Greek film-makers protest at war

Greek film-makers protest at war

Angelopoulos is supporting the action

Greek film-makers have called for a boycott of US films to protest against the war in Iraq.

The Union of Greek Film-makers says the proposed action is "not a condemnation of the American people or American art" but a stand against military action.

Its signatories include director Theo Angelopoulos, whose film Eternity and a Day won the Palme d'Or award at Cannes in 1998.

Greeks overwhelmingly oppose the war, which has caused a wave of anti-US sentiment around the country.

The union said it would hand out leaflets promoting the action at cinemas.

Speaking through the union, Angelopoulos said: "I support the boycott of American films as an indication of protest against the American attack against Iraq."

Angelopoulos has won a number of international awards for his critically acclaimed but famously slow-paced movies.

In 1995, he took the Critics Grand Prix at Cannes for Ulysses' Gaze.