LAGFF, founded by filmmakers Ersi Danou and Angeliki Giannakopoulos, showcases new films from Greek filmmakers worldwide. For seven years it has promoted Greek cinema and cultural exchange while bridging the gap between Greek filmmakers and Hollywood.
This year LAGFF adds a sidebar to showcase the work of up and coming Greek filmmakers.
The New Greek Cinema movement has been described as edgy, bold and risk-taking.
“As Greece is still grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented crisis, the upheaval of Greek society is represented in much of the current Greek Cinema, leading its artists beyond the known and the safe. This year’s films reflect the continued search for answers and solutions while pointing out the absurdity of the status quo. Social, personal, identities, borders, morals, values, are all entities to be discussed, questioned and rediscovered. What makes this year’s programming even more special are two key trends that make their presence felt: The strong participation of female filmmakers whose works we are proud to include this year, and the many submissions of first time-directors; almost half of our films are by first-time-at-the-helm efforts of young filmmakers, illuminating the way to a brighter future.”
Presented by CINEMAX®, the NEW GREEK CINEMA section will include four award-winning drama selections -Yorgos Servetas’ “Stand Aside Watching” (Na kathesai kai na koitas), winner of the 2014 Cyprus Film Days Global Images Award, the 2014 Hellenic Film Academy Award (Nikos Yorgakis Best Supporting Actor) and the 2012 Karlovy Vary IFF –
Work in progress (Best Film) awards; Elina Psykou’s “The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas” (I aionia epistrofi tou Antoni Paraskeva); the Greek/UK/French co-production of Aran Hughes and Christina Koutsospyrou’s “To The Wolf” (Sto lyko); and Alexandros Avranas’ “Miss Violence” (2013 Venice Film Festival -Best Euro-Mediterranean Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Film in the section ‘Young Cinema Award’).
Orpheus Awards are given to the most outstanding new films in the dramatic, documentary and short film categories. The five-member Jury for 2014, who will select and present the Orpheus Award winners for Best Feature Film, Documentary and Short Film, include Variety Deputy Editor Peter Caranicas, award-winning writer Larry Karaszewski, (“Ed Wood, “”Man on the Moon, “Co-Founder & CEO Emerald Peak Entertainment LLC), Christopher Kikis, International Sales & Acquisitions at Arclight Films Athena Nash, and Loyola Marymount’s Professor of Classics Dr. Katerina Zacharia.
With the exception of the opening night film (Nick Cassavetes’ “The Other Woman”) all films in the festival are eligible and Awards will be presented at the Closing Night Gala.
The Special Orpheus Award honorees were also announced. Producers Anthony G. Katagas (“12 Years a Slave”) and Steve Nicolaides (“A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally,”) will
take center stage at the Closing Night Gala and Orpheus Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening, June 8.
The Orpheus, the Festival’s highest honor will be presented after the Closing Night screening of Yorgos Tsemberopoulos ‘“The Enemy Within.” International renowned comic
Angelo Tsarouchas and actress Tracy Spiridakos (“Revolution”) will present the festival’s Audience Choice and Best Feature awards. Christos Vasilopoulos (“Banshee”) and newcomer Chrissa Loukas will host the show.
FILMS (schedule at http://lagff.org/festival/film schedule)
THE OTHER WOMAN
Opening Night Presentation
Co-presented by Earth Friendly Products &
Kolovos Family, G. P. Kolovos & Associates
Director: Nick Cassavetes
Writer: Melissa K. Stack
Producer: Julie Yorn
Exec. Producers: Donald J. Lee Jr., Chuck Pacheco
Production Companies: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, LBI Productions
Production Designer: Dan Davis
Cinematographer: Robert Fraisse
Editors: Jim Flynn, Alan Heim
Music: Aaron Zigman
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Don Johnson, Kate Upton, Taylor Kinney, Nicki Minaj
After discovering her boyfriend is married, a woman (Cameron Diaz) tries to get her ruined life back on track. But when she accidentally meets the wife he’s been cheating on (Leslie Mann), she realizes they have much in common, and her sworn enemy becomes her greatest friend. When yet another affair is discovered (Kate Upton), all three women team up to plot mutual revenge on their cheating, lying, three-timing SOB.
After-party Entertainment presented by West Coast Investors & Gus Sverkos and Goodtime Events
LAGFF’s DJ-in-Residence Gus Sverkos will be spinning his tunes at the Festival’s Opening and Closing Night parties for all to dance under the stars in the beautiful courtyard of the Egyptian Theater. Gus Sverkos is a sough after DJ, concert producer, and promoter. Spinning at his own Greek Club Nights, Sverkos has built his reputation on creativity, professionalism and bridging the American and Greek pop scene with jazz, ambient, and house music.
Preceded by live performance by Vassy
Whether it’s pop, rock, EDM, indie, dance, neo-soul or Billie-inspired jazz, Vassy learned early on it was better to stand out than play it safe. Vassy is an accomplished singer, songwriter, musician and producer whose distinctive voice has been heard in global adverts, hit video games and TV shows like ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, ‘Human Target, ‘Ugly Betty,’ ‘The Sims’ and FIFA 08. Vassy’s #1 hit, “We Are Young” was featured in the trailer for Disney’s Oscar-winning film FROZEN. Vassy closed out 2013 with “Mad,” a Top 5 hit on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart, and scored a #1 Beatport club banger with Crazibiza called “Hustlin’.”
THE ENEMY WITHIN (O ehthros mou)
Greece, 2013, 107 min, LA Premiere
Closing Night Presentation
Presented by Pabst Brewing Company,
Hostess Brands & the Metropoulos Family
Director: Yorgos Tsemberopoulos
Writer: Yiannis Tsiros
Producer: Eleni Kossyfidou
Production Companies: Blackbird production, Greek Film Centre, ERT, NOVA, STEFI Productions, FILMIKI Productions, TRIOprods
Production Designer: Spyros Laskaris
Cinematographer: Vangelis Katridzidakis
Editor: Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Music: Akis Daoutis
Cast: Manolis Mavromatakis, Maria Zorba, Thanassis Papageorgiou, Ariadni Kavalierou, Elias Moulas, Vesela Kazakova
Kostas doesn’t want to live in his small mountain village so he leaves for Athens, where attends university, then works, and finally has his own family. Now he’s 48 and all of a sudden, realizes that he lives in a jungle. Violence invades his home. A gang breaks in. There is only one way to survive for Kostas – He needs to embrace again his rough origin. Violence and revenge become his inseparable obsessions. He can’t help committing the ultimate hubris.
Yorgos Tsemberopoulos studied Economics in Greece and Film at AFI in Los Angeles. Back in Greece, he’s produced commercials and directed features, obtaining many national awards.
FESTIVALS: 2013 Montreal World Film Festival, 57th BFI London FF 2013,26th AFI EU Film Showcase 2013
AWARDS:
2013 Luxor IFF ( Silver Djed Pillar)
9th L’Europe Autour de l’ Europe – Special Mention
ÉCU 2014 (Best European Independent Dramatic Feature)
45th Nashville IFF (Best Actor)
After-party Entertainment with Gus Sverkos and Goodtime Events. Preceded by live performance by the Tripping Souls
FEATURES
BLOCK 12 (Oikopedo 12)
Cyprus/Greece, 2013, 94 min, LA Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Kyriacos Tofarides
Writer: Panos Stathoyannis
Production Companies: Avra Productions, Tanweer Alliances, Cyrpus Broadcasting Corporation, OTE TV, AMP Filmworks, Media Studios, Seahorse Films, Soundpath Studios
Production Designer: Liza Tsoulupa
Cinematographer: Yorgos Frentzos
Editor: Stylianos Constantinou
Music: Marios Takoushis
Cast: Costas Demetriou, Carmen Ruggeri, Michalis Marinos, Yannis Tsimetselis, Neetu Chandra, Irene Constantinou, Zoe Kyprianou
As a result of the notorious financial crisis, a dysfunctional family moves to their reclusive father’s tiny house. But things change when Cypriot politicians set their eyes on Costantas’ house and his land.
AWARDS: 2013 Cyprus Film Days IFF – Special Jury Award
2013 European Film Awards – Selection
COMMITTED
Cyprus, 2014, 90 min, LA Premiere
Presented by the Hellenic-American Medical and Dental Society of Southern California (HAMDS)
Director/Writer: Stelana Kliris
Producer: Stelana Kliris, Mario Piperides
Production Companies: AMP Filmworks, Full Moon Productions, AB Seahorse
Cinematographer: Stephan Metzner
Editor: Stylianos Constantinou
Music: Argyro Christodoulides
Cast: Melia Kreiling, Orestes Sophocleous
He can’t propose to his girlfriend so he leaves. Tell you what? He picks up a bride who is running away from her wedding.
MISS VIOLENCE
Greece, 2013, 98 min, LA Premiere
New Greek Cinema
Presented by Cinemax
Director/Writer/Producer: Alexandros Avranas
Writer: Kostas Peroulis
Producers: Vasilis Chrysanthopoulos, Christos Konstantakopoulos, Lelia Andronikou, Orpheas Emirzas, Giorgos Palamidis
Production Companies: Faliro House Productions, Plays2Place Productions
Production Designer: Thanassis Demiris, Eva Manidaki
Cinematographer: Olympia Mytilinaiou
Editor: Nikos Helidonidis
Cast: Kostas Antalopoulos, Constantinos Athanasiades, Chloe Bolota
On her 11th birthday, Angeliki jumps off the balcony. A hidden and hellish world, well-protected from the outside world, begins to unravel.
AWARDS: 2013 Venice Film Festival ( Best Euro-Mediterranean Film, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Film in the section ‘Young Cinema Award’)
2013 Stockholm Film Festival – Best Screenplay
2013 Montreal Festival of New Cinema – Innovation Award
STANDING ASIDE, WATCHING (Na kathesai kai na koitas)
Greece, 2013, 90 min, LA Premiere
New Greek Cinema
Presented by Cinemax
Director/Writer: Yorgos Servetas
Producers: Fenia Cossovitsa, Konstantinos Kontovrakis
Production Companies: Blonde Audiovisual Productions, ERT, Feel Good Entertainment, Heretic, 235, STEFI
Production Designer: Elias Ledakis
Cinematographer: Claudio Bolivar
Editor: Panos Voutsaras
Music: IO
Cast: Marina Symeou, Yorgos Kafetzopoulos, Marianthi Pantelopoulou, Nikos Yorgakis, Kostis Siradakis, Yorgos Ziovas
Antigone moves to the quiet town of Th. in order to live an unassuming life but a surge of violence all of a sudden puts her choice in sheer jeopardy.
FESTIVALS: 2014 Berlinale, 2013 Toronto IFF
AWARDS: 2014 Cyprus Film Days (won the Global Images Award)
2014 Hellenic Film Academy Awards: Nikos Yorgakis Best Supporting Actor
THE ETERNAL RETURN OF ANTONIS PARASKEVAS (I aionia epistrofi tou Antoni Paraskeva)
Greece, 2013, 88 min, LA Premiere
New Greek Cinema
Presented by Cinemax=
Director/Writer: Elina Psykou
Producers: Giorgos Karnavas, Elina Psykou
Production Companies: Giorgios Karnavas, Guanco
Production Designer: Pinelopi Valti
Cinematographer: Dionysis Efthimiopoulos
Editor: Nikos Vavouris
Music: Felizol
Cast: Christos Stergioglou, Maria Kallimani, Giorgos Souxes, Theodora Tzimou, Syllas Tzoumerkas, Lena Giaka, Vasilis Dimitroulias
Antonis Paraskevas, a TV host, checks in an exclusive hotel in front of the sea. Nobody is there, and Antonis hovers about contemplating suicide, until the television starts speaking of his disappearance…
AWARDS: 2012 Karlovy Vary IFF – Work in progress (Best Film)
TO THE WOLF (Sto lyko)
Greece/UK/France, 2013, 74 min, LA Premiere
New Greek Cinema
Presented by Cinemax
Directors/Writers/Producers/DP/Editor: Aran Hughes, Christina Koutsospyrou
Production Company: Linel Films, French Kiss Production
Cast: Giorgos Katsaros, Ilias Katsaros, Spiridoula Katsarou, Adam Paxnis, Kiki Paxni, Vasiliki Spiropoulou
The daily struggle of two families of shepherds trying to survive in the wilderness of the Greek mountains while the financial crisis has bottomed out.
FESTIVALS: 2013 Berlinale (Forum)
2013 Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
AWARDS:
2013 Dokufest (Balkan Newcomer Award)
2013 DocLisboa (Special Mention)
WILD DUCK
Greece, 2013, 88 min, LA Premiere
Director/Writer/Editor: Yannis Sakaridis
Producers: Yannis Sakaridis, Nikkos J. Frangos, Venia Vergou
Production Companies: Athens Filmmakers’ Co-Operative, ERT
Production Designer: Katerina Zourari
Cinematographer: Jan Vogel
Music: Christos Papageorgiou
Cast: Alexandros Logothetis, Themis Bazaka, Giorgos Pyrpassopoulos, Elias Logothetis, Yannis Stankoglou, Efi Tsapareli
An unlikely encounter of debt-ridden Dimitris, a telecommunications engineer, with a very ill middle-aged woman awakens in him a deep moral dilemma.
FESTIVALS: 2013 Toronto IFF
AWARDS: 2013 Sao Paulo IFF, Nominated for Best Feature Film
DOCUMENTARIES
CROSSED LIVES (Charagmenes zoes)
Greece, 2013, 124 min, US Premiere, Documentary
Director/Writer: Spyros Teskos
Producers: Vangelis Fampas, Spyros Teskos
Production Company: Massive Productions
Production Designer: Savina Akoumianaki
Cinematographer: Apostolis Koklas
Editor: Dinos Vamvakousis, Spyros Teskos
Music: Vangelis Fampas
Cast: Manolis Glezos, Matthias Rath, Leonidas Vatikiotis, Iassonas Chandrinos, Nikitas Kanakis
George Crocus was executed by the Germans on May 1, 1944. Dimitris Christoulas ended his own life before the Greek Parliament on April 4, 2012. Both stories are connected to the modern Greek crisis, this film asserts.
DOLLARS FOR A SAINT (Ta dolaria tou aghiou)
Greece, 2013, 57 min, US Premiere, Documentary
Presented by the Hellenic University Club
Director/Writer: Avra Georgiou
Writers: Pinelopi Kouvara, Grigoris Rentis
Producer: Jan Rofekamp
Production Companies: Film Transit International, Authorwave, Savefrag, Arte Geie
Cinematographer: Olympia Mytilinaiou
Editor: Grigoris Rentis
Messolonghi is a small coastal town inhabited by both local Greek and Gypsies for centuries. Once a year then, during the Feast of St. Simeon, they all engage in a five-day exhausting festival of dances, parades, food and drink… and that brings them even closer.
2014 Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
KALAVRYTA – PEOPLE AND SHADOWS (Kalavryta – Anthropoi kai skies)
Greece, 2014, 111 min, US Premiere, Documentary
Director/Writer/Producer: Elias Giannakakis
Production Designer: Apostolia Papaioannou
Cinematographer: Claudio Bolivar
Editor: Dora Masklavanou
Ever since a holocaust by the Nazis in 1943, the people of the town of Kalavryta in Greece have been struggling to figure out why and how that horror happened.
AWARDS: 16th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival – Fipresci Award (2014)
LOST IN THE BEWILDERNESS
Greece/USA, 2014, 97 min, US Premiere, Documentary
Director/Writer/Producer/DP/Editor: Alexandra Anthony
Lucas was born in Greece. He was 5 when, in the twinkling of an eye, he disappeared into thin air. Several years later, on the evening of his 16th birthday, he’s found in the United States. And now he’s ready to come back.
FESTIVALS:
2014 Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival
PASSAGE INTO HISTORY
Greece, 2014, 67 min, World Premiere, Documentary
Director/Writer: Yiannis V. Lapatas
Producers: Athanasios Takis, Alexis Takis, Joanna Tachmintzis, Yiannis V. Lapatas
Production Company: IMAGINA AE
Cinematographer: Yiannis Drakoylarakos
Editor: Vlasis K. Papadimas
Here is the story of people from all over the world gathering in Nemea for the revival of the Nemean Games. They come to take a leap into the past, run in the Stadium, and be crowned with wild celery.
SHORT FILMS
ANNA
Cyprus, 2012, 23 min, US Premiere
Director: Spiros Charalambous
Writer: Theo Panayides
Producers: Andros Achilleos, Harris Charalambous
Cast: Spiros Stavrinides, Imee Lysandrou, Elena Efstathiou, Marios Dimitriou
Michalis, a sick angry 85 year-old man, keeps calling Anna. Mairy, his Philippine caregiver, soon finds out that Anna is not just a character from Michalis’ favorite soap opera.
AWARDS: Cyprus SFFC 2012 (Best National Film)
BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
USA, 2014, 6 min, World Premiere=
Director/Writer: Konstantinos Mousoulis
Producer: Tety Kalafati
Cast: Christos Vasilopoulos, Tety Kalafati
She is beautiful and scantily dressed. What an amazing gift for Jack, a rude toughie who likes handcuffs and sex. But can such a smoking hot woman be a real gift?
DEBTFOOLS
Greece, 2013, 9 min, US Premiere
Director/Producer: Filippos Vardakas
Writers: Filippos Vardakas, Despina Economopoulou
Cast: Manolis Mavromatakis, Adrian Frieling, Efthimios Gourgouris, Dimitris Vellios, Christos Glikos, Angeliki Lemoni
When a foreigner stops by and gives a 100 euro note to a scruffy hotelier just to check his rooms, everyone in town can get out of debt…
FESTIVALS: DISMFMF 2013 – Official Selection
Short Film Festival in Drama 2013 – Official Selection
Athens National Short Film Festival 2013 – Official Selection
5 WAYS 2 DIE (5 tropoi na pethaneis)
Greece, 2013, 15 min, LA Premiere
Director/Producer: Daina Papadaki
Writer: Fanos Christophides
Cast: Michalis Marinos, Stela Fyrogeni, Effie Papatheodorou, Andreas Araouzos, Kristie Papadopoulos
There are so many ways to kill a man, but each and every one of them looks incredibly complicated to Makis. Maybe it’s because he wants to commit suicide…
AWARDS: 3rd Black Maria Film & Video Festival Tour 2014 Director’s Choice Award (3rd Prize)
KISS ME LOWER (Fila me pio kato)
Germany, 2012, 15 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer: Eleni Katsoni
Writer: Eva Strasser
Producer: Franziska Koch
Cast: Lara Beckmann, Daniel Roesner, Alkmini Theodoridou
Thanks to her aunt’s magical eggplant, the unhappy Marissa ends up in a world where all is an app, including sex. And yet, love is not even Googleable.
AWARDS: International Film Festival Cyprus 2012 (Best International Short Film)
Cologne Design Award 2012 – Special mention
LEA
Greece, 2013, 13 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer: Konstantinos Antonopoulos
Producer: Cindy Hu
Cast: Luigi Campi, Rebecca Thomas
His girl comes back. Deep down in his heart, he doesn’t feel good. Their love is no longer safe.
AWARDS: Honorable Mention at 2013 Athens International Film Festival
MAASAI
Greece, 2014, 16 min, LA Premiere
Director/Writer: Harry Lagoussis
Producer: Lelia Andronikou
Cast: Youlika Skafida, Syllas Tzoumerkas, Nikos Georgakis
Two brothers sit in a hospital waiting room while their mother is having surgery. While they share the fear of death, there is nothing in common about how each deals with it.
FESTIVALS: 2014 Aspen Shortsfest – Official selection
MAN IN A BOX
Greece, 2012, 4 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Elias Papastamatiou
It arises half man-shaped from a piece of clay, but then needs to figure out how to leave its box-prison.
FESTIVALS: 32nd Munich International Short Film Festival
36th Drama International Short Film Festival
19th Athens International Film Festival
NICOLETA
Greece, 2012, 19 min, LA Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Sonia Liza Kenterman
Writers: Tracy Sunderland
Producers: Alexandros Danikas, Ben Gibson
Cast: Kora Karvouni, Giorgos Triantafilakis, Giorgos Ninios, Konstantina Takalou, Giannis Tsortekis
In the aftermath of the Greek Civil War, a young boy must endure a harrowing journey along with his baby sister Nicoleta, in search of a better life.
AWARDS:
15th ReelWorld Film Festival (Canada) – Award for Outstanding International Short Film;46th Worldfest (Houston)Platinum Award for Student Short Film;12th Rome Independent Film Festival (Italy) – Honorable Mention from the Jury;4th Bangkok International Student Film Festival (Thailand) – Honorable Mention from the Sundance Festival Jury;19th Athens International Film Festival Film Festival (Greece) – 3rd Award for Best Short Film
PASS
Greece, 2013, 7 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer: Lampros Georgopoulos
Producer/Writer: Vassilis Mazomenos
Cast: Orestis Dikaios, Vangelis Mihailis, Anastasia Baliou
Slightly in the future of Europe, a bearded priest enters a grey facility. He denudes himself and gets on a forklift truck.
Fantasporto 2014, official competition
PIETÀ
Greece, 2013, 13 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Alexandor Tsadilas
Before sunrise, a man lies on the ground in the middle of an alley. He shrieks. He tries to stand. He falls again and again. He is all alone, or so he thinks.
FESTIVALS: Athens International Film Festival 2013
Clermont-Ferrand 2013
RED HULK
Greece, 2013, 27 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Asimina Proedrou
Cast: Frixos Proedrou, Nestoras Fanaras, Christos Kontogeorgis, Dimitris Tzoumakis, Elissaios Vlachos, Domenica Regou, Simeon Tsakiris
No drive. No confidence. No respect from his peers. Giorgos doesn’t even know who he is. His only way out is being Red Hulk, until he gets involved in acts of racial violence.
FESTIVALS: 2014 Clermont-Ferrand
AWARDS: 2013 Short Film Festival in Drama – Grand Prix (Best Film), Male Actor, Cinematography Award
2013 Athens International Film Festival – Grand Prix (Best Short Film)
SCHOOLYARD (Proavlio)
Greece, 2013, 10 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer: Rinio Dragasaki
Producer: Guanaco, Greek Film Centre
Cast: Avra Vordonaraki, Giorgios Vordonarakis, Kriton Doris, Michaela Zahariou, Klio Papatzanaki
Athens, a stifling summer, school is empty. A handful of teenagers hang out in the playground. A water balloon floats in the air. It’s time to play, until the shocking ending.
FESTIVALS: 2013 Berlinale-14 plus Generation
2013 Athens International Film Festival
THE IMMORTALIZER
Cyprus, 2013, 22 min, LA Premiere
Director/Writer/Producer: Marios Piperides
Cast: Yiannis Kokkinos, Numan Acar, Katerina Misichroni, Nedi Antoniades, Eliana Kakoura
Cyprus 1878. A desperate man, whose daughter is dying, knocks on the door of another man who, in people’s eyes, can keep her alive.
FESTIVALS: 2014 Kansas City International Film Festival
AWARDS: 2013 International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (Best Short Film, Best Actor, Best Sound Design)
TRAVEL EXPRESS
Greece, 2013, 23 min, US Premiere
Director/Writer: Natassa Xydi
Producer: Nikos Moustakas
Cast: Eleana Stravodimou, Zack Momoh.
Margarita is about to take a holiday trip to a Greek island. When she misses the boat, she finds herself traveling much further away.
FESTIVALS: 2013 19th Athens International
AWARDS: 2013 36th Drama Short Film Festival (Special Mention)
Five programs are being offered free and are open to the public:
Industry Roundtable – Feature Film Development: Speakers include San Francisco Film Society’s Athena Kalkopoulou, Kelly Tomas (VP of JuntoBox Films’ Incubator Initiative), Slamdance Festival Director Anna Germanidi, and Sundance International Director, Paul Federbush.
Industry Roundtable – TV/Web series: With professionals from the industry. Serial content production models are constantly changing, always exploring new media platforms as well as
creating exciting content and viewing experiences.
Special Focus – Audience Engagement & Crowd Funding: A discussion on what makes a successful crowd funding film campaign and how to engage your audience through different
platforms. Speakers: Joseph Beyer (Digital Initiatives, Director, Sundance Institute), Missy Laney (ArtistServices, Sundance Institute).
Case Study – Microbudget Filmmaking: Stelana Kliris introduces in this case study her film “Committed,” that will be presented at the Eighth Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Kliris is a South African Cypriot writer/director with a background in editing and production on international films and commercial productions. “Committed” (2014) is her first feature film.
A Conversation with Casting Director Valorie Massalas: The festival will also present the seminar “A Conversation with Casting Director Valorie Massalas” (“Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade,” “Gods and Monsters.”) The seminar is an open forum for actors, filmmakers, and those interested in the cinematic arts to discuss the process of casting selection in film and TV
with the award-winning Casting Director on Sun, May 18, 2014.
LAGFF offers the International Project Discovery Forum (IPDF), an ambitious 4-day development program whose aim is to discover and nurture great international independent projects while bridging Greek, Cypriot, Balkan and American Cinema.
The 6 finalists become part of an intense pitching session to influential entertainment professionals. Professionals also offer one-on-one mentor sessions to the filmmakers as well as participate in roundtable discussions and programs. One overall winner is selected from the final project presentations and receives a monetary prize and a scholarship to the
Mediterranean Film Institute, a prestigious European screenwriting program taking place annually in Nissyros, Greece. This year’s IPDF industry professionals include Group Pitching (Thursday, June 5) with writer/producer Bobette Buster (author of DO STORY: How to Tell Your Story So the World listens).
This year Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos and award-winning actor/producer Billy Zane (“Titanic”) joined Kary Antholis, Olympia Dukakis, Sid Ganis, Alexander Payne and Phedon Papamichael (among others) on the LAGFF Advisory Board.
About the Festival team: Ersi Danou wrote and directed the independent feature “A Sea Apart” in 2003.
Producer-director Angeliki Giannakopoulos produced and directed four documentaries:”My Child: Mothers Of War” , “A Greek Woman” , “Age of Elegance,” and “Wandering Tunes.”
In 1994 she established Artemis Productions, and the Greek-American Theater Company Of Los Angeles and went on to produce and direct over 15 productions. Some of her best work includes “Ten Stabs for Ten Bullets” at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, “The Marriage” at the Gascon Theater (which won seven Drama-Log Awards, including Best Direction), “Illya Darling” at the Skylight Theater and the 24th Street Theater (which won three Drama-Log Awards), “Antigone” and “Gregory Gregory” also at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Festival Executive producer Alex Kalognomos has worked in film, TV, and theater, and holds duties at both Arpa International Film Festival and Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. He received 2008 Backstage West honors for his performance in William Saroyan’s “Hello Out There”. He co-produced and co-starred in the award-winning short film, “Spaceman on Earth” which premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Alex also appeared in the film “The Witch of Portobello” which was selected by its source author Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) to premier in the 2009 Rome International Film Festival.
Festival director Aris Katopodis is assisted by the programming team or Araceli Lemos and Yorgos Varagoulis.
Egyptian Theater, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028. (323) 461-2020.BOXOFFICE for LAGFF is now open for Gold Pass Membership, individual screening and purchases online at www.itsmyseat.com/LAGFF.html