By Fotis Kaliampakos – Special to the Hellenic News of America
The New York Greek Film Festival, featuring a notable Cretan influence, commenced on Wednesday evening at the historic Morgan Library in Manhattan. The festival, running through Saturday at the Directors Guild Theatre on 57th Street, opened with an impressive selection of films. A highlight is the film *The Murderess*, based on Alexandros Papadiamantis’s acclaimed work. It will be screened on Saturday with director Eva Nathena and lead actress Karyofyllia Karabeti in attendance. This film is also Greece’s submission for the Oscars.
An Impressive Opening Venue
The festival’s opening reception was held at the evocative Morgan Library and Museum, located at Madison Avenue and 37th Street in Manhattan. Attendees received festival programs and voting cards, allowing them to share their opinions on the films. The most popular films, both short and feature-length, will be awarded during the festival’s closing ceremony on Saturday evening.
Notable Guests at the Opening Reception
At the reception, festival hosts, key members of the Hellenic American Chamber of Commerce (HACC), and Artistic Director Maria Tzobanaki welcomed guests. Distinguished attendees included: His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations Ambassador George Sekeris, Sakis Floros from the Greek Public Diplomacy Office in New York, Nancy Papaioannou, senior advisor to the president of Alma Bank and HACC member, Eftihia Pylarinou-Piper, senior vice president at Greek-owned Red Apple Group, and Stelios Takentzis, president of Cosmos FM in New York.
Markos Drakotos – Consistent Support for Culture
Following the reception, the audience filled the screening room. The event was coordinated by Irini Mo. Markos Drakotos, President of the HACC Foundation, expressed gratitude to attendees and highlighted HACC Executive Director Alexandra Mitsaki’s pivotal role in the festival’s organization. Drakotos emphasized the importance of the festival in promoting Greek culture in the U.S. He humorously suggested that art can serve as therapy for those who watched the previous night’s U.S. presidential debate!
Drakotos praised Artistic Director Maria Tzobanaki and invited her to present the festival program.
Maria Tzobanaki – A Vision for Greek Culture
Maria Tzobanaki outlined her vision for the festival as a platform for showcasing Greek culture in the U.S. and the role of art and the Greek diaspora in preserving Hellenic identity worldwide. She expressed confidence in the power of culture, thanked the organizers and sponsors, and invited Archbishop Elpidophoros of America to speak.
Archbishop Elpidophoros – Bridging Tradition and Drama
Archbishop Elpidophoros shared Maria Tzobanaki’s enthusiasm for Greek culture. He joined Tzobanaki on stage and promised the church’s support for the festival and efforts to uphold Greek tradition. The Archbishop discussed the connection between dramatic art and Orthodox liturgical traditions, noting that both use costumes, colors, and music to achieve catharsis, a concept akin to Orthodox redemption. He wished the festival success and received a warm ovation. Scholarly studies explore the links between ancient tragedy and Orthodox liturgy, with dramatic elements transitioning to Orthodox practices and later Western church tradition.
A Cretan Flair
As a Cretan herself, Artistic Director Maria Tzobanaki infused the 14th edition of the festival with a strong Cretan flavor, the first post-pandemic. The event featured traditional Cretan music performed by Giorgos Voyiatzakis and Michalis Lymakis. Members of the “Cretan Brocades Club” dance group impressed with their performances and received enthusiastic applause. Evangelia, a popular Greek-American artist from Crete, performed well-known songs in both Greek and English.
At the end of the musical segment, Giorgos Voyiatzakis captivated the audience with his rendition of the iconic Greek song “It Was Once,” famously performed by the late Nikos Xylouris.
Stars of “Sasmos” – “Thank You for Welcoming Us”
Five actors from the popular Cretan TV series “Sasmos” traveled to New York to receive awards. Markos Drakotos honored actors Michalis Aerakis, Maria Protopappa, Alina Kotsovou, Danai Pappa, and Maria Tzobanaki. The actors, visibly moved, expressed their joy at connecting with the Greek-American community and shared their experiences on the series, which brings the spirit of Greece and Crete to the screen. The actors emphasized the importance of audience engagement and took photos with their fans.
Nikos Kastrinakis, President of the World Council of Cretans, thanked the organizers for featuring his homeland and the Crete Regional Governor for his support. He also highlighted the screening of the biographical film *Eleftherios Venizelos*.
A Dark Masterpiece
The festival’s first film, *The Murderess*, was screened to an atmosphere of intense drama, showcasing Eva Nathena’s masterful direction and Karyofyllia Karabeti’s compelling performance. This film, a must-see for Greek cinema enthusiasts. We will provide a detailed review of this exceptional film, Greece’s Oscar submission for this year, in the Hellenic News of America.
