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Inside the 5th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

By Ron Gilbert

 LA Greek Film Festival 2011This Greek Film festival reveals very personal views of Greece
with very exciting glimpse of places which we would never have the privilege to
see on a tour bus in films with very talented filmmakers. Ersi Danou co-founder
and head of programming has created an amazing combination of films.

Opening night gala at
the Laemmle's Sunset 5 theater located at 8000 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles
presented the documentary film, “Pelican
Watch” (I Vardia tou Pelekanou) US Premiere by director/producer Lea Binzer
with Laoura Gkini, composer (appearing at festival) reveals the importance of
tradition with the local elders on the island of Santorini to preserve this
vineyard which has been harvesting grapes and producing wine and the dangers of
progress where developers want to change the landscape. This film touches your
heart in a very special way.

Special Industry
Panel
Crossing Borders: Foreign Films in Hollywood
This panel will address questions on the future potential of foreign films
in the broader international market, including issues such as international
representation and the use of alternative distribution and marketing
resources.

Closing Sunday night
at the Writers Guild Theater at 135 S. Doheny in Beverly
Hills with a Gala event and World Premiere of "Burning Heads”(To Gala) George Siougas,
Director, Dionyssis Samiotis, Producer. Joseph Alan Croisant, Producer
(attending the festival) A hardcore look at immigration and resulting family
dynamics in Greece
today.  When Russian immigrant Adonis introduces his bride-to-be to his
mother and schizophrenic brother, deep-rooted rifts within their family explode
as Adonis seeks to ease his guilt and his mother tries to restore the bond
their family once knew in their long-lost homeland.

Prior to the film, the
Orpheus Awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Angelo Tsarouchas with
presenters Billy Zane and Theo Alexander.

Followed by a delicious a Mediterranean food reception.

Other special
screenings are:

“Sweet Canary”, a
documentary film that recounts the story of Roza Eskenazy, the
Diva of Rebetiko or "Greek Blues," whose music shaped the soundtrack
of
Greece and Asia Minor for almost a century. Directed by Roy Sher with featured
singer Martha C. Lewis (appearing at festival) this film has words and music
that are so vibrant and emotional that when you see it you will want to dance
and sing.

"Mikis
Theodorakis, Composer (Mikis
Theodorakis, Komponist)
 US Premiere.Directors:Asteris Koutoulas,
Klaus Salge,Producer:  Klaus Salge
This in-depth portrait of Mikis Theodorakis explores the roots of the life
and work of Greece's legendary composer whose music became identified with
the struggles of a nation torn by war and strife in the 20th Century.Both the
director and composer will be attending the festival
"Knifer"(Macherovgaltis),Yannis
Economides, Director,Panos Papahadzis, Producer (attending the festival)A top winner of the Hellenic Film
Academy awards,
a story set against the milieu of a decaying middle class where right and
wrong seem interchangeable.
"Without Borders" (Horis
Sinora)US Premiere,Director:  Nick Gaitatjis
Producers: Sandra Staggs, John Apostolou, George Theofanous, Composer,Peter
Nikkos, Actor(attending the festival)With the help of his eccentric cousin,
Thanasis embarks on a journey across continents in search of his six-year-old
adopted daughter, along the way
redefining the meaning of familial love.

"With Great
Power - The Stan Lee Story"Will Hess, Director/Producer,Terry Dougas,
Director/Producer,Nikki Frakes(attending the festival)
A very personal look at Stan Lee, the artist behind world-famous Marvel comics
and comic book favorites like Spiderman and The Fantastic Four in this
star-studded documentary that explores how one of today's great creative minds came
about.
"The Death I Dreamed Of",Panagiotis
Kravvas, Director Michalis Kapetanidis, Producer(attending the Festival)Based
on a true story, this horror tale follows a group of teenagers as they encounter
a mysterious stranger who at first gathers them in a celebration of the occult
but eventually unleashes a very real display of death and destruction.
"Commentary"Jonathan Crow,
Director John Kapelos, Producer(Attending the festival)
"Alter"Petros Antoniadis,
Director ,Maria Vlachaki, Producer

 “A Woman’s Way” (Strella)
produced and directed by Panos Koutras, written by Panajotis Evangelidis and
Panos Koutras, starring Mina Orfanou, Yanis Kokiasmenos and Minos Theoharis – a
daring film about the relationship of newly released convict Yorgos and the matriarchal
transsexual Strella.

“BILOBA” LA
Premiere,Director:  Sofia Papchristou,Producer:  Sofia Papachristou,
Stavros Meleas
Engineer Peter sets off to build a power generator fueled by toxic waste on
an uncharted island, but unexpectedly finds magic amongst the backward
islanders and is faced with a difficult choice.
HARISMA
Greece, 2010, 83 min, LA Premiere
Director:  Christina Ioakeimidi
Producer: Alexandra Boussiou
When unsophisticated bus driver Haris thrusts himself into the seemingly
controlled life of young teacher Ismini, both have to abandon their safety
nets in order to find true love in this light-hearted comedy.
 THE
GAME MUST GO ON (Ta Paidia Den Paizei)
Greece, 2010, 80 min, LA Premiere
Director: Angeli Andrikopoulou, Argyris TsepelikasProducer: Rea Apostolides
Tired of being hassled by their neighbors for playing soccer in the streets,
an ambitious group of children set out to build a playing field of their own
by daring what most adults would not: Cutting through the red tape and going
up against the machine of local politics.

Special thanks to
sponsors and major contributors:
John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, 1821 Pictures, Hellenic Broadcasting
Corporation - ERTEarth Friendly Products, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Consulate General of Greece, Elisabeth Fotiadou
Bousis Film Company / G.P. Kolovos&Associates

For more info on the 5th LA Greek Film Festival
which runs from June 9-June 12

http://lagff.org