The Gleaner (2026): Cast, Story and Release Details

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Set on a snow-covered Aegean island on Christmas Eve, The Gleaner follows Ahtitsa, an elderly grandmother struggling to support her orphaned grandchildren. A letter from America, a calculating grocer and a stranded merchant shape this Greek animated drama about poverty, kindness and the possibility of hope.

The Gleaner is a Greek animated drama with family elements, set on a small Aegean island during the late 19th century. Its story centers on Ahtitsa, an impoverished elderly woman caring for two orphaned grandchildren as Christmas approaches.

Directed and written by Panagiotis Rappas, the 72-minute film brings together themes of immigration, poverty, greed, kindness and island life. The setting and period place a personal family struggle within a distinctly Greek historical environment.

The Gleaner movie details

Story without spoilers

On Christmas Eve, Ahtitsa is trying to raise her two orphaned grandchildren with help from her compassionate neighbor, Gerbinho. Their difficult circumstances begin to change when Ahtitsa receives a check from her long-lost son in America.

The check offers a possible way forward, but its value creates an opportunity for the village grocer to take advantage of Ahtitsa’s lack of knowledge. A stranded merchant from Syros becomes involved, setting the story on a path toward a more hopeful future without removing the hardships that define Ahtitsa’s life.

What to expect

The film combines animation, drama and family storytelling in a period setting shaped by a snowy Aegean island, Christmas Eve and late-19th-century Greek society. Its premise points to a focused story about an elderly caregiver, orphaned children and the impact of help—or exploitation—when poverty leaves someone vulnerable.

The supplied themes also suggest attention to immigration, religion, patriarchy, greed and kindness. Viewers can expect a Greek-language production with a humane, community-centered premise rather than a contemporary setting or a large-scale adventure.

Cast and creative team

Matina Douskou voices Ahtitsa, while Olia Lazaridou plays Gerbinho. The cast also includes Alexandros Mavropoulos as Margaritis, Vasilis Magouliotis as the Teacher, Antonis Kafetzopoulos as Father Dimitris, Stelios Mainas as the Merchant, Takis Tzamargias as Alexandros Papadiamantis, Christos Giannoulis as the Captain and Patis Koutsaftis as the Harvester.

Panagiotis Rappas serves as both director and writer. The credited production companies are Pan Entertainment, Greek Film Centre, ERT, ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ and Feelgood Entertainment.

• Matina Douskou as Ahtitsa
• Olia Lazaridou as Gerbinho
• Alexandros Mavropoulos as Margaritis
• Vasilis Magouliotis as Teacher
• Antonis Kafetzopoulos as Father Dimitris
• Stelios Mainas as Merchant
• Takis Tzamargias as Alexandros Papadiamantis
• Christos Giannoulis as Captain
• Patis Koutsaftis as Harvester

Release and production context

The Gleaner is listed as a 2026 release, with a release date of November 14, 2026. It has a runtime of 1 hour and 12 minutes and is identified as a production from Greece. The spoken language is Greek, and the film is classified as Animation, Drama and Family.

Production companies: Pan Entertainment, Greek Film Centre, ERT, ΕΚΚΟΜΕΔ, Feelgood Entertainment

The Gleaner official trailer

Watch the official trailer on YouTube

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With its historical island setting and intimate premise, The Gleaner frames a family’s struggle through questions of poverty, fairness and compassion. Its short runtime and Greek-language animation make it a compact period drama built around Ahtitsa’s search for security and the people who influence her prospects.

Film data:
TMDB · IMDb