Ionian Islands Film Office Metaverse Presentation May 2023

Another part of HAL’s innovative and expansive work was made public last week, as the Ionian Film Office’s metaverse edition was presented in its entirety, on May 18, by the Ionian Islands Prefect Ms. Rodi Kratsa, and Drs. Ioannis Deliyannis, Associate Professor, and Iakovos Panagopoulos, film director and researcher at the Department of Audio and Visual Arts of the Ionian University. Ephorate of Antiquities, Ms. Diamanto Rigakou, Corfu’s Deputy Mayor, in charge of European Programmes Ms. Panagiota Tzanne, and Director of the Ionian Film Office, Ms. Angela Krokidi were also in attendance.

As it has already been pointed out, the project is a pioneering one, not just by Greek but by international standards. It presents a cutting-edge way for anyone around the world to conduct meetings, find available collaborators in the Ionian Islands Prefecture, and check potential film/series locations in the area. All of the above are not simply carried out through video calls or web browsing. As Dr. Panagopoulos pointed out, the metaverse Ionian Film Office is a 3D/VR space which offers separate rooms for private meetings with professionals as well as the ability for each user to virtually navigate potential locations while simultaneously perusing information on them and the various films/series that were previously made there. What is more, it is a highly easy-to-use platform, suitable for all kinds of devices – smartphones, tablets, laptop and desktop computers and VR devices.

It was also announced during the presentation that the Ionian Film Office will become an associate of the Paris Film Office – one of the most active and renowned Film Office worldwide -- following the signing of a memorandum in June 2023. Much-publicized productions such as Maestro (internationally known as Maestro in Blue), The Return (a film adaptation of The Odyssey starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 have been instrumental in attracting both Greek and international productions to the Ionian Islands area. The introduction of the virtual Ionian Film Office will boost this popularity even further.

Along with its innovative and truly advantageous contribution to the local creative industries, the Ionian Film Office’s metaverse edition is also a great promotion tool for the Ionian Islands’ tourism sector, as the Prefect, Ms. Kratsa pointed out during the event. The services described above (virtual meetings in private rooms, navigations in potential venues and other sites, collection of information on these, acquaintance with the area’s professionals) also apply to persons and companies seeking to travel and/or organize events such as parties, receptions, weddings, conferences etc. in the wider Ionian Islands area.

This two-fold function is in total accordance with one of HAL’s main goals: to boost the Ionian Islands’ creative and tourism/hospitality industries, while at the same time showcasing the Prefecture’s rich cultural and natural environment.