The Panorama of European Cinema, organized by "Eleftherotipia" newspaper  and under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture, was founded 23 years ago, in September 1988, marking the European Year of Film and Television. In 2009 and 2010, it was organized by the City of Athens Cultural Organization.

During its 24 years of existence, Panorama became an arts institution that seals the autumn cultural life of Athens, and although it focuses on -classic and contemporary- European cinema, along with the Greek productions,  it also screens films from the rest of the world. New British cinema, cinema of perestroika, new Italian cinema, Ealing studios comedies, fantasy cinema, sci-fi movies, eco cinema, film censorship, 200 years since the French Revolution, 40 years of "Cahiers du cinéma" magazine, love and eroticism in cinema are just some of the tributes and retrospectives that have been hosted by the festival during these years.

Furthermore, the Special Prize of Panorama is awarded to individuals for their lifetime achievement in cinema. So far among the recipients of the award are Michelangelo Antonioni, Harold Pinter, Arthur Penn, Christopher Lee, Monty Python (Terry Jones and Terry Gilliam), Stephen Frears, Wim Wenders, Emir Kusturica, Abbas Kiarostami, Costas Gavras, Roger Korman, Francesco Rosie, Ettore Scola, Taviani brothers, Anies Varda, Max von Sydow, etc., as well as individuals from the Greek cinema, such as: Michael Cacoyannis, Irene Papas, Theo Angelopoulos, Jules Dassin, Nikos Koundouros, Pantelis Voulgaris, Alexis Damianos, Nikos Kourkoulos, Despo Diamantidou, George Arvanitis, Eva Kotamanidou, Eleni Karaindrou, Yorgos Fountas, Dinos Demopoulos, Mikis Theodorakis, etc.