LAGFF 2025 ANNOUNCES OLIVER STONE IN CONVERSATION WITH COSTA-GAVRAS, JOHN LANDIS AND PROFESSOR DEBORAH NADOOLMAN LANDIS TO PRESENT THE HONORARY ORPHEUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO COSTA-GAVRAS, AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE & LAGFF COSTA-GAVRAS PARTNERSHIP SCREENINGS
(LOS ANGELES, CA – April 25, 2025) The Academy-award winning filmmaker Oliver Stone will join Costa-Gavras on May 31, 2025, at the UCLA James Bridges Theater for an extended conversation following the West Coast Premiere of the newest Gavras film, LAST BREATH.
Known for creating some of the most influential films of the last decades, Mr. Stone continues to inspire generations with bold cinematic work that challenges conventional narratives and impacts us culturally.
As critically acclaimed political and social master storytellers, Oliver Stone and Costa-Gavras have used their compelling and powerful art to create conversation starters influenced by living histories and personal experiences. Oliver Stone has said, “Truth is the greatest treasure a Socratic soul can attain in this lifetime”; and Costa-Gavras, “It’s important not to describe the character of the situation, but… the ethical meaning… the ethic of truthfulness is something very precise.”
From SALVADOR and MISSING, PLATOON and SHOCK TROOPS, JFK and Z, NATURAL BORN KILLERS and MAD CITY, U-TURN and SLEEPING CAR MURDERS, WALL STREET and CAPITAL, THE UNTOLD HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES and THE COSTA-GAVRAS CENTURY, Oliver Stone and Costa-Gavras have led audiences on daring visual journeys to witness humanity, question the narrative, and search for a sense of independent truth.
Held in collaboration with UCLA Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture, and part of the 2025 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival’s Costa-Gavras multi-event Tribute, we are honored to host this special conversation between Oliver Stone and Costa-Gavras.
JOHN LANDIS AND PROFESSOR DEBORAH NADOOLMAN LANDIS TO PRESENT THE HONORARY ORPHEUS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD TO COSTA-GAVRAS
Working alongside each other, John Landis and Professor Deborah Nadoolman Landis directed and costume-designed many classic, iconic films such as ANIMAL HOUSE, THE BLUES BROTHERS, AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, TRADING PLACES, THREE AMIGOS! and COMING TO AMERICA; for which Nadoolman Landis was Oscar-nominated. Their groundbreaking music video, MICHAEL JACKSON’S THRILLER, elevated the genre as we had never seen before, and continues to resonate with audiences.
In addition to their respective film and television work, Mr. Landis and Professor Nadoolman Landis have left a mark on separate and distinguished careers; in the Directors Guild of America, the National Film Preservation Foundation, museums, film festival juries, career film retrospectives, academia, books, and the Costume Designers Guild. Professor Nadoolman Landis is the Founding Director of the David C. Copley Center for the Study of Costume Design at UCLA.
In 2003, Mr. Landis conducted an extraordinary visual history at the DGA with Costa-Gavras; detailing his exceptional life, from his humble beginnings in the village of Loutra Iraias near Arcadia to becoming one of world’s greatest filmmakers [available on the DGA website]. In 1981, Professor Nadoolman Landis designed the costumes for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK.
The LAGFF is honored to have John Landis and Professor Deborah Nadoolman Landis attend our festival’s Opening Night on May 28 at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood to present the Honorary Orpheus Lifetime Achievement Award to their longtime friend and collaborator, Costa-Gavras; A kick off for the multi-event Tribute to Costa-Gavras, which includes a screening of his celebrated film, Z.
The LAGFF Tribute to Costa-Gavras is presented by European Languages and Movies (ELMA.org); the post-screening reception will be exclusively catered by Petros Restaurant (petrosbrand.com); wines offered by AVRA (theavragroup.com); KLEOS Mastiha Spirit drinks will be served (drinkkleos.com),
and non-alcoholic drinks by Optima Foods.
AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE & LAGFF COSTA-GAVRAS PARTNERSHIP SCREENINGS
As part of the Costa-Gavras Tribute, LAGFF is thrilled to collaborate with American Cinematheque on the Director’s soon-to-be announced film screenings; with Costa-Gavras and Michèle Ray-Gavras in attendance on June 2.
Oscar and Palme d’Or winner, President of the Cinémathèque Française, and an icon of both activist and idealist cinema, Costa-Gavras has pushed filmmaking boundaries since the 1960s; from redefining crime noir, to tackling difficult transnational subjects, to engaging audiences by directing universal themes in a singular way. Producer and journalist, Michèle Ray-Gavras, known for her reporting on Vietnam, Bolivia and Uruguay, has produced several Costa-Gavras films; as well as films for the multi-awarded filmmakers, Mehdi Charef and Tony Gatlif.
The American Cinematheque was born after an inspiring trip to the Cinémathèque Française in Paris, where filmmaker Sydney Pollack joined forces with Gary Abrahams and Gary Essert to develop a year-round film festival for the city of Los Angeles; where cinephiles and filmmakers could discover, engage in and discuss the seventh art.
LAGFF is extremely proud of this collaboration with the American Cinematheque and the opportunity this partnership has opened in further celebrating one of our greatest filmmakers, Costa-Gavras.
Los Angeles Greek Film Festival – 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. www.lagff.org
The American Cinematheque – Established in 1984, the American Cinematheque is a member-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit cultural arts organization dedicated to building an engaged film community through immersive film curation, conversation, and presentation. The American Cinematheque celebrates the movie-going experience at the core of its mission. Since it first began showing films in theatres in 1985, the American Cinematheque has provided a wide range of film programming, with both new and repertory cinema, hosting screenings, panels and special events with thousands of filmmakers and luminaries. The Cinematheque showcases over 1,600 films per year; it connects the filmmaker to the audience and film history to its future. Presenting in 35mm, 70mm, rare nitrate, and state-of-the-art digital. www.americancinematheque.com
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 Egyptian Theatre is a classic and beloved movie palace originally built in 1922 during the silent film era. A fixture in Hollywood’s Golden Age, the Egyptian was the site of the world’s very first movie premiere of ROBIN HOOD starring Douglas Fairbanks and remains to this day the ultimate destination for moviegoers. This historic venue has been the home of glamorous red carpet premieres, groundbreaking film festivals and incredible cinematic experiences over the near-century it has been presenting films for audiences in Hollywood, the movie-making capital of the world.
In 2007, Petros Benekos opened his flagship restaurant, Petros Restaurant, in Manhattan Beach California, which Zagat named “Top New Restaurant” and which continues to earn accolades and awards celebrating Petros’s meticulously handmade recipes inspired by his mother. Today three additional Petros restaurants serve the popular communities of Century City, El Segundo and Solvang; while Petros’ ‘Villa and Vine‘ has become the premier place for hosting luxury private events in Santa Barbara.
The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood – 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
Additional Supporters
Getty
Elios Charitable Foundation
ERTFLIX International
Alexander Payne
Greek National Tourism Organization
Aris Anagnos Charitable Trust
Gibson Dunn & Theane Evangelis
Dr. Stephen & Dr. Anna Yallourakis
West Coast Investors
Jim Gianopulos
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Media Contact: Melinda Manos
[email protected] 310-272-4225
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