Highlights of The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

(from left) LAGFF Artistic Director Aris Katopodis, UCLA's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture Acting Director Sharon Gerstel, and UCLA's Dean of Humanities David Schaberg.

Now that the first of the six fun-filled nights is behind us, we still have a lot to look forward to! There is still time to get tickets and Gold Passes -- come join us!

George Chakiris will receive the 2018 Honorary Orpheus Award at the 12th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Chakiris was selected by the festival committee to receive this year's honor because of his worldwide contributions to movies and his extraordinary dedication to the preservation of its history. The award will be presented by Rita Moreno as part of the Orpheus Awards ceremony following the closing night film on June 10 in Hollywood.

Chuck Dukas, this year's OA emcee, is best known for his work as a television audience warm-up host on hit shows such as American Idol, America Got Talent, The Voice, and Dancing with the Stars, just to name a few. He has made countless appearances on daytime television such as The Bold and The Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, Days of our Lives and the Nickelodeon's hit show The Thundermans.

ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of the most successful comedians of our me. A regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Tyra Banks Show, ANT is the only comedian to appear on all five seasons of NBC's hit series Last Comic Standing. He is recognized as the host of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and in the LOGO series, U.S. of ANT. He will perform for us on Closing Night's Orpheus Awards.

Gia Carides (presenter) is an Australian actress best known for her portrayals of Cousin Nikki in MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (2002 & 2016), Liz Holt in STRICTLY BALLROOM (1992) and Susy Connor in BRILLIANT LIES (1997). Carides has been working as an actress since age 12 in film and in theater. She has been nominated twice for her work. She has appeared in as many American and Australian films, and continues to work in both countries.

In her prolific career as a casting director, Valorie Massalas (presenter) cast the nominated for 3 Oscars GODS AND MONSTERS (1998), Robert Downey Jr. in CHAPLIN (1992) who also received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Massalas is also known for her work on TOTAL RECALL (1990), ALIVE (1993), INDIANA JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE (1989), BACK TO THE FUTURE II & III (1989-1990), OBSESSED (2009), THE WEDDING RINGER (2015). She became a LAGFF Advisor in 2017.

Rita Moreno (presenter)  has had a thriving acting career for the better part of six decades. Among her notable acting work are supporting roles in the musical films THE KING AND I (1956) and WEST SIDE STORY (1961). One of the very few performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor. Currently Rita stars in the critically acclaimed Latino sitcom One Day at a Time on Netflix.

Thaao Penghlis (presenter) is an Australian actor best known for roles in daytime soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but has also guest-starred on crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed & Brown Shoe. He also starred in the 80's remake of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE. Penghlis has studied under acting teacher Milton Katselas.

Penelope Spheeris (presenter) is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. She has directed both documentary and scripted films. Her best known works include the trilogy titled THE DECLINE OF WESTERN CIVILISATION, each covering an aspect of the Los Angeles underground culture of the 80s and 90s, and the film WAYNE'S WORLD (1992), her highest-grossing film. She received an Honorary Orpheus Award in 2009.

For the first 7 years of his acting career, Christos Vasilopoulos (presenter) worked with many acclaimed actors on the Greek stage and also was part of the National Theatre of Greece for 4 years. His TV career in Greece started on the show Erotas. Christos has since worked on American shows such as Banshee, Blindspot and The Last Ship, independent movies, and video games.

Vassy's songs We Are Young, Secrets, Bad, Nothing to Lose, Lost reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart. Vassy (presenter) collaborated with David Guetta, Tiësto , KSHMR, Afrojack, Showtek, Oliver Rosa the name of few. Vassy's music incorporates dance, reggae and soul as a base for her vocal styling. 

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks (presenter) is the President and CEO of Earth Friendly Products, maker of ECOS 200-plus environmentally friendly cleaning products, made with plant-based ingredients. Vlahakis-Hanks has been recognized for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility. She is a LAGFF Advisor and has consistently supported cultural initiatives as well.

Greg Yaitanes (presenter) is an Emmy Award-winning television and film director. Greg is one of the most recognized names in Hollywood, directing and producing some of the top series over the past two decades. Damages, Lost, Prison Break, Heroes and Grey's Anatomy. His Emmy Award came in 2008 as result of his work on House, M.D., the most popular show worldwide. Between House and Banshee, Greg has led his team to 29 Emmy nominations and 6 wins. Yaitanes is a LAGFF Advisor.

After Ronnie Yeskel's (presenter) ager years of casting theatre in New York, she became the casting director for the Los Angeles Theater Center. Known for her work on Films & TV projects such as THE MARRYING MAN (1991) , PULP FICTION (1994), THE SESSIONS (2012) and IGBY GOES DOWN (2002), RESERVOIR DOGS (1992), BEAN (1997) WAKING THE DEAD (2000), and L.A Law. Ronnie is currently working on HUMAN TERRAIN,  and A DOLPHIN IN OUR LAKE.

Dimitris Mann, Taso Comanescu and Alexis Cohen will play some favorite Greek blues or rebetika, in the Egyptian courtyard, after the Orpheus Awards. Don't miss it!

Constantinos Isaias OA Producer & Director

Originally from the island of Cyprus, Constantinos Isaias followed his passion for classic movies and studied film directing at NYFA. Isaias has produced and directed multiple short films and documentaries.

ORPHEUS AWARDS TEAM

Producer & Director:

Constantinos Isaias

Writer: Liana Mesaikou

Technical Director: Vanja Srdic

Talent Producer: Mary Downey

Clips Editor: Constantinos Isaias

LMU Interns:

Polyxeni Capuano-Papadimitriu,

Samuel Smith, Diego Rentsch

HONOREE TRIBUTE

Producer: Constantinos Isaias

Interviewer: Katerina Zacharia

Videographers:

Araceli Lemos & Constantinos Isaias

Cinematographer: Joel Garber

Coordinator: Eleni Arvaniti

Talent Producer: Mary Downey

Video Editor: Taylor Gianotas

Make Up Artist: Kaila Borne

The Egyptian Theatre is one of the two homes of the American Cinematheque, the only public, alternative screening organization in town that offers such a wide variety of film & video programming from all over the world on a weekly basis!

The Cinematheque worked with the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles to develop the historic Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, as a permanent home. It is a state-of-the-art theatre within a building steeped in movie history. There is no better screen to watch movies on!

Sid Grauman's 1922 Egyptian Theatre underwent some restoration and renovation work in 2016 and 2017, thanks to a grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Original murals in the courtyard were restored by Silverlake Conservation. Watch video here.

Throughout its history, the majority of Hollywood Foreign Press Association''s funding has been dedicated to advancing and preserving the culture and art of motion pictures. LAGFF is a proud recipient of a grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Aressana Spa Hotel & Suites in Santorini

The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2018 online auction is now open. It will run from now to June 20, with proceeds going to LAGFF in order to support and promote  Greek cinema, artists and culture in Los Angeles and beyond. Auction items range from exotic vacation getaways to donated items guaranteed to delight and surprise. So, tell your friends, family, community. Let the bidding begin! View all items here.

CONNECT  WITH US

C.Dean and Marianne Metropoulos in Association with

CO-PRESENTED BY

JIM GIANOPULOS

Michael Galanakis

Honorable

Gregory Karahalios

Consul General of Greece

Christos & Georgia Patronas / Santorini Apartments

Gene & Vikki George 

Corinna Tsopei-Fields

Evan Spiliotopoulos

Aspasia