simanderes, as well as the Secretary of the WCC, Mrs. Maria Vamvaki, both of whom received an honorary distinction from Mr. Kastrinakis as a token of appreciation for their contributions. Among the many distinguished guests were Reverend Father Steve Denas of the Archangel Michael Parish in Campbell, OH, Reverend Father Jonathan Distefano of St. Nicholas Parish in Youngstown, OH, the Governor of the 3rd District of the Pancretan Association of America, Mrs. Sophia Getchelll, and the President of the Federation of Kalymnians of America, Mr. Nikolaos Kalouris. Additionally, Mr. Jonathan Kampouris, Director of the Historical Museum of Youngstown University, had the opportunity to present Mr. Kastrinakis with a copy of the April 1922 issue of the region’s weekly pro-Venizelist Bulletin “Kampana”, which contains an article titled “The National Reformer Eleftherios K. Venizelos.” Warm thanks go to President Dr. Vasileia Vamvaki-Tsekouris and the members of the local PAA chapter “Peroulakis – Theodorakis” of the Pancretan Association of America for their impeccable organization and cooperation, as well as to all donors for their unwavering support. Dr. Vasileia Vamvaki-Tsekouris stated, “This was a wonderful opportunity for our Greek communities to come together in fellowship and learn about Greek history. The
documentary was very well received. For many, it filled the gaps in a critical period of Greek history.” Following the screening, the audience enthusiastically participated in a discussion, which continued at a special reception generously hosted by Greek entrepreneurs from the area. The U.S. Chapter of the Eleftherios K. Venizelos National Research Foundation has also scheduled a screening of the documentary in Chicago, IL, at the end of May 2025. The film is a production of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” and is based on the book Eleftherios Venizelos: The Man, The Leader by the Foundation’s Director, Mr. Nikos Papadakis-Papadis. With English subtitles, the documentary—directed by Nikos Dayandas—brings to life the extraordinary journey of Eleftherios Venizelos, one of modern Greece’s greatest statesmen. Through dramatized scenes, rare archival footage, and expert interviews, the film vividly portrays his leadership during the defining decade of the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
Photo 1: Former and first President of the WCC and former President of the PAA, Mr. Stavros Simanderes, along with the Secretary of the WCC, Mrs. Maria Vamvaki, receiving an honorary distinction from Mr. Nickos Kastrinakis, WCC President, as a token of appreciation for their contributions.
Photo 2: Mrs. Maria Vamvaki of the WCC receiving an honorary distinction from Mr. Nickos Kastrinakis, President of the Venizelos Foundation USA and President of the WCC.
Photo 3: “Venizelos: The Struggle for Asia Minor” was screened in Ohio, USA on March 28, 2025.
