LOS ANGELES, CA – (June 11, 2024) – Several hundred guests attended Closing Night of the 18th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival on June 9 at Silver Screen Theatre, Pacific Design Center. The critically acclaimed MURDERESS (FONISSA), starring Karyofyllia Karabeti and directed by Eva Nathena, was featured and included a live dialogue with the film’s star and director. The screening was preceded by a lively red carpet hosted by influencer Becca Brazil and followed by the Orpheus Awards.
The Orpheus Awards hosted by Arianna Papalexopoulos honored renowned Greek actress Karyofyllia Karabeti with the 2024 Orpheus Award.
Awards Presenters were Angelo Hatgistavrou:
Best Animation, Maria Korinthiou:
Best Short Film, Jaswant Shrestha:
Best Documentary, Eliza Gerontakis:
Honoree Award, Elena Evangelo: Best Performance + Best Director, Marie Avgeropoulos: Best Film.
The Closing Night reception and party were presented by The Kolovos Family, appetizers and catering by NICK THE GREEK, wines by AVRA, VIP Room catering by Petros, Cocktails from Kleos Mastiha, Dulce Vida Tequila, and Empress Gin, Water from Smart Water, soft drinks and cookies by Optima Foods and VIP gift bags from Chrysofora olive oil and Hellenic Aesthetic.
LAGFF 2024 Jury Panelists: Spiro Skentzos, Colin Campbell, Andrew Wagner, Jaswant Shrestha, María Elena de las Carreras, Eugene Brancolini, Cheng Guo, Portlynn Tagavi, Chris Tsirgiotis, Hugh O’Gorman,
Lisa Ogdie, and Jourdain Searles.
LAGFF 2024 showcased 80+ films over 9 days in theatres and one week online (June 9-16), including feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation, and retrospectives, highlighting the depth of the Greek Film Industry today. The on-line portion of the Festival (June 9-16) offers virtual screenings and events on the LAGFF platform powered by Eventive and presented by the GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION. On June 13, a Distribution Agreements Webinar with Entertainment Attorney Carol T. Contes and Freestyle Digital Media’s Head of Digital Film Distribution Bill Vergos is geared toward independent filmmakers.
The 2024 Orpheus Winners Are….
ANIMATION
Ready by Eirini Vianelli – Best Animation
SHORTS
Wings by Fivos Imellos – Best Short
DOCUMENTARIES
Kristos, the last child by Giulia Amati – Best Documentary
BEST PERFORMANCE
Best Performance – Dimitra Vlagopoulou for her role in Animal
Special Jury Award – Karyofyllia Karabeti for her role in Murderess
BEST DIRECTOR
Best – Adonis Florides for Africa Star
Special Jury Award – Eva Nathena for Murderess
BEST FILM
Animal by Sofia Exarchou
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience for SHORT
ONE NOTE MAN by George Siougas
Audience Award for DOCUMENTARY
Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field by Michael Selditch
Audience Award for FEATURE FILM
JAUNT by Alexi Papalexopoulos
Discovery Days Honorable Mention
Four Funerals And A Wedding (Montenegro)
Director / Writer: Nikola Mijovic
Producer: Maja Kecojevic (Parangal Film)
Discovery Days Winner
Nearby Faraway
(Greek, Germany)
Director / Writer: Sonia Liza Kenterman
Producer: Myrto Stathi (BYRD)
Now in its 10th edition, the DISCOVERY DAYS story & screenplay lab continues to serve as an industry leader in developing artistic international feature film projects as well as fostering ties between filmmakers from Southern Europe / the Balkans and the Los Angeles community of cinema. Many films that have participated in the lab go on to successful paths, including MEDIUM directed by Christina Ioakeimidi, screening at this year’s LAGFF. Under the leadership of director Araceli Lemos, Discovery Days received a record number of submissions and ultimately selected seven projects. The team includes Joel Garber (Producer), Karina Logothetis (Producer) and Nasos Gatzoulis (Programmer). To celebrate Discovery Days’ 10th anniversary edition, Greek sculptor Kyriakos Rokos created this year’s award.
2024 Discovery Days winners with Discover Days Director Araceli Lemos and Team
(Photog: Vanessa Skopeo-HeartSparkStudios)
DISCOVERY DAYS 2024 Jury: Mo Perkins, Orly Ravid, Dea Vasquez, and Jonathan Wysocki.
DISCOVERY DAYS 2024 Mentors – https://www.lagff.org/discovery-days/meet-the-experts-2024/
LAGFF 2024 Sponsors – https://www.lagff.org/support/sponsors/
Other sponsors supporting LAGFF: AT&T, Gibson Dunn, Theane Evangelis, Dr. Stephen & Dr. Anna Yallourakis, Greek Film Centre, Greek National Tourism Organization, Elios Charitable Foundation, Los Angeles County Arts & Culture, Dept. of Cultural Affairs-City of LA. (Ersi can double check if there is anyone else missing from her grants), West Coast Investors, Jim Gianopulos, UCLA, Aegialis, Simpson Travel, and Delphi Greek, and Aris Anagnos Charitable Trust.
LAGFF is held under the auspices of General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We wish to express our gratitude to Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, Prof. John Chrysoulakis, for his continued effort to unite the Hellenes abroad and support all efforts for culture, arts, and issues that Hellenes face away from the homeland.
LAGFF expresses gratitude to Honorable Christina Valassopoulou, Consul General of Greece in Los Angeles, for her commitment to serving the Greek-American community and supporting initiatives that promote Greece.
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 17 years, LAGFF has screened over 520 films and hosted over 500 filmmakers supporting their films. For Ticket info and details please visit: https://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.
SOURCE; LAGFF
