Pirateland by Stavros Petropoulos | FRA, GRC, NOR, SVN | 28’

As the tourist season ends, a Norwegian family visits Gramvousa in Crete and stays at a small hotel run by Manos and his family. Initially they ask Manos and his teenage son, Tasos, to guide them through the legendary pirate sites. When they request a more authentic pirate experience, Manos agrees and begins an exciting role-playing game involving
simulated kidnappings and violence. As the game escalates, the tension and excitement of the Norwegian family increase, and the experiences become more and more daring. Tasos watches his father lose himself in the role, widening the gap between them. When the tourists' final request crosses the line, Tasos decides to put an end to it, sparking a conflict that might reconnect father and son.

Stavros Petropoulos was born in Zakynthos in 1984. He studied Sociology at the University of Crete and Media & Communications at Goldsmiths College, University of London. In 2013, he co‑founded the production company Alaska Films with Leonidas Konstantarakos. As a director and producer, he has worked across a wide range of audiovisual formats — from fiction films and documentaries to television and commercial content.

His short documentary Microbiome (2022) was selected by prestigious festivals such as CPH:DOX and the Sarajevo Film Festival, and won the Grand Prix at FEKK. His latest short fiction film Pirateland (2025) had its world premiere at Clermont‑Ferrand ISFF and its North America premiere at the Tribeca Festival.