www.lagff.org – Facebook – YouTube – Twitter
Craig Prater, LAGFF Executive Director, FESTIVALOFESTS@aol.com, (760) 831-7349
Nicholas Snow, LAGFF Director of Publicity, SnowbizNow@gmail.com, (760) 808-2787
PRESTIGIOUS JURY ASSEMBLED FOR 2012 LOS ANGELES GREEK FILM FESTIVAL
Orpheus Award winners to be selected among a field of twenty-two feature and short narrative and documentary films aimed at “Defeating the Crisis Through The Viewfinder.” Exclusive Awards Party at the home of Greek Consul General, Elisabeth Fotiadou, to include Live Performance by Greek singer Vassy.
(Los Angeles—May 9, 2012) Named for the legendary Greek poet and “father of songs”, the Orpheus Award is the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival’s annual prize intended to honor the best in Greek and Greek inspired cinema, and for the 2012 fest May 31st-June 3rd, the most prestigious jury in LAGFF’s history is convening to choose the winners. “Since the Festival’s inception in 2007 the awards night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film,” said LAGFF Co-Founder/Artistic Director Ersi Danou. “We are honored to have such an esteemed group of filmmaking professionals judge this year’s lineup.”
The 2012 Orpheus Awards presentation has been merged with the exclusive party at the Consul General’s residence and attendance is limited to the festival’s supporters and Gold Pass holders, who will be treated to a three-song set by Greek singer Vassy whose new album Beautiful Day is gaining in worldwide popularity (see www.kissmyvassy.com).
The jury will award the Orpheus for Best Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short Film, and the audience will choose, as you guessed, the Audience Choice Orpheus Award winner.
LAGFF is proud to introduce its stellar jury:
As an instructor of film and an excellent film historian, Fred Linch (Chairman of the Jury) has served as a jury member at numerous international film festivals. He is the former President of the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Board of Directors, the former Executive Director of the Jewish Film Festival in Scottsdale, Arizona, and served as President of the Jury at the Vladistok Film Festival in Russia. He continues to teach film studies at Arizona State University and its OSHER program. Linch refers to his classes dealing with films as “intellectual exercise programs.” Currently, he is conducting a film course about Theo Angelopoulos, part of which will be presented at LAGFF’s Theo Angelopoulos Tribute.
Robert Arentz founded the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival (LA Shorts Fest) in 1997, which is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Forty-one of the films shown at LA Shorts Fest have received Oscar nominations, and 12 of those have won an Oscar in the short film category. In 2011, Arentz founded NXT STAGE Hollywood International Advertising Awards, the first advertising awards in Hollywood, with a focus on the intersection between advertising and entertainment. This year, Arentz founded the inaugural New York International Short Film Festival (NY Shorts Fest). He currently functions as Producer and Executive Director of all of the above events.
Klara Beverly is the owner of the theatrical distribution company ATLANTIS Entertainment CZ, specializing in releasing European films and world art house films since 1996. The company operates on three territories in Europe – Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Hungary – and has released over 100 films. She has produced several independent features, including LA VIDA DE LOS PECES (2010) and ROOM IN ROME (2009). In addition, Beverly is an official industry consultant of the European Cultural Fund in Brussels since 2002.
Andrew P. Crane is the Special Project Programmer and Membership Manager for the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. He has been on numerous panels at the Los Angeles Film Festival, Outfest, Screamfest, L.A. Intensive/American Pavilion, and the Directors Guild of America, to name a few, and served as a jury member on several international film festivals, including Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, HBO Comedy Film Festival, Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, COLCOA (City of Lights/City of Angels), and more. In addition, Crane has had extensive experience as a moderator of conversations with filmmakers such as Paul Williams, Stanley Rubin, Miranda July, Matthieu Kassowitz, Agnes Varda, Shirley Jones, Karen Black, Lisa Gerrard and other actors and directors.
Marc Halperin has worked for both major studios and independent distributors, managing the national releases of numerous landmark films that have garnered 13 Oscars and 48 nominations. He has released Giuseppe Tonotori’s CINEMA PARADISO (1988), Stephen Soderbergh’s SEX, LIES & VIDEOTAPE (1989), Jim Sheridan’s MY LEFT FOOT (1989), Quentin Tarantino’s RESERVOIR DOGS (1992), Scott Hicks’s SHINE (1996), and Nigel Cole’s SAVING GRACE (2000). In 1989, Halperin joined Miramax Films as Senior Vice President General Sales Manager and was responsible for the distribution of every Miramax release until 1994, when he joined Fine Line Features as Senior Vice President General Sales Manager. In 2001 Halperin formed Magic Lamp Releasing to bring the same quality of distribution to independent producers, and since 2003 he has been involved in the production of independent features.
The Orpheus Award itself was designed and sculpted by Greek artist Miltos Papastergiou. Papastergiou, who studied under Yannis Pappas, attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris and has regularly presented his work in both Athens and Larissa. Past Orpheus Award Juries have included producers, directors, noted film critics, and award winning actors including: Bill Krohn (Film Critic, Cahiers du Cinema), Lane Kneedler (Programming Consultant), Michael Economou (USC), Gary Mairs (CalArts), Chantal Chauzy (Strand Releasing), Stratton Leopold (Producer), Joan Churchill (Director/Cinematographer), Steven Peros (Screenwriter), and Mike Goodridge (Film Critic, Screen International).
“As every year, I am looking forward to those wonderful days in the beginning of summer when we all take our seats in front of the big screen and we get transported to the Greece we love and care about,” expressed Consul General Fotiadou. “As our country is going through one of the most difficult times of its recent history, the new Greek films are more intriguing and inspirational. I am excited to welcome LAGFF Gold Pass holders, filmmakers and major sponsors to my home for the Orpheus Awards presentation after the closing night film on June 3rd.”
The 2012 LAGFF Gold Pass includes tickets and advance entrance to all films, panels and programs; the opening gala red carpet premiere of A Green Story, with after party; closing night champagne reception; a deluxe program book; free parking at the Linwood Dunn Theater; and, of course, the must-have ticket to the exclusive Orpheus Awards party at the Consul General’s home. In the face of the global economic crisis hitting Greece, the cost of the 2012 LAGFF Gold Pass has been reduced by $100 (33%) to only $200, but must be purchased online in advance. To purchase a Gold Pass or individual tickets, and for more information, visit www.lagff.org.
Friends and fans worldwide are encouraged to follow the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival at www.Facebook.com/lagff, www.Twitter.com/lagff and at www.youtube.com/LAGreekFilmFestival.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
The 2012 Los Angles Greek Film Festival is grateful for the support of numerous key sponsors, many of which are mentioned here.
Gold Patron Earth Friendly Products (www.ecos.com) is the leader in the development and production of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for household and commercial use with over 150 products manufactured, distributed, and sold in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. All Earth Friendly Products are created with only replenishable and sustainable plant-based ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the planet. The company proudly adheres to its strict “Freedom Code”, a list of harmful and toxic ingredients that are not found in any its products. Earth Friendly Products has proudly received the 2010 GEELA Award for Sustainable Business Practices, 2009 Green PatriotTM Green 100TM Designation and the Champion level recognition from the US EPA through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative. The company’s solar division, Progressive Power Group is just another example of how Earth Friendly Products is a sustainable business leader.
Gold Patron Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation—ERT S.A. (www.ert.gr/ertae/en/etaireia/etaireia.asp) was founded in 1938 and is the largest radio and television broadcasting organization in Greece. As the country’s first broadcaster, it has an unrivalled audio and visual historic archive which captures much of the history of modern Greece. ERT has three broadcasting television stations with national coverage (ET1, NET and ET3), one satellite channel (ERT world), four terrestrial digital channels (Cine+, Prisma+, Sport+ and Info+), six radio programs with headquarters in Athens (NET, Second Program, Third Program, FILIA, KOSMOS, ERA Sport, two international radio stations based in Thessaloniki (95.8 and 102 FM), and 19 regional radio stations throughout Greece. ERT has been an ardent supporter of LAGFF since 2008.
Gold Patron Pabst Brewing Company / The Metropoulos Family
Pabst Brewing Company is an award-winning American company founded in 1844, brewing over two dozen brands of beer including the much loved Pabst Blue Ribbon (PBR). Not only does Pabst Brewing Company make phenomenal beer, they also support many community events and worthy organizations. For the 2012 LAGFF, Pabst Brewing Company is sponsoring the Representation In Hollywood Industry Panel, as well as the closing night film, Sayome. Pabst Brewing Company invites you to partake in these events at the legendary Linwood Dunn Theater where they’ll be pouring enough beer to make anyone do the Zorba Dance.
G. P. Kolovos & Associates returns this year as Silver Patron. Bronze Patrons include Hollywood Foreign Press Association and West Coast Investors. Media Sponsors include ERT and NotesFromHollywood.com. While Supporters include HBO, Astro Burger, Greek Film Centre, and Delphi Greek Restaurant. LAGFF receives support from European Language Movies in America (ELMA).