Hen

Directed by György Pálfi
Greece
2025
96 mins

Synopsis

An amazingly courageous hen is the star of this beguiling survival drama by György Pálfi (Taxidermia, 2006; Final Cut, SFF 2013). Honourable mention, Toronto Platform 2025.

An animal protagonist to rank alongside the heroes of Red Dog and Babe, Hen begins life as a black-feathered outcast in an ocean of golden chicks bound for slaughter. Capturing the personality of this creature with a skill that makes us feel like we know exactly what she is thinking, Pálfi charts the funny adventures and hair-raising escapes that lead her to a run-down taverna on the Greek coast. But this is anything but a straightforward ‘animal picture’. As the humans around Hen come into focus, Pálfi delivers a sobering study in human nature and a provocative commentary on burning social and political issues. Made without CGI, animatronics or AI, Hen is technically brilliant and boldly innovative.

Like Jerzy Skolimowski’s EO and Andrea Arnold’s documentary Cow, Hen effectively uses its animal protagonist to shed light on wider human issues … the journey of this hen is compelling from the start.
Nikki Braughan, Screen International

Tickets

Sun 7 June 2026, 2:30pm
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace - Cinema 5
WheelchairSubtitled
Mon 8 June 2026, 2:30pm
State Library of NSW
Assisted ListeningWheelchairSubtitled
Tue 9 June 2026, 4:10pm
State Theatre
Assisted ListeningWheelchairSubtitled
  • Program Strand
  • Original Title
    KOTA
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 15+
  • Country
    Greece, Germany, Hungary
  • Language
    In Greek with English subtitles
  • Director
    György Pálfi
  • Producer
    Thanassis Karathanos, Costas Lambropoulos, Martin Hampel, Giorgos Kiriakos
  • Cast
    Yannis Kokiasmenos, Maria Diakopanagioti, Argyris Pantazaras
  • Screenwriter
    György Pálfi, Zsófia Ruttkay
  • Cinematographer
    Giorgos Karvelas
  • Editor
    Lehmhényi Réka
  • Genre
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Australian Distributor: Madman Entertainment
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