The documentary “150 Years Hotel Grande Bretagne: Hosting History” was honored at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards 2024, winning the Silver Dolphin trophy in the category “Documentaries and Reports (TV, Online, Cinema) – History and Personalities / Portraits,” standing out among numerous entries from 46 countries. The award ceremony took place on Thursday, September 26, at the Annex Beach restaurant on La Croisette in Cannes.
Ms. Chloe Laskaridis, Chairwoman of the B.O.D of LAMPSA Hellenic Hotels S.A. mentioned regarding the award: “We are particularly delighted with the documentary’s distinction at the Cannes festival. It is a milestone project created in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the existence of the most iconic hotel in Athens, of which we are very proud. We share this honor with the contributors and everyone who shared their personal stories, cherishing the legacy of the Hotel Grande Bretagne and its inextricable link with the evolution of Athens. This recognition is a tribute to a landmark hotel that has spanned more than a century and a half, and to the visionaries who were ahead of their time.”
Directed by Thodoris Papadoulakis, produced by Indigo View, co-produced by the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation – ERT, with a script by Natassa Segkou and music by Minos Matsas, the documentary is narrated by Pavlos Tsimas, who also took on the role of chief editor, offering a spectacular retrospective of a century and a half of Athenian grandeur through the story of the Hotel Grande Bretagne.
Documentary director Thodoris Papadoulakis commented: “For me, this documentary was a unique opportunity to tell the story of a living monument. From the moment it was built, the Hotel Grande Bretagne has been home to countless stories that have unfolded across decades, and we sought to bring them to light with creativity and color. The challenge was to render this rich heritage with imagination, historical depth, and emotional connection.”
Historical testimonies, along with a rich collection of visual and audio archives spanning from the late 19th century to the present day, underscore the enduring connection between the Hotel and the development of Athens. An important element of the documentary is the personal narrations of figures connected to the Hotel, such as historian and author of the book “The Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens” Angelos F. Vlachos, Former CEO & Former VP of LAMPSA Hellenic Hotels S.A. and great-grandson of founder Efstathios Lampsas, Apostolos Doxiadis, journalist and writer Nikos Vatopoulos, former Queen of the Hellenes and Princess of Denmark Anna Maria, Professor of Economic and Social History at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Kostas Kostis, Shipowner & Principal Shareholder of LAMPSA Hellenic Hotels S.A. Athanasios Laskaridis, and the Chairwoman of the B.O.D of LAMPSA Hellenic Hotels S.A., Chloe Laskaridis.
The award-winning documentary is available on ERTFLIX, the streaming platform of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation – ERT, at the following link.
