19th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Announces Opening Night May 28, 2025
and Lifetime Tribute to Director Costa-Gavras
LAGFF Collaborates with The Egyptian Theatre, American Cinematheque, ELMA, UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture
(LOS ANGELES, CA. – April 14, 2025) The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) announces its 19th edition will be held over 6 days from May 27 to June 1, 2025. The nonprofit organization brings films and filmmakers from Greece, Cyprus, and films about Greece to Southern California and United States. The 11th Discovery Days forum, an opportunity for filmmakers, directors, writers and producers to workshop their feature film projects in Los Angeles, takes place from May 27 to June 1, 2025.
Since its inception, LAGFF has screened over 800 films by Greek filmmakers and hosted more the 700 filmmakers, reaching an audience of over 50,000. “We are thrilled and honored to present the lifetime achievement Orpheus Honorary award to Costa-Gavras, the legendary icon of world cinema,” states LAGFF Artistic & Festival Director Aristotle Katopodis. “His presence highlights LAGFF’s 19 years showcasing Greek cinema’s impact and aspirations worldwide. Culture, social issues, identity, dreams, and personal stories continue to inform the cinematic landscape that Greek and Cypriot filmmakers choose to explore. Strong collaborations with ELMA, UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center, American Cinematheque, Loyola Marymount University, and California State University at Los Angeles underscore our commitment to education in the rich cinematic profile of Southern California.”
On Opening Night May 28, LAGFF presents renowned Greek French filmmaker Costa-Gavras the 2025 Honorary Orpheus Award at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. The red-carpet event features a screening of Costa-Gavras’ powerful film “Z”, released in 1969, based on the novel by Vassilis Vassilikos about the real-life 1963 story of the assassination of Grigoris Lambrakis. Z won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Film Editing, and the Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize and Best Actor Award. LAGFF Opening Night Reception will be exclusively catered by Petros Restaurant, and KLEOS Mastiha Spirit drinks will be offered.
The multi-event tribute celebrating Costa-Gavras lifetime achievements presented by European Languages and Movies in America (ELMA.org). “Co-presenting this tribute to the Franco-Greek Maestro Costa-Gavras allows me to express my profound admiration for a filmmaker who captivated audiences while exploring controversial political issues”, explains ELMA Founder Pascal Ladreyt. “His ability to combine storytelling with truth-telling continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide. I am honored to introduce his films to a younger generation whose voices we need to hear as much as ever.”
On May 31, UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture will present the West Coast premiere of the new Costa-Gavras film LAST BREATH (LE DERNIER SOUFFLE) at the James Bridges Theater, followed by an in-person conversation with the director. Following the Festival, American Cinematheque will screen a selection of Costa-Gavras films in collaboration with LAGFF.
LAGFF Co-founder Ersi Danou states, “Honoring Costa-Gavras with an Orpheus Award is an extraordinary moment of acknowledgement and celebration of an auteur who has not only greatly contributed to the Greek and the French cultures but to the art of cinema in general and to a global understanding of freedom and justice.”
Signature Events (partial list)
• May 22 – Hollywood Scene & Be Seen Bash, with live entertainment, The Godfrey Hotel
• May 27 – Cyprus/Greece film premieres at Saint Sophia’s Gianopulos Family Theater
• May 28 – Red Carpet Opening Night, Costa-Gavras Tribute, Reception, Egyptian Theatre
• May 29-31 – Theatrical screenings/ Live Q&As at Sunset 5, West Hollywood
• May 29-31 – Panels and Industry Events
• May 31 – Filmmaker Brunch (exclusive) at the LAGFF Lounge, Sunset 5
• May 31 – West Coast Premiere of “Last Breath” and In-Person Conversation with Costa-Gavras at UCLA, the James Bridges Theater
• June 1 – Red Carpet Closing Night Gala/Orpheus Awards, Harmony Gold, Hollywood
• June 1 – Discovery Days auditing
• June 2 & 8 – American Cinematheque collaboration, Costa-Gavras film screenings
• June 2-8 – Virtual film screenings
LAGFF Tickets & Gold Pass Available – https://lagff25.eventive.org/welcome
To Request Media Credentials, please complete application
LAGFF 2025 Key Sponsors and Grants
Festival Benefactor – G.P. Kolovos & Associates and The Kolovos Family
The Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles
The LA County Arts & Culture, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts & Culture
Egyptian Theatre
Petros Restaurant
The Godfrey Hotel
AT & T
Additional Supporters
Getty
Elios Charitable Foundation
ERT FLIX International KLEOS Mastiha Spirit Alexander Payne
Greek National Tourism Organization
Aris Anagnos Charitable Trust
UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture
Gibson Dunn & Theane Evangelis
Dr. Stephen & Dr. Anna Yallourakis
West Coast Investors
Jim Gianopulos
About LAGFF Sponsors
GPK & Associates and the Kolovos Family — GPK & Associates is an established property management company and family-owned business. GPK & Associates takes a hands-on approach to managing communities and has successfully leased and managed a large portfolio of apartment homes in the greater Los Angeles area for over 40 years. It is the company’s mission to provide residents with the highest quality customer service and ensure their homes are comfortable and the properties are well maintained. GPK & Associates take pride in their level of customer service and the quality of workmanship provided in their remodeled apartment homes. They believe this translates into a positive rental experience for all residents who live in their communities. www.gpkassociates.com
Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture – The mission of the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture (LACDAC) is to advance arts, culture, and creativity throughout LA County. LACDAC provides leadership, services, and support in areas including grants and technical assistance for nonprofit organizations, countywide arts education initiatives, commissioning and care for civic art collections, research and evaluation, access to creative pathways, professional development, free community programs, and cross sector creative strategies that address civic issues. All this work is framed by the longstanding commitment to fostering access to the arts, and the County’s Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative. www.lacountyarts.org
European Languages & Movies in America – The European Languages & Movies in America (ELMA) mission is to create new avenues for better cultural understanding between the people of Europe and the USA by celebrating alternative cinema. Since its inception in 2007, ELMA has supported over 100 events in 30 countries in over 20 languages. ELMA strives to provide more opportunities to view European films by supporting educational and nonprofit venues showing such movies. ELMA supports a wide spectrum of projects, from classic films to the works of emerging talent in order to provide new audiences with an alternative to Hollywood. www.elma.org/copy-of-home-1
UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture was established in 2019 by a lead gift from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and matching funds provided by generous members of the Hellenic and Philhellenic community of Southern California. The Center supports a comprehensive set of academic and public initiatives, both locally, through strategic collaborations with organizations in Southern California, and in Greece and Cyprus, through partnerships with universities and cultural institutions. https://hellenic.ucla.edu/
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood (https://www.godfreyhotelhollywood.com) — Located a block south of Sunset Boulevard in the heart of Los Angeles’ iconic Hollywood enclave, The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood brings the distinct Chicago hospitality brand to the West Coast. Exuding the energy of old Hollywood, the hotel’s curated art program and immersive interior design set the stage for supreme Hollywood moments. www.godfreyhotelhollywood.com
About: LAGFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses its attention on bringing films and filmmakers from Greece, Cyprus, and the rest of the world to the United States. Over the past 18 years, LAGFF has screened more than 800 films and hosted over 700 filmmakers supporting their films. For Ticket info and details please visit: www.lagff.org
About: Global Greek Film Initiative is strategically designed to establish an array of new annual programs to promote cultural exchange between Greece, the US and the Hellenic Diaspora, service opportunities for employment and economic growth within Greece and be the North American hub and global one-stop collective for Greek film programs and initiatives.
Media Contact: Melinda Manos [email protected] 310-272-4225
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