"The Promise of Tomorrow 1940-1960" at the Beverly HillsFilm, TV & New Media Festival

The Greek Heritage Society of Southern California will premiere “The Promise of Tomorrow 1940-1960,” a documentary highlighting the first generation Greek Americans, at the Beverly Hills Film, TV & New Media Festival. The screening will take place at Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, 9036 Wilshire Boulevard (at Doheny Drive), Beverly Hills, California 90211, on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 8:00 P.M. This film is narrated and hosted by Academy Award Winner Olympia Dukakis.

"The Promise of Tomorrow," part 2 of a Greek-American trilogy, continues the story of the Greek immigrant experience in southernCalifornia, beginning with those brave soldiers who fought in World War II. We follow the progeny of the Greek Pioneers as they establish themselves within the community yet struggle with duality - Greek at home and American outside. Determined to get an education and make a good life for themselves and their families, the Greatest Generation lives up to this synonym. In a very short period of time, they have become prominent leaders in the arts, business, technology, academia, science and government – virtually all levels of contemporary American society.

The question of identity permeates throughout their adult life: "We are not just Greeks; we are not just Americans, but we are a new breed – Greek Americans!"

Collaborators in the project are writer and director Anna Giannotis; executive producers Zoye Fidler, Shelly Papadopoulos and John Gregory-Panopoulos, Producers, Antonia Lianos, Gus T. Dalis and Harry Ratner, editor Rich Uber and composer Bob Luna, along with many hard-working volunteers and contributors.

Master of Ceremonies - JOHN ANISTON

Honorary Committee
John Aniston
Dino Andrianos
Ambassador Dimitris Caramitsos-Tziras, Former Consul General of Greece
Michael Constantine
Olympia Dukakis
Corinna Tsopei Fields
Sid Ganis, Producer, Former President AMPAS
Melina Kanakaredes
George Katakalidis, CEO, Daphne's Greek Cafe
Andreas Kyprianides, Honorary Consul General of Cyprus
Tom LaBonge, Councilmember, 4th District
William Lappas, Director, Woodbridge Capital Partners
Stratton Leopold, Producer
John Rallis and Mary Lynn Bergman-Rallis

"The Promise of Tomorrow" is Part Two of our award-winning series, "The Greeks of
Southern California Through the Century." The documentary series is the universal
story of the Greek American experience as seen through the eyes of those who settled
in Southern California. "The Promise of Tomorrow" chronicles the Greek American
journey of the First Generation Greek Americans who were raised in Southern
California, changing the face of our community. Academy Award winner Olympia
Dukakis returns to host "The Promise of Tomorrow" as it explores the way in which the
Greek American community has become an intregal part of American history while
maintaining a strong and unique Greek identity.