Artistic Director of the International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra

Born and raised in Ierapetra of Crete, Eleni Vlassi is an accomplished creative executive. She has studied Journalism, Political Sciences and Film Directing in France and speaks fluently English and French. She is a Journalist, member of the Journalists’ Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA). Bearing a multi-faceted professional experience, she has worked as a reporter / columnist, presenter and editor-in-chief in various major national print and TV media in Greece and abroad (France & the Caribbean).

Furthermore, she holds a longstanding experience in the film industry, as she has written, directed and produced numerous anthropocentric documentaries that portray the folk life and cultural traditions of civilizations in the Caribbean, Middle East, Azores, Caucasus, Asia, North Africa and Europe. These series of documentaries have been showcased around the world in many prestigious festivals dedicated to the documentary genre, receiving international recognition and a number of significant awards and distinctions.

She is the Executive President of the Greek-Chinese and Mediterranean Academy of Cinematography and an official member of other important organizations and associations, such as the ‘European Documentary Network’ (EDN), a global network for professionals working with documentary film and TV, and the ‘Hellenic Film Academy’ (HFA) which contributes to the discussion on the future of Europe’s film industry and policy. She has also collaborated with various cultural and society-oriented institutions in the field of communication and public relations.

She is the Chairman and Managing Director of the non-profit company "CHRYSEA" and thanks to her talent, expertise, creative approach and love for her hometown, she has been the Artistic Director of the International Documentary Festival of Ierapetra since its first edition in 2014. She is also the Executive President of the Greek-Chinese and Mediterranean Academy of Cinema and has been the Chairman of the Jury at the Silk Road Cup International Film Support Program ‘China Summit Forum’.

Apart from her creative, artistic, cultural and culinary activities, she has been involved in various other projects with a great sociopolitical impact, through the angle of history, tradition and modern trends and demands, proving her continuous commitment to improve the daily life of citizens in every possible way.