International reporter

The Hellenic Film Academy, Greece's national film body, has said it is "furious" and is asking the country's Culture Ministry for clarification after a series of chaotic government-imposed changes paralysed the selection of Greece's entry for the 96th Academy Awards.

The confusion began in early August when the Greek Ministry of Culture, as is customary, invited a committee of Greek film professionals to select the country’s entry into the international Oscar race. The committee included Milky Way filmmaker Vasilis Kekatos, film critic Leda Galanou, actress Kora Karvounis and screenwriter Kallia Papadakis. All four accepted, and Kekato, best known for The Distance Between Us and the Sky, which won the 2019 Palme d’Or at Cannes, was named chairman of the committee.

Online links to watch this year’s film selection were sent to the members. However, a few days later, the four members received a follow-up email from the ministry stating that all previous communication had been accidental and that they were not, in fact, part of the selection committee. They were all immediately relieved of their duties. Shortly thereafter, the ministry announced a new committee of seven.