The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes: A Dark and Poignant Coming-of-Age Tale
A captivating and unique folktale unfolds in a secluded Greek mountain village, blending elements of fantasy and horror with a queer coming-of-age narrative. The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes, directed by Thanasis Neofotistos, is set to make its world premiere in London on June 6 as part of the Screen Festival of SXSW London 2026. Starring Giorgos Karydis, Pablo Soto, Syrmo Keke, and Sofia Filippidou, the film follows the story of Petros, a blue-eyed boy born under a curse in a superstitious village.
Petros, portrayed by Karydis, navigates his constrained existence behind a mask enforced by his strict grandmother, the village mayor, and his overprotective mother. His only solace lies in his friendship with Aemon. As fear escalates into violence and the village turns against him, Petros is faced with a harrowing choice between submission and sacrifice.
The journey of The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes has been a decade-long endeavor, starting with development at First Things First academy and script workshops at the Mediterranean Film Institute and Sarajevo Script Station. The film eventually found its way to the Cannes Focus CoPro program in 2022, culminating in a dark and poignant coming-of-age tale rooted in Greek tragedy.
Director Thanasis Neofotistos describes the film as a personal exploration of queerness and the fear of being perceived as different in a conservative society. Through a symbolic and impressionistic visual language, the film delves into themes of belief, superstition, and societal collapse, drawing from the director's own upbringing and experiences.
Collaborating with writer Grigoris Skarakis, cinematographer Djordje Arambasic, and editor Panagiotis Angelopoulos, Neofotistos crafted a raw and human narrative that balances realism with myth. The film's exclusive clip offers a glimpse into the atmospheric and poetic storytelling that defines The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a cinematic allegory of identity, othering, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
Experience the haunting beauty of The Boy With the Light-Blue Eyes as it unfolds on screen, weaving a tale of love, freedom, and the enduring power of the human spirit.