2018

Program Book 2018

2018 Films

ORPHEUS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

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. Since the Festival’s inception in 2007, the Orpheus Awards Closing Night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film.

The Orpheus statuette was designed and sculpted by Greek artist Miltos Papastergiou, who was inspired by the Orpheus and Euridice myth. Papastergiou studied under Yannis Pappas, attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris and has regularly presented his work in both Athens and Larissa.

Orpheus Awards Honoree

George Chakiris will receive the 2018 Honorary Orpheus Award at the 12th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Chakiris was selected by the festival committee to receive this year’s honor because of his worldwide contributions to movies and his extraordinary dedication to the preservation of its history. The award will be presented by Rita Moreno as part of the Orpheus Awards ceremony following the closing night film on June 10 in Hollywood.

Orpheus Awards Host Chuck Dukas, is best known for his work as a television audience warm-up host on hit shows such as “American Idol”, “Americas Got Talent”, “The Voice”, and “Dancing with the Stars”, just to name a few. He has made countless appearances on daytime television such as ’ The Bold and The Beautiful”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Days of our Lives” and the Nickelodeon’s hit show “The Thundermans.”.

Orpheus Awards Comedian ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of the most successful comedians of our me. A regular guest on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno and “The Tyra Banks Show”, ANT is the only comedian to appear on all five seasons of NBC’s hit series “Last Comic Standing”. He is recognized as the host of VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” and in the LOGO series, “U.S. of ANT.”

 

Orpheus Awards Presenters

VASSY’s songs “We Are Young, “Secrets”, “Bad”, “Nothing to Lose”, “Lost” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart. VASSY collaborated with David Guetta, T i . s t o , KSHMR, Afrojack, Showtek, Oliver Rosa the name of few. VASSY’s music incorporates dance, reggae and soul as a base for her vocal styling.

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is the President and CEO of Earth Friendly Products, maker of ECOS laundry detergent and over 200 other environmentally friendly cleaners made with plant-based ingredients. Kelly has been recognized for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility

Christos Vasilopoulos was born in Athens ,Greece.For the first 7 years of his acting career,he worked with many acclaimed actors on stage and also was part of the National Theatre of Greece for 4 years.His TV career in Greece started on the show “Erotas”. Christos worked on shows like Banshee, Blindspot and The Last Ship(TNT), independent movies, and Video games.

Thaao Penghlis is an Australian actor. Best known for roles in day time soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but has also guest-starred on crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed & Brown Shoe. He also starred in the 80’s remake of Mission: Impossible. Penghlis has studied under acting teacher, Milton Katselas.

Ronnie Yeskel ager years of casting theatre in NYC, Ronnie became the casting director for the LA Theater Center. Known for her work on Films & TV projects such as “The Marrying Man” (1991) , Pulp Fiction (1994), The Sessions (2012) and Igby Goes Down (2002). Reservoir Dogs (1992), Bean (1997) Waking the Dead (2000), L.A Law. Ronnie is currently working on Human Terrain, A Dolphin In Our Lake.

Valorie Massalas in her prolific career as a casting director, cast the nominated for 3 Oscars “Gods and Monsters” (1998), Robert Downey Jr., in “Chaplin” (1992) who also received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Valorie is also known for her work on Total Recall (1990), Alive (1993) and Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (1989), Back to the Future II & III (1989-1990) Obsessed (2009), The Wedding Ringer (2015).

Penelope Spheeris is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. She has directed both documentary film and scripted films. Her best known works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization, each covering an aspect of Los Angeles underground culture, and the film Wayne’s World, her highest-grossing film. She received an Honorary Orpheus Award in 2009.

Gia Carides is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 & 2016), Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies. Gia Carides has been working as an actress since age 12 in film and in theatre. She has been nominated twice for her work. She has appeared in as many American films as Australian films, and continues to work in both countries.

Greg Yaitanes is an Emmy Award winning television and film director. Greg is one of the most recognized names in Hollywood, directing and producing some of the top series over the past two decades. Damages, Lost, Prison Break , Heroes and Grey’s Anatomy. His Emmy Award came in 2008 as result of his work on House, M.D., the most popular show worldwide. Between House and Banshee, Greg has led his team to 29 Emmy nominations and 6 wins.

Rita Moreno has had a thriving acting career for the better part of six decades. Among her notable acting work are supporting roles in the musical films The King and I (1956) and West Side Story (1961). One of the very few performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. Currently Rita stars in the critically acclaimed Latino sitcom, One Day at a Time on Netflix.

Orpheus Awards Jury

Orpheus Awards Winners

Honorary Orpheus: George Chakiris
Best Short Film: GOLDFISH, dir. Yorgos Angelopoulos
Best Documentary Film: DOLPHIN MAN, dir. Lefteris Haritos
Best Feature Fiction Film: POLYXENI, dir. Dora Masklavanou
Best Performance: Katia Goulioni in POLYXENI
Best Director: Thodoris Atheridis, PERFECT STRANGERS
Honorable Mention for Documentary: GOLDEN DAWN GIRLS, dir. Hårvard Bustnes
Special Jury Award: 1968, dir. Tassos Boulmetis
Audience Award for Short Film: STILL, dir. Mavra Peponis
Audience Award for Documentary: 1968, dir Tassos Boulmetis
Audience Award for Feature Fiction Film: THE LAST NOTE, dir. Pantelis Voulgaris

 
 

FILMS | SCHEDULE | ORPHEUS | TEAM | ABOUT | HOSPITALITY | ARCHIVE

SUBMIT

SHORT FILMS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

 

6:00 PM
USA, 2018, 17 min, World Premiere

Director/Writer: Savvas Christou Producer: Melissa Gutierrez, Amari Agee Cast: Jolene Andersen, Ethan McDowell

After she got the worst news that will change her life and her career, a famous singer, struggles to commit suicide in a remote bar, but soon enough she realizes that it is not up to her anymore

8th CONTINENT
Greece, 2017, 11 min

Director/Writer/Producer: Yorgos Zois Cast: Pavlos Iordanopoulos

On Lesvos island, an old abandoned dump site lies on a mountain with two big craters, overflowing with thousands of life jackets left from the waves of refugees. It’s only inhabitant: A single worker, wandering alone through a place that resembles an alien planet.
* 2018 Atlanta Film Festival
* 2018 Trieste Film Festival
* 2018 Rotterdam International Film Festival
* 2017 Venice International Film Festival
* 2017 UK Film Festival
* 2017 Cyprus International Short Film Festival
* 2017 International Bosphorus Film Festival

9 TO 5
Greece, 2017, 12 min, LA Premiere

Director: Filippos Tsapekis Writer: Katerina Tsoumpa, Filippos Tsapekis Producer: Stamatis Athanassoulas, Stavroula Dimitriadou Cast: Kora Karvouni, Yiannis Papadopoulos

9 TO 5 is a dystopian dark comedy about a young man returning home from work. As he is pulled over by the authorities his life will change dramatically.
* 2017 Short Film Festival in Drama
* 2017 New York Film Award – Best Original Story, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Cinematography
* 2017 Top Shorts Film Festival – Best director, Best Original Story
* 2017 Bucharest ShortCut Cinefest – Best Editing

A BUDDY ALREADY DEAD (To ptoma itan nekro)
Greece, 2016, 15 min, US Premiere

Director/Producer: Konstantinos Fragkoulis Writer: Takis Papanastasiou, Konstantinos Fragkoulis Cast: Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos, George Tzavaras, Ioanna Apostolopoulou, Thanos Alexiou, Fotini Levogianni, Stavros Moiras and Stamatis Polenakis

Apart from one chicken in a freezer, a trumpet teacher also keeps the corpse of his mother. Is there life after death?
* 2017 Grand Off Festival, Warsaw Poland – Nomination for Best Actor
* 2017 Artfools short film festival, Larissa, Greece – Protagonist Special Mention
* 2017 21st Thai Short & Video film festival 2017 – Best International Short Film
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival, Greece
* 2017 Hellas Filmbox Berlin, Germany 2017
* 2017 Clermont Ferrand Digital Library 2017

ARIA (Aria)
Greece, 2017, 13 min, LA Premiere

Director/Writer: Myrsini Aristidou Producer: Myrsini Aristidou, Robin Robles Cast: Chrysa Platsatoura, Yiannis Stankoglou, Audrey Giacomini, Takis Spyridakis

When young Aria, a hardworking waitress in Athens, is refused a driving lesson from her father and given his illegal immigrant worker to look after, she makes an unlikely friend and learns more than how to drive a stick shift car.
* 2018 Athens International Film and Video Festival
* 2018 Sundance Film Festival
* 2017 Helsinki International Film Festival – Love & Anarchy – Emerging Talents
* 2017 Venice International Film Festival – Venice International Film Festival Spotlight
* 2017 Sharm El Sheikh Film Festival – Best Film

BRAZUCA
Greece, 2017, 19 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer: Faidon Gkretsikos Producer: Faidon Gkretsikos / Giorgos Georgopoulos Cast: Boyko Paskalev, Dimitris Xanthopoulos, Maria Baloutsou

During the summer World Cup 11-year old Boyko will do anything to obtain “Brazuca”, the Official World Cup ball, in order to prevent his friends from using him only as a goalkeeper.
* 2018 Boston International Film Festival
* 2018 Montclair Film Festival
* 2018 Hamburg International Short Film Festival
* 2017 National Short Film Festival in Drama – Special Jury Mention
* 2017 TiSFF – Thess International Short Film Festival – Cinematic Achievement Award

COPA-LOCA
Greece, 2017, 14 min

Director/Writer/Producer: Christos Massalas Cast: Elsa Lekakou, Jenny Hiloudaki, Pavlos Iordanopoulos, Talat Iqbal, Stathis Stamoulakatos

This is the story of Copa-Loca, an abandoned Greek summer resort. Paulina is the girl at the heart of Copa-Loca. Everyone cares for her and she cares about everyone—in every possible way.
* 2018 Hellenic Film Academy – Iris Award for Best Short Film
* 2017 AFI Fest
* 2017 Cannes Film Festival
* 2017 Reykjavik International Film Festival – Best International Short
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival – Best Film Greek short stories in competition
* 2017 Festival du Nouveau Cinema – Best International Short

COWBOY
Greece, 2017, 23 min, North American Premiere

Director: Giannis Haritidis Writer: Thanos Tokakis Producer: Fanis Karagiorgos, Giannis Haritidis, Thanos Tokakis Cast: Manolis Mavromatakis, Irini Boudali, Maria Tsima, Christos Sapountzis

In a few days Minas is going to participate in a TV show called “Talent of the Year.” A film crew follows him in his everyday life interviewing him and those closest to him until the big day of the show. Minas must win to fulfill his dream. What is his talent? He is a cowboy in Athens.
* 2017 Drama International Film Festival
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival – Best Male Actor in Short Film

ELEFTHEROMANIA
Canada, 2018, 20 min, LA Premiere

Director: David Antoniuk Writer: Joanna Tsanis Producer: Gregory C. Pappas, Joanna Tsanis, Chuck Scott Cast: Olympia Dukakis

Eleftheromania follows an Auschwitz survivor as she recites a true story about a group from the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The Nazis enlisted a section of Greek-Jewish prisoners to the horrific task of leading the Hungarian prisoners into gas chambers. They had a night to debate the morality of their situation and vote on whether they would fulfill the task or willfully be killed.
* 2018 Toronto Shorts International Film Festival- Winner ‘Best Drama’
* 2018 Yorkton Film Festival – Nominee ‘Golden Sheaf Award’
* 2018 Montreal Greek Film Festival – Official Selection

ESCAPE
USA, 2018, 9 min, World Premiere

Director: Caryn Waechter Writer: Meredith Littas Producer: Meredith Littas, Janet Schmidt & Jonathan Biebl Cast: Ana Grace Knight

In Escape, a moment triggers a memory which sets off a flood of memories all interconnected.
It is a true story about a woman who overcomes past trauma to reach empowerment. It depicts the cycle of abuse, and how the main character breaks free in order to save herself. You can be your own hero. Let the truth begin.

GO FOR BROKE (Ola Gia Ola)
Greece, 2017, 30 min, World Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Marinos Sklavounakis Cast: Vassilis Bisbikis, Giannis Economides, Stathis Stamoulakatos, Theodoros Kandiliotis

Michalis is swamped in bank debt and during a desperate attempt to win the required amount – at a poker table, he ends up owing a loan shark. Andreas, Michalis’ friend, wants to help. His only solution, to place a bet…

GOLDFISH
Greece, 2017, 14 min, North American Premiere

Director/Writer: Yorgos Angelopoulos Producer: Ioanna Soultani Cast: Michael Ikonomou, Lissandros Kouroumbalis, Eva Angelopoulou

Seven-year-old Stratis loves fishes, dancing, and cooking. He’s not the strict, athletic boy that his conservative father wants him to be. His father is horrified when Stratis insists that his new goldfish is gay.
* 2017 Olympia I.F.F. – Best Short Film (Children’s Jury)
* 2018 BFI Flare

HEARTS FOR DINNER (Kardies gia fagoma)
Greece, 2017, 21 min, US Premiere

Director/Writer: Renee Koutoula Producer: Maria Repousi Cast: Ioanna Bakalakou, Despoina Papazoglou, Nikolas Lambrou

An Albanian immigrant lives in a Greek village with her husband. With her son away at college, she works as a domestic servant for her cousin. One day, she is assigned a task that proves to be more difficult than it would seem. The struggle forces her to redefine the values in her life.
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival
* 2017 Drama International Short Film Festival

HIWA
Greece, 2017, 11 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer: Jacqueline Lentzou Producer: Jacqueline Lentzou, Vicky Miha Cast: Melchor Lopez, Jerahmeel Zsara Lopez, Kirsten Tisha Luis, Jessafe Agsi

Jay wakes up in Manila, yet he dreamed of Athens. He has a nightmare with special quest: to save his two daughters from a special surgery: their houses are on them, and they need to be removed. He roams around Athens’ cityscape, seeing things under a very different light, while he narrates his dream to his wife.
* 2018 Minimalen Short Film Festival, Norway International – Raskin Spirit Festival Award
* 2017 Berlinale, Germany Short Film Competition
* 2017 Psarokokalo – Athens International Short Film Festival, Greece – Audience Award
* 2017 THESS International Short Film Festival Thessaloniki, Greece

HUMPHREY
Greece, 2017, 29 min, LA Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Steven Gekas Cast: Pavlos Iordanopoulos, Iliana Mavromati, Kostas Xikominos

A man stuck in a boring life, lacking agency, develops a fascination with Humphrey Bogart, leading to a transformation into the renowned film noir actor’s persona.
* 2017 Five Continents International Film Festival – Best Comedy, Best Soundtrack
* 2017 Alternative Film Festival – Best Comedy
* 2017 Humphrey Bogart Film Festival
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival
* 2017 Drama Film Festival

ICEBERGS
Greece, 2018, 10 min, LA Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Eirini Vianelli Cast: Josh Shaffner, Miranda Khan

Icebergs is an existential, dark comedy consisting of 14 short vignettes, ranging from the mundane to the absurd. It is based on the book “Scenes” by award-winning screenwriter Efthymis Filippou.
* 2018 Slamdance Film Festival
* 2018 Oberhausen Film Festival
* 2018 San Francisco Film Festival

KALINIXTA (Kalinixta)
Greece, 2017, 35 min, US Premiere

Director/Writer: Thanos Kermitsis Producer: Varvara Kontoni, Christos Kyriakopoulos Cast: George Triantafyllidis, Tasos Dedes, George Chouliaras,Natasa Exintaveloni

Greece is now fully in ruins. Everyone is trying to survive at any cost after the disaster—everyone but Kostas, who, along with his friend Tassos, is looking for Vicky. The only thing that keeps Kostas in his senses is his love for Vicky, and when Greeks are in love, survival comes second.
* 2018 Athens International Digital Film Festival – Honourable Mention
* 2017 Drama International Short Film Festival – Best Sets Award, “Motive” Award from the Greek Film Centre
* 2017 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards (not screened) – Best Foreign Short
* 2017 Tisff- Thess International Short Film Festival – Cinematic Achievement Award
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival

MANEKI NEKO
Greece, 2017, 19 min, West Coast Premiere

Director: Manolis Mavris Writer: Manolis Mavris, Katerina Mavrogeorgi Producer: Mando Stathi, Myrto Stathi, Manolis Kontarinis Cast: Christos Stergioglou, Haris Fragoulis, Nikolitsa Ntrizi

The unexpected encounter of two strangers, and their agreement while waiting for a cab to share, becomes the motive for the anatomy of a relationship. From the moment they enter the taxi, the driver reveals that the two passengers know each other and they have a common past, leading the couple to new landscapes of desire.
* 2018 Tim Thorpe Independent Film Festival – Best Short Film – Best Director Short Nomination
* 2018 Vancouver International Women in Film Festival
* 2017 BFI London Film Festival London
* 2017 National Short Film Festival in Drama – Greek Society of Cinematographers Award, Best Original Score, Best Sound Design, Best Film Editing)
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival

MUTE CITY
Greece, 2018, 11 min, World Premiere

Director/Writer: Yiannis Georgioudakis Producer: Michael Noble Cast: Dimitris Pleionis, Olympia Vaggelatou

A man arrives in a big city with an address to track down. Without a smartphone, he asks anybody he can find for help. With so many people around him, surely there must be at least one person to talk to…

OURANIA
Greece, 2017, 16 min, U.S. Premiere

Director/Writer: Despoina Kourti Producers: Hara Vlahou, Despoina Kourti Cast: Fotini Baxevani, Ilias Moulas, Kostas Laskos

Ourania is a middle-aged woman who has neglected herself. However, the sudden appearance of an unknown young man may help her rediscover her lost feminine nature.
* 2018 30rd Dresden FilmFest International Short Film Festival
* 2017 40th Drama International Short Film Festival-Best Female Director, Actress in a Leading Role, Greek Film Center Award, Best Movie Award from the Greek Association of Film Critics.
* 2017 Athens International Film-Best Screenplay for A Short Film
* 2017 48th Thessaloniki International Film Festival

ROSALIA
Greece, 2017, 13 min, US Premiere

Director/Writer: Katerina Yiannakopoulou Producer: Manolis Kontarinis, Katerina Yiannakopoulou, ERT Cast: Vasilis Koukalani, Dimitris Fragkioglou

Thanasis in the lighthouse and Rosalia in her cage. They live for their freedom.
* 2017 Drama Short Film Festival
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival

STILL
Greece-USA, 2017, 17 min, U.S. Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Mavra Peponi Cast: Alexandra Sakellaropoulou

Ten days after the death of her partner, Athina arrives on the Greek island of Skyros to clear out the summer house where they lived together. On the day of her departure and into the night, Athina is still lingering on the porch in front of the empty house, by the edge of the sea.
* 2017 Drama International Short Film Festival
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival
* 2017 International Mediterranean Film Festival of Montpellier
* 2017 Thess International Short Film Festival

TESTING GRETA
United Kingdom, 2017, 11 min, US Premiere

Director: Abbie Lucas Writer: Billie Vee Producer: Billie Vee, Anna Davies, Abbie Lucas Cast: Billie Vee, Cherise Silvestri

A woman is admitted to a private clinic under extremely awkward circumstances. When the need of a blood test arises, the horrific truth of her private life is revealed. Sometimes a glamourous façade can hide the worst abuse.
* 2017 Drama Film Festival – Greeks of the World
* 2018 British Urban Film
* 2018 Hamilton Film Festival
* 2018 Beeston Film Festival
* 2018 Fastnet Film Festival

THE MIDNIGHT SHIFT (H Metamesonyxtia Grammi)
Cyprus, 2015, 14 min, LA Premiere

Director/Writer/Producer: Andreas Kyriacou Cast: Christodoulos Martas, Chris Greco, Yiola Klitou, Marios Ioannou

A man on the run takes cover as a taxi driver on the midnight shift. Soon he discovers that things are not what they seem when he picks up a mysterious figure as a client…
* 2017, Sarajevo Film Festival – HBO Award for Best Series Concept
* 2016, International Film Festival of Athens
* 2016, Neo Noir Novel, Film, & Script Festival – Silver Award Winner

THE ROOSTER’S CAGE (La Jaula del Gallo)
USA, 2017, 7 min, World Premiere

Director/Producer: Carina Rosanna Tautu

A cage can be one’s world or the world can be one’s cage. The intimate, human details of cockfighting events in Lamas, Peru, reveal the inhumanity of such an activity not by confrontation or critique, but by a slowly unfolding, compassionate and detached revelation.

THE TICKET (To Eisitirio)
Greece, 2017, 17 min, North American Premiere

Director/Writer: Haris Stathopoulos Producer: Kyriakos Hatzimichailidis Cast: Dimitra Syrou, Stefanos Mouagkie, Christos Kontogeorgis, Thanasis Chalkias, Elpida Nikolaou, Antonis Stamos

We follow the course of a ticket for public transportation as it passes from hand to hand. Each person that holds the ticket carries his own story and a social problem as well. This reflects a social recording of the Greek crisis.
* 2018 Athens International Digital Film Festival – Best Director Award and Best Female Lead Award
* 2018 20th Ismailia International Film Festival – Best Film Award
* 2017 Drama Short Film Festival – Best Sound and Best Film by the Organization of Greek Cinema Clubs
* 2017 Athens International Film Festival

WOMEN OF GREEK CINEMA as seen by FLIX.GR (Oi Gynaikes tou Hellinikou Cinema opos tis Eide to Flix.gr)
Greece, 2017, 19 min, North American Premiere

Director/Cinematographer/Editor: Nikos Pastras Producer: Flix.gr Interviews: Poly Lykourgou, Manolis Kranakis Sound: Nikos Exarchos Cast: Marli Aleiferi, Eleni Alexandraki, Antouanetta Angelidi, Rea Apostolides, Themis Bazaka, Iro Bezou, Helena Charbila, Fenia Cossovitsa, Maria Drandaki, Sofia Exarchou, Markella Giannatou, Maria Hatzakou, Maria Kallimani, Kora Karvouni, Sofia Kokkali, Valerie Kontakos, Eleni Kossyfidou, Konstantina Kotzamani, Jacqueline Lentzou, Amanda Livanou, Margarita Manda, Dora Masklavanou, Christina Moumouri, Olympia Mytilinaiou, Eva Nathena, Penny Panayotopoulou, Kallia Papadaki, Elina Psykou, Marilena Orfanou, Vasileia Rozana, Eva Stefani, Stella Theodoraki, Elli Tringou, Athina Rachel Tsangari, Pinelopi Tsilika, Phaedra Vokali

Being a woman professional in Greek cinema, what does it mean nowadays? Does sexism exist? Is the field, also in Greece, male dominated? What kinds of problems are women faced with? Are female characters real enough, complicated enough, smart enough? What kind of stories do women want to share with the world? How do they hope to see heroines on the big screen?
* 2018 “Flix it at Stegi” monthly screenings, in collaboration with the Onassis Cultural Foundation
 
 

FILMS | SCHEDULE | ORPHEUS | TEAM | ABOUT | HOSPITALITY | ARCHIVE

SUBMIT

DOCUMENTARIES 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

 

1968
Greece, 2017, 94 min, West Coast Premiere, Documentary

Director: Tassos Boulmetis Producer: Makis Angelopoulos, AEK BC Cinematographer: Yiannis Daskalothanasis Editor: Lambis Charalambidis Music: Evanthia Rembutsika Production Designer: Athinaea Spiliotakos Cast: Manolis Mavromatakis, Antonis Kafetzopoulos, Ieroklis Michailidis Makeup: Katerina Mihaloutsou

April 4th, 1968. Kallimarmaro Stadium is abuzz with thousands of people gathered and millions listening through their radios. The AEK–Slavia Prague basketball game has just begun. A girl in love is dreaming of her wedding day, while the future husband becomes more desperate with every Greek ball going through the hoop. An elderly husband and wife remember the home they left behind. A young communist prisoner cheers from his jail cell, and a PROPO betting shop becomes the place where old and new wounds resurface. Years before this night, three Constantinopolitans decided to create an athletic union that will tell their story. At the end of this night, Greek history will have changed forever.

A FINE LINE
United States, 2018, 71 min, Los Angeles Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer: Joanna James Producers: Joanna James, Katy Jordan, Anastasia Ganias Gellin Cinematographer: Robert Featherstone Editor: Russell Greene and Joanna James Music: Petros Kamplanis

A Fine Line explores why only 6% of head chefs and restaurant owners are women hearing from world-renowned chefs such as Greece’s Official Ambassador of Gastronomy Maria Loi. Following the personal story of a Greek American, small-town restaurateur with a larger than life personality Valerie James, and how she beat the odds while raising two kids.
* 2018 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2018 Womens Film Festival
* 2018 Bettonville Film Festival
* 2017 Globe Docs Film Festival
* 2017 Napa Valley Film Festival

DANCE FIGHT LOVE DIE: WITH MIKIS THEODORAKIS ON THE ROAD
Germany, Greece, 2017, 88 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director: Asteris Kutulas Writer/Producer: Asteris & Ina Kutulas Co-Producers: Schott Music, Yannis Sakaridis, ERT TV Cinematographer: Mike Geranios Editor: Cleopatra Dimitriou & Yannis Sakaridis Music Mix & Mastering: Alexandros Karozas Art Director: Achilleas Gatsopoulos

Dance Fight Love Die is an exuberant visual epic: a poetic road movie from the cosmos of composer Mikis Theodorakis (Z, Canto General, Serpico, Zorba The Greek). He is the ingenious enfant terrible of our recent European musical history, who inspired millions around the world, a standout artist shaped by his dramatic century, a man who made history.
*2018 London Greek Film Festival
*2018 German, Swiss, Austrian National Distribution
*2017 Hof – International Film Festival

DOLPHIN MAN
United States, 2018, 80 min, Los Angeles Premiere, Documentary

Director: Lefteris Charitos Writers: Yuri Averof, Lefteris Charitos Producers: Rea Apostolides, Yuri Averof, Estelle Robin You, Ed Barreveld Cinematographer: Stelios Apostolopoulos Editor: David Kazala Music: Mathieu Lamboley

Dolphin Man tells the extraordinary story and legacy of free-diver Jacques Mayol, whose life became the inspiration for Luc Besson’s cult-movie The Big Blue. Narrated by Jean-Marc Barr, the film draws us into Mayol’s world, capturing his compelling journey from Japan to Europe, India and the Bahamas, while immersing viewers into the sensory and transformative experience of free-diving.
* 2018 Hellenic Film Academy – Iris Award for First time Director, Best Documentary
* 2018 Screenwave International Film Festival
* 2018 European First Film Fest
* 2018 Miami Film Festival
* 2017 Tokyo Film Festival
* 2017 Thessaloniki Film Festival
* 2017 Marseille Aquatic Festival

EUROPE
Greece, 2017, 30 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer: Stavros Stratigakos Producer: Michalis Dimitrakakos Cinematographer: Efstratios Theodosiou Editor: Manos Voumvounidis Music: Dimitris Palatzidis, Vasilis Papavgeris Narrator: Yianna Triantafilli

The myth depicts the rape of Europe and her fall into the sea. Now Crete is waiting for Zeus, in love with beautiful Europe. Only the sea, a mirror of the dead, ends at the contemporary European continent, and the nightmare of the future human is depicted as a young girl refugee.

FRAGMENTS (Thravsmata)
Greece, 2018, 48 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer/Cinematographer: Marianna Economou Producer: Theodora Valenti Editor: Athanasios Dovas

Wanderings through the art and life of sculptress, Alexandra Athanasiadi: Fragments of thoughts, memories and scrap materials are reconstituted and acquire new forms. The pursuit of meaning is shown through a play of words and an old friendship.
* 2018 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

GOLDEN DAWN GIRLS
Norway, 2017, 93 min, US Premiere, Documentary

Director: Håvard Bustnes Writer: Håvard Bustnes, Lars K. Andersen Producer: Christian Falch, Håvard Bustnes Cinematographer: Lars Skree, Viggo Knudsen Editor: Anders Teigen Music: Jonas Colstrup Sound Design: Håkon Lammetun

With many prominent members of the far-right Golden Dawn Party now behind bars, a daughter, a wife and a mother continue to propagate its message – and all three of them are seasoned enough to avoid any slips of the tongue during interviews. But while they regularly stop the interview to make sure that it went as well as they wanted, director Bustnes just leaves the camera running.
* 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
* 2018 Nordic/Docs
* 2018 Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival
* 2017 IDFA – International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
* 2018 Helsinki Documentary Film Festival
* 2018 Stockfish European Film Festival
* 2018 Docudays UA – International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival

MARBLE HOMELAND (Patrida apo Marmaro)
Greece, 2018, 57 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer/Producer/Cinematographer: Menios Carayannis Editor: Dimitris Giannakopoulos Music: George Katsanos

A story about the island of Naxos, marble, and the thread that connects us to Cycladic art. German sculptor Ingbert Brunk talks about the light, the pain, and the love entailed in creation. He explores the concept of the outlander, the migrant, and the relation between loss and existence.
*2018 TDFF – FIPRESCI Award

NIKOS MAMANGAKIS, THE LAST WORD (Nikos Mamangakis, logos telefteos)
Greece, 2018, 63 min, LA Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer: Takis Sakellariou Producer: Periklis Papadimitriou Cinematographer: Aristotelis Metaxas Editor: Angeliki Xipolia

Nikos Mamangakis speaks from his heart for the last time. Familiar and unknown, international and local, elitist and popular, he served many musical genres and left behind emblematic works. Unique salvaged pieces from his last concert and the rehearsals are included, important audiovisual material, framing 84 years of musical life, a heritage of passion for the human, art and life.
* 2018 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

THE GREAT FIRE OF SALONICA: BIRTH OF A CITY (Thessaloniki 1917: H fotia pou gennise mia poli)
Greece, 2017, 62 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director/Producer: Gregory Vardarinos Writer: Anastasia Bartzoulianou, Filippos Mandilaras, Gregory Vardarinos Cinematographer: Dimitris Stambolis Editor: John Karabelas Music: Dimitra Sideridou Cast: Dimitris Tsilinikos

An archive-based documentary narrating the experiences of Thessalonikians during the biggest and most destructive fire in the history of their city. It reveals the philosophy and the backdrop of the unprecedented urban change that followed, altering the city forever.
*2018 IDPF Kalamata-Audience Award
*2018 TDF Thessaloniki
*2017 DocFest Xalkida- Special Distinction

THE LAST PARTISAN (O Teleftaios Partisanos)
Greece, 2018, 74 min, LA Premiere, Documentary

Director/Writer: Andreas Hadjipateras Producer: Valerie Kontakos Cinematographer: Giannis Misouridis, Pantelis Mantzanas Editor: Chronis Theocharis Music: Serafim Tsotsonis

M. Gelzos is best known as the man who tore the swastika flag from the Acropolis during the Nazi invasion in 1941. Since then he has often been caught between moments of glory and controversy as he continues to battle for his ideals. With the country in a crushing financial crisis, M. Glezos is back in the limelight.
* 2018 Thessaloniki Documentary Festival

THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW 1940-1960
USA, 2009, 58 min, Documentary

Director/Writer: Anna Gianniotis Producer: Antonia Lianos Editor: Rich Uber Cinematographer: Philip Georgious

Part Two of the award-winning series, The Greeks of Southern California Through the Century. The documentary series is the universal story of the Greek American experience as seen through the eyes of those who settled in Southern California. “The Promise of Tomorrow” chronicles the Greek American journey of the First Generation Greek Americans who were raised in Southern California, changing the face of our community.
* 2009 Film Advisory Board – Award of Excellence
* 2010 Boston International Film Festival – Indie Special Recognition Award
* 2010 Beverly Hills Film, TV & New Media Festival – Best Feature Documentary
* 2010 Rhode Island International Film Festival
* 2011 San Francisco Greek Film Festival
* 2011 Greek Film Fest, Chicago
* 2011 New York City Greek Film Festival

THISSION CINEMA OF ATHENS
France, Greece, 2016, 52 min, North American Premiere, Documentary

Director: Maria Douza Writer: Ersi Sotiropoulou Producer: Olga Prud’Hommes Farges, Michael Sarantinos, Maria Kontogianni Cast: Vangelio Andreadaki, Kostis Vasardanis, Ellen Collins, Kaiti Konstantinou Cinematographer: Konstantinos Koukoulios Editor: Yiannis Kostavaras Costume: Penelope Babou Music: Beatrice Thiriet Sound: Nasos Tsialtαs

“Thission Cinema” is one of the oldest open air cinemas in Athens operating continuously since 1935. Despite its proximity to the Acropolis and the touristy frenzy that surrounds it, “Thission” remains stubbornly timeless exuding an old Athenian aroma, from the time when modern city and ancient ruins co-existed in mutual indifference.
* 2018 International Peloponnesian Documentary Festival
* 2017 ERT2, Cosmote TV
* 2017 Cosmote TV
* 2017 International Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
 
 

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FEATURE FILMS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

 

DO IT YOURSELF
Greece, 2017, 98 min, U.S. Premiere

Director/Writer: Dimitris Tsilifonis Producers: Kostas Lambropoulos, Andreas Tsilifonis, Yorgos Kyriakos Cinematographer: Angelos Papadopoulos Editor: Lampis Charalampidis Music: Chris Christodoulou Production Designer: Maria Papadimitrou Cast: Konstantinos Aspiotis, Makis Papadimitriou, Themis Panou

A small time crook agrees to star in a viral video which can restore the public image of a prominent businessman. What he didn’t expect is that he would end up fighting for his life after the video’s director, a powerful gangster, decides he is an expendable part of his plan. Without much help to count on, this crook needs to find a way out, and he needs to do it himself.
* 2018 Hellenic Film Academy – Iris Award for special Effects, Editing
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Hronia Polla)
Greece, Cyprus, France, Germany, 2017, 88 min, LA Premiere

Director/Writer: Christos Georgiou Producer: Thanassis Karathanos, Birgit Kemner, Costas Lambropoulos, Christos Georgiou Cinematographer: Yorgos Giannelis Editor: Aliki Panagi Music: Kostantis Papakonstantinou Cast: Nefeli Kouri, Dimitris Imellos, Mirto Alikaki

When George runs out of the police riot bus and sees his daughter among the demonstrators facing him, he and his wife decide that father and daughter should go to their country home for a few days, to keep her safe and see if they can salvage their relationship.
* 2018 Palm Springs IFF
* 2018 Seattle IFF
* 2017 Sao Paulo IFF

JAMAICA (Tzamaika)
Greece, 2017, 95 min, West Coast Premiere

Director: Andreas Morfonios Writer: George Feidas Producer: George Kyriakos, Costas Labropoulos Cinematographer: Yiannis Drakoularakos Editor: Labis Charalambidis Production Designer: Stefanos Katselis Music: Themis Karamouratidis Cast: Spyros Papadopoulos, Fanis Mouratidis

Akis and Timos are two siblings who were close during their childhood but ended up growing apart. They are the main heroes of a film that explains the sweeping power of life and the sibling love that overcomes all misunderstandings from the past.
* 2018 NY Greek Film Expo
* 2018 London Greek Film Festival

LOVE ME NOT
Greece, 2017, 99 min, US Premiere

Director: Alexandros Avranas Writer: Alexandros Avranas, Costas Peroulis Producer: Christos V. Konstantakopoulos Cinematographer: David Pimm Editor: Christos Yannakopoulos Sound: Nikos Bougioukos Sets: Jacqueline Abrahams Cast: Eleni Rousinou, Christos Loulis, Célestine Aposporis, Manos Vakousis, Nikos Hatzopoulos, Maria Skoula, Reni Pittaki, Penelope Markopoulou, Stefanos Kosmidis, Vicky Tsirou

A couple hires a young migrant to be their surrogate mother and moves her to their beautiful villa. While the man is away for work, his wife and the girl start to bond and enjoy the wealthy way of life. But behind her forced cheerfulness, the woman seems more and more depressed. After a few drinks with the girl, she goes for a drive. The next morning, her husband gets a call: his wife is dead, her burned body was found in her wrecked car.
* 2107 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2017 San Sebastian International FIlm Festival
* 2017 Zagreb Film Festival

PERFECT STRANGERS (Teleioi Xenoi)
Greece, 2016, 92 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer: Thodoris Atheridis Producer: George Kyriakos, Costas Labropoulos Cinematographer: Giorgos Argiroiliopoulos Editor: Labis Charalabidis Music: Panayiotis Tsevas Production Designer: Eva Nathena Cast: Thodoris Atheridis, Smaragda Karydi, Maria Nafplioti, Alkis Kourkoulos, Makis Papadimitriou, Evaggelia Syriopoulou, Giannos Perlegas

Seven friends meet up for dinner on a Friday night. An idea emerges. Every text and call they receive through the night must be shared with the whole group. When the game forces complete transparency, secrets are revealed and relationships are deeply threatened.
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2017 New York Greek Film Festival

POLYXENI (Polykseni)
Greece, 2017, 100 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer/Editor: Dora Masklavanou Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa Cinematographer: Claudio Bolivar GSC Music: Nikos Kypourgos Production Designer: Giorgos Geogiou Cast: Katia Goulioni, Ozgur Emre Yildirim, Lydia Fotopoulou, Akyllas Karazissis

In 1955, a couple of prominent Greek-Istanbulites adopt an orphan Greek girl from the town of their origin. They offer her a powerful family name and ensure her devotion. She embarks on a new life towards a bright future. Time passes, and the girl grows up, unaware of the devious plan that has been set behind her back.
* 2018 Hellenic Film Academy – Iris Award for Cinematography, Original Music, Best Actress, Supporting Actress
* 2018 Greek Society of Cinematographers – Award for best Cinematography
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival – Youth Award for Best Film
* 2017 Cairo Film Festival
* 2017 Tétouan International Mediterranean Film Festival – Grand Prix / Tamouda Award for Best Feature film
* 2017 Hellenic film society – Honorable mention for Best Performance in a Feature Film

ROSEMARIE (Rozmari)
Cyprus, 2017, 112 min, North America Premiere

Director/Writer: Adonis Florides Producer: Marios Piperides Cinematographer: Yiorgos Rahmatoulin Editor: Stylianos Constandinou Music: Costas Cacoyannis Production Design: Andreas Antoniou Cast: Yiannis Kokkinos, Andreas Vassiliou, Niovi Charalambous, Androulla Erakleous, Marios Ioannou, Christoforos Christoforou, Popi Avraam

A burned out soap opera writer, under pressure to deliver new episodes, turns his gaze upon his dysfunctional neighbors. Transforming their tragic everyday encounters into a light-hearted serial, he gets more than the inspiration he bargained for.
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival – Best Film
* 2017 Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival – Best Film

SMUGGLING HENDRIX (Fygadevontas ton Hendrix)
Cyprus, 2018, 93 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer: Marios Piperides Producers: Janine Teerling, Marios Piperides, Thanassis Karathanos, Martin Hampel, Costas Lambropoulos Cinematographer: Christian Huck Editor: Stylianos Costantinou Music: Kostantis Papakostantinou Production Designer: Michalis Samiotis Costumes: Maria Karapouliou Make up: Kyriaki Melidou Cast: Adam Bousdoukos, Fatih Al, Vicky Papadopoulou, Özgür Karandeniz

Yiannis, a fading musician, is planning to leave crisis-ridden Cyprus for a better life abroad. His plans are put on hold when his dog Jimi runs away and crosses the UN buffer zone to the occupied side of the island. Through the simple story of a man who loses his dog, Smuggling Hendrix gives a vivid demonstration of how the fences we build, both real and imagined, between ourselves and others, can be broken down once we recognize the familiarity in the face of the unknown.
* 2018 Tribeca Film Festival – Best International Narrative Feature Award

THE LAST NOTE (To Teleftaio Simioma)
Greece, 2017, 117 min, LA Premiere

Director: Pantelis Voulgaris Writer: Ioanna Karystiani, Pantelis Voulgaris Producer: Yiannis Jakovidis Cinematographer: Simos Sarketzis Editor: Takis Giannopoulos Music: The Boy (Alexandros Voulgaris) Production Designer: Spyros Laskaris Cast: Andreas Konstantinou, André Hennicke, Melia Kreiling, Tasos Dimas, Enea Camati, Vassilis Koukalani, Loukas Kiriazis

Following 34-year-old Napoleon Soukatzidis, a Cretan with Asia Minor origins, who fought and was held in prisons and exiled since 1936, this film tells the story of the execution of 200 Greek resistance fighters by the German occupation on May 1, 1944, in Kaisariani.
* 2018 Hellenic Film Academy – Iris Award for Make Up, Sound, Costumes, Best Actor

THORN
Denmark-Greece, 2017, 82 min, U.S. Premiere

Director: Gabriel Tzafkas Writers: Gabriel Tzafkas, Arne Gronbaek Producers: Panagiotis Kakavias, Katerina Beligianni, Theis Norgaard, Michel Bille Frandsen Cinematographer: David Bauer Editor: Soren Ebbe Music: Sofie Birk, Asbjørn Derdau Production Designer: Mille Fischer Christiansen Cast: Jens Sætter Lassen, Neel Rønholt, Olaf Johannessen, Vibeke Hastrup

The night of their marriage, newlywed couple Jacob and Lisa drive away for their honeymoon somewhere in the countryside of Denmark. However, Jacob has no idea where they are going as Lisa has made all the preparations secretly. Everything goes according to plan until Lisa realizes that her plan is harming their love, and their faith is turning into fear.
* 2018 Göteborg International Film Festival
* 2017 Copenhagen Film Festival
* 2017 São Paulo International Film Festival
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival
* 2017 Cairo International Film Festival

TOO MUCH INFO CLOUDING OVER MY HEAD
Greece, 2017, 105 min, West Coast Premiere

Director/Writer: Vasilis Christofilakis Producer: Eleni Petritsi, Tasos Gouriotis, Vasilis Christofilakis Cinematographer: Pavlos Mavrikidis Editor: Giorgos Alefantis Music: Constantinos Evangelidis Cast: Vasilis Christofilakis, Kitty Paitazoglou, Nicol Drizi, Lena Ouzounidou

After the failure of his previous film, Gay Nazi Cyborg Zombies in Love, Vasilis will do whatever it takes to earn money for his next film. Meanwhile, those around him will fill the young, anxious director with concerns, and he will barely be able to survive in this hilarious Greek comedy.
* 2017 Thessaloniki International Film Festival – FIPRESCI Prize for Best Greek Film, GFC Award for Best Debut Film, ERT New Cinema Award
* 2018 BAFICI
* 2018 Cyprus Film Days IFF
* 2018 ECU Paris Independent Film Festival
* 2018 New York Greek Film Expo
 
 

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FILMS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

FEATURES

DOCUMENTARIES

SHORTS

 
 

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WINNERS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

 

Honorary Orpheus: George Chakiris

 

Best Feature Fiction Film: POLYXENI, dir. Dora Masklavanou

 

Best Documentary Film: DOLPHIN MAN, dir. Lefteris Haritos

 

Best Short Film: GOLDFISH, dir. Yorgos Angelopoulos

 

Best Director: Thodoris Atheridis, PERFECT STRANGERS

 

Best Performance: Katia Goulioni in POLYXENI

 

Special Jury Award: 1968, dir. Tassos Boulmetis

 

Honorable Mention for Documentary: GOLDEN DAWN GIRLS, dir. Hårvard Bustnes

 

Audience Award for Feature Fiction Film: THE LAST NOTE, dir. Pantelis Voulgaris

 

Audience Award for Documentary: 1968, dir Tassos Boulmetis

 

Audience Award for Short Film: STILL, dir. Mavra Peponis

 

LAGFF 2018 Programming Team

 

 

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