E!'S GEORGE KOTSIOPOULOS TO EMCEE CLOSING NIGHT

George Kotsiopoulos, co-host of Fashion Police on E!, will serve as emcee of Los Angeles Greek Film Festival's 7th annual Orpheus Awards ceremony. Since the Festival's inception in 2007 the awards night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film.
Kotsiopoulos, no stranger to the world of art, fashion and cinema, is an American magazine editor, fashion consultant, stylist and television personality. He is style editor at large for C magazine and was a fashion associate at The New York Times Magazine. In January 2014, Kotsiopoulos will be publishing his first book Glamorous by George.

2013 Orpheus Awards, Sunday, June 9 at the WGA, Beverly Hills | TICKETS

Emmy Award winning television and film director Greg Yaitanes will present the first Project Discovery Forum's Aegean Award. Yaitanes has produced and directed some of the best television shows including Damages, Lost, Prison Break, Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, House M.D., and, currently, Cinemax's Banshee.

Chart-topping singer/songwriter Vassy and comedian/actor Angelo Tsarouchas will present the Audience Choice Orpheus Award. Actress/singer Ariana Savalas will present the Special Jury Orpheus Award.

Named for the legendary Greek poet and "father of songs", the Orpheus Award is LAGFF's annual prize, honoring the best in Greek and Greek-inspired cinema. The Orpheus Awards ceremony will take place at the Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills, at 5 pm. The ceremony will be followed by a screening of Kimon Tsakiris' MITSIGAN: HARDSHIPS & BEAUTIES. Complimentary parking in structure adjacent to theater. For more information, click here.

 

 

  

MESSAGE FROM LAGFF EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

The rush of festival week is here! Filmmakers from around the world are arriving in LA to participate at LAGFF 2013. Imagine for one moment being a filmmaker and landing in Los Angeles for the first time, driving towards town and seeing the iconic Hollywood Sign in the distance. A dream shared by millions around the world, made possible this week...by people such as you. Attendant patrons eager to see Greek films, currently among the most exciting cinema in the world; sponsors who generously support LAGFF and enable it to grow stronger each year; members of the media and press excited to meet, greet and interview the visiting directors and actors. And so many more individuals, institutions; and organizations that make LAGFF possible.

With this in mind, on behalf of our entire Festival Team, I thank each of you for your support this year. Here's what makes 2013 such a special year of such dynamic growth for LAGFF:

• Over 30 films, one of our largest programs to date. And more filmmakers in attendance than ever before!   
• The greatest community outreach we have ever had, with such organizations as Australians in Film, Chapman College, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, to name a few!
• Our best auction to date - with 11 getaways to Greece and surprise items yet to be announced. 
• An Opening Night film, METEORA, produced by its lead star, Theo Alexander.
• AMERICA, AMERICA with Cinemax, Kary Antholis and the spirit of Elia Kazan.
• Saturday and Sunday in two and three venues, with screenings at the WGA and the Real D; an Industry Program on film production; the Project Discovery Forum for applicants who were selected to develop their scripted projects; the Closing Night Film, preceded by the Orpheus Awards presentations; and the Celebration at the home of Consul General of Greece Elisabeth Fotiadou.

My mother with AMERICA AMERICA's Stathis Giallelis in 1963

Speaking of Kazan, I wanted to share with you a family treasure - this photo of my mother, Medea, attending a Hollywood Foreign Press Association screening of Kazan's AMERICA AMERICA in 1963, where she met the film's star, Stathis Giallelis. My uncle Michael (right), a member of the HFPA (and sponsors of LAGFF) invited her - and here we are exactly 50 years later celebrating the film and its director. (My mom will be at the screening. Feel free to ask her about her memories of that night - amazing.)

A weekend of enrichment, education and many opportunities to meet fellow Greeks in entertainment. The very best way to enjoy the festival - as a patron of the arts or as a business-minded entertainment professional - is to be a GOLD PASS Patron. This offers you all-access to screenings, receptions (including the Consul General's Closing Night Party) and industry panel - as well as the gratification of knowing you have contributed to LAGFF, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Thank you for supporting us so that we, in turn, are able to support, develop, and enhance Greek Cinema's place in the world.

Alex Kalognomos

Executive Producer

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival