The IMMA exhibition ‘Yannis and Milto Manakia: The Faces Behind the Lens’ is traveling to Kastoria and is being hosted at the Bassara Mansion.

Continuing its tour across Greece, the exhibition “Giannis and Milton Manakia: The Faces Behind the Lens” will be presented to the public of Xanthi on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The exhibition is organized by the Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA) and will be hosted at the Kapnapothiki ‘P’, as part of the collaboration between the Thrakian Art and Tradition Foundation and IMMA.

The Manakia Brothers, pioneering filmmakers and photographers originating from Avdella Grevena, traveled throughout the countryside and major urban centers of the Balkans, documenting not only the lives of working people, moments of leisure and entertainment, but also architectural landmarks, as well as historical and social events that marked the changes of the first half of the 20th century.

The exhibition presents a large collection of photographs from the personal archive of Leonidas Manakia, son of Milton Manakia, which was donated to IMMA by Ambassador Emeritus Alexandros Mallias.

The opening will take place on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 19:00, and admission is free.

Speakers at the event will include:

• Stavroula Mavrogeni, Professor, Department of Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies (University of Macedonia), Director of the Center for Research on Macedonian History and Documentation at IMMA, and Curator of the Exhibition

• Dimitris Polychronopoulos, President of the Department of Architecture, Democritus University of Thrace

Greetings will be delivered by Athena Pavlidou, Director of the Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia, and Vasilis Koutsomichalis, Secretary of the Professional Photographers Association of Xanthi “Cyclops.”

The exhibition is supported by the Friends of the Thrakian Art and Tradition Foundation Association and the Professional Photographers Association of Xanthi “Cyclops.”

Schools may visit the exhibition as part of their educational activities, by prior arrangement.

Exhibition duration: March 14 – April 2, 2026

Visiting hours:
Monday to Friday 09:00–13:00 (by appointment) / 17:00–21:00
Contact phone: +30 25410 29282, Monday to Friday 09:00–13:00