Moderators: Aris Katopodis & Dimitra Kasdagli
Wednesday, June 2, at 11:00 am PST | 21:00 Greece


Michael Kalopaidis
Parrot Lady, Orpheus Award for Best Animation
Michalis Kalopaidis is an Animation Producer and the Founder of Zedem Media, Cyprus’largest and longest running Animation Studio. He is also a founding member of the CyprusAnimation Association and the President of the Larnaka Famagusta Cinema Society, anon-profit organization. Michalis, holds a BA in Media Management from Columbia CollegeChicago and an MA in Media & Cultural Studies from Middlesex University, London. ‘TheParrot Lady’ is his first personal film as Director


Fokion Xenos
Lazy Dragon, Special Jury Award
Fokion Xenos is a Director/Designer from Athens,Greece born in 1990. As an animation filmmaker he is interested inplayful and bold stories that focus on visual wit and emotional honesty. With a particular emphasis on colour and form he is very keen into combining practical and digital techniques to create unique emerging visuals. His MA graduation film “Heatwave” produced at the National Film and Television School has been awarded by multiple prestigious film festivals such as Edinburgh Int. Film Festival, Cinekid, Athens Int. Film Fest, Anima Syros and many others. In addition “Heatwave” has been officially selected in more than 70 film festivals all over the globe including Annecy, Anima Mundi, Encounters, LSSF, LIAF as well as it has been Shortlisted for the Student BAFTA LA. Recently it won best student short film award at the Royal Television Society.


Demetrios Tzamaras
Bucket Hat!, Audience Orpheus Award
Demetrios Tzamaras is a Greek-American story artist, animator, and director. He has been a coordinator on the Academy Award winning film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Illumination’s Despicable Me and The Secret Life of Pets franchises, and Sony Pictures Animation’s The Mitchells VS The Machines. As a filmmaker, Demetrios believes in telling stories with heart, humor, and visual spectacle.


Aliki Theofilopoulos
Executive Director, Dreamworks


Vassilis Karamitsanis
President, Asifa Hellas
Born in Athens, 1976, he finished high school at the Athens College Lyceum. Holding a degree in Law from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR), he completed post-graduate studies in the Universities of Rotterdam (NL), Hamburg (D) and Aix-Marseille III (F). A lisenced attorney-at-Law by the Athens Bar Association since 2002, he has served as Counsel to the Greek Minister for Development during 2012-2014 and as a special advisor to the Greek Minister for Health during 2003-2004. He’s president to ASIFA HELLAS – Hellenic Animation Association and Animasyros International Animation Festival + Agora. He was recently elected member of Board of Directors of CIFEJ – International Centre of Films for Children & Young People.
