2020 GREEK FILM EXPO ON DEMAND July 10 – 20, 2020

When movie theaters closed during the pandemic, we were unable to present our annual New York Greek Film Expo as usual. Rather than cancel our popular event, which Greek film fans look forward to all year, we took our film festival online. We presented Greek Film Expo on Demand, an 11-day event, the first ever virtual Greek film festival in the US. Our robust programming included 10 feature films, six film shorts, a series of webinars on filmmaking, and live interviews with directors.

ADULTS IN THE ROOM
ΕΝΗΛΙΚΟΙ ΣΤΟ ΔΩΜΑΤΙΟ
Directed by Costa-Gavras

2019 / 2:04

Cast: Christos Loulis (Yannis), Alexandros Bourdoumis (Alexis), Ulrich Tukur (Wolfgang), Christos Stergioglou (Sakis)

This riveting political drama focuses on Greece’s finance minister as he confronts the European ruling establishment in an attempt to negotiate a deal on his country’s financial bailouts and, in the process, prevent economic austerity. From board rooms to back rooms, master filmmaker Costa-Gavras deftly exposes the arrogance and hypocrisy of the political elite.

Followed by a special message from actor Alexandros Bourdoumis

This film is in multiple languages with English subtitles

DEFUNCT
ΑΠΟΣΤΡΑΤΟΣ
Directed by Zacharias Mavroeidis

2019 / 1:40 / US Premiere

Cast: Mihalis Sarantis (Aris), Thanasis Papageorgiou (Vasos), Yiota Festa (Stella), Alexandros Mavropoulos (Ermis), Yiannis Niarros (Angelos), Akis Sakelariou (Kiriakos), Xenia Kalogeropoulou (Aunt Fani)

Aris, a failed young businessman, leaves his yuppie downtown lifestyle behind and moves into his late grandfather’s house in Papagou, the quiet, ultra-conservative Athens suburb of Army retirees. Settling in and attempting to reboot his business, he befriends an elderly neighbor, a comrade of his grandfather. Before long, Aris discovers a family secret that will forever change the way he looks at life.

THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019:
Fischer Audience Award, Best Picture

This film is in Greek with English subtitles


Live Zoom interview with director Zacharia Mavroeidis on Saturday, July 18.


Short film presentation:

INDEX
Directed by Nicolas Kolovos
2019 / 11 mins

A refugee family finds itself in a dilemma when faced with a gut-wrenching decision.

FANTASIA
ΦΑΝΤΑΣΙΑ
Directed by Alexis Kardaras

2019 / 1:35 / US Premiere

Screenplay: Alexis Kardaras

Cast: Rena Morfi (Fotini), Yannis Stankoglou (Nikos Kokkinos), Stelios Mainas (Vlassis Christakis), Andreas Natsios (Manolakis), Vicky Papadopoulou (Fantasia, Fotini’s mother)

This musical drama captures the sometimes-seedy atmosphere of the 1990s night club scene as it follows a talented young singer’s rise to stardom. As her popularity grows, her personal life is shattered, due mostly to the machinations of her elderly jealous mentor, a man she naively trusts.

Followed by a special message from actress Rena Morfi

This film is in Greek with English subtitles

JAMAICA
ΤΖΑΜΑΪΚΑ
Directed by Andreas Morfonios

2017 / 1:27

ENCORE PRESENTATION

Screenplay: Giorgos Fidas

Cast: Spiros Papadopoulos (Akis), Fanis Mouratidis (Timos), Anna Maria Papaharalambous (Nina), Nicoleta Kotsailidou (Popi), Mary Evagelou (Rena), Meletis Elias (Doctor), Iris Pantazara (mother-in-law)

Two estranged brothers, one a successful television personality and the other a cab driver struggling to pay his bills, reunite at a difficult time in their lives. The power of brotherly love helps them overcome their differences and guides them as they confront crucial life issues. This unassuming, heartfelt bittersweet comedy continues to charm audiences everywhere it plays.

NEW YORK GREEK FILM EXPO 2018:
Audience Award, Best Film

This film is in Greek with English subtitles

Short film presentation:

BENCH
Directed by Stelios Velkopoulos
2020 / 5 mins

A park bench by the sea prompts thoughts of a life well lived.

MADALENA
ΜΑΝΤΑΛΕΝΑ
Directed by Dinos Dimopoulos

1960 / 1:31

Screenplay: Giorgos Roussos

Cast: Aliki Vougiouklaki (Madalena), Dimitris Papamichael (Labis), Pantelis Zervos (Priest), Despo Diamantidou (Giokari), Yorgos Damasiotis (Police Captain), Thanasis Vengos (Policeman), Lavrentis Dianellos (Captain Kosmas)

When her father dies, a young woman takes over his fishing boat to support her six younger siblings, defying tradition and sparking a rivalry with a competing young captain with whom she falls in love. Digitally restored for its 60th anniversary, this beloved classic comedy glitters again with its striking black and white cinematography by Walter Lassally and its musical score by Manos Hadjidakis.

THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 1960:
Best Picture, Best Actress (Aliki Vougiouklaki), Best Supporting Actor (Pantelis Zervos)

Special introduction from Christina Sigala

This film is in Greek with English subtitles

MELTEM
Directed by Basile Doganis

2019 / 1:27
Screenplay: Basile Doganis, Fadette Drouard

Cast: Daphné Patakia (Elena), Rabah Naït Oufella (Nassim), Lamine Cissoko (Sekou), Karam Al Kafri (Elyas, Syrian refugee), Akis Sakellariou (Manos, stepfather), Féodor Atkine (Edward, bird watcher)

Accompanied by two friends, a young French woman of Greek descent travels to the island of Lesbos to sell her deceased mother’s house and put behind her all that is Greek. A chance encounter with a young Syrian refugee searching for his mother puts the trip on a different course.

Followed by a special message from director Basile Doganis

This film is in French with English subtitles


Live Zoom interview with writer/director Basile Doganis on Saturday, July 18.


NOT TO BE UNPLEASANT BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK
ΔΕ ΘΕΛΩ ΝΑ ΓΙΝΩ ΔΥΣΑΡΕΣΤΟΣ, ΑΛΛΑ ΠΡΕΠΕΙ ΝΑ ΜΙΛΗΣΟΥΜΕ ΓΙΑ ΚΑΤΙ ΠΟΛΥ ΣΟΒΑΡΟ
Directed by Giorgos Georgopoulos

2019 / 1:39

Screenplay: Giorgos Georgopoulos, Maria Fakinou

Cast: Omiros Poulakis (Aris), Vangelis Mourikis (poet), Kora Karvouni (Zoe), Ioanna Pappa (Eugenia), Sissy Toumasi (Anka), Vicky Papadopoulou (Leda), Ioanna Koliopoulou (Anthi), Prometheus Aleifer (new salesman), Maria Yamamoto (Yuki)

In this droll black comedy, a young womanizer discovers that he is a carrier of a sexually transmitted disease fatal only to women. To help in the creation of a vaccine, he must track down his former partners in hopes of finding the one with the first viral strain.

HELLENIC FILM ACADEMY AWARD 2020:
Best Screenplay

THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019:
The J. P. Costopoulos Foundation Award, Best Greek Film

Followed by a special message from director Giorgos Georgopoulos

This film is in Greek with English subtitles


Live Zoom interview with writer/director Giorgos Georgopoulos on Sunday, July 19.


Short film presentation:

OPEN SEAS
Directed by Panos Iliopoulos
2019 / 5 mins

The Polis Ensemble performs a traditional song from the island of Kastelorizo. Featuring Katerina Papadopoulou (vocal) and Stefanos Dorbarakis on the kanoon.

SIEGE ON LIPERTI STREET
ΠΟΛΙΟΡΚΙΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΟΔΟ ΛΙΠΕΡΤΗ
Directed by Stavros Pamballis

2019 / 1:24 / US Premiere

Screenplay: Stavros Pamballis

Cast: Constantine Markoulakis (Father), Daphne Alexander (Mother), Akilas Karazisis (Taxi Driver), Niovi Charalampous (Aigli), Dinos Lyras (Papous), Nicolas Dimitriou (Sergeant)

Not far from the buffer zone that divides the city of Nicosia, a desperate father crushed by economic austerity decides to fight to keep his family’s home from being repossessed.

THESSALONIKI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019:
Winner of five Best Picture awards, including
FIPRESCI Prize (International Federation of Film Critics)
People’s Choice Award
Michael Cacoyannis / ERT Award

Followed by a special message from director Stavros Pamballis

This film is in Greek with English subtitles


Live Zoom interview with writer/director Stavros Pamballis and lead actress Daphne Alexander on Sunday, July 19.


Short film presentation:

SHARED BALCONY
Directed by Fay Lellios
2019 / 15 mins

Facing feelings of loss and separation, a Greek woman recalls places she loved in Istanbul.

Winner: Best Short Fiction Film, London Greek Film Festival, 2020

A SIMPLE MAN
ΕΝΑΣ ΗΣΥΧΟΣ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ
Directed by Tassos Gerakinis

2019 / 1:35 / US Premiere

Screenplay: Tassos Gerakinis, Christos Strepkos

Cast: Takis Sakellariou (Makis), Katerina Papanastassatou (Sophia), Christos Strepkos (Mihalis), Yorgos Souxes (Kosmas), Nikolas Kassapis (Wine Merchant)

Heavily in debt and struggling to save his relationship with his headstrong daughter, a vintner faces even more trouble when a dangerous fugitive invades his home and takes him hostage. Will circumstances push him, a simple man by nature, to his limits? This suspenseful, tautly filmed drama is thoroughly engrossing.

Followed by a special message from director Tassos Gerakinis

This film is in Greek with English subtitles

Short film presentation:

HEATWAVE
Directed by Fokion Xenos
2019 / 7 mins

A little girl and boy show a quirky crowd how to have fun at the beach.

Winner: Hellenic Film Academy Award 2020, Best Animated Short

ZIZOTEK
Directed by Vardis Marinakis

2019 / 1:32 / US Premiere

Screenplay: Vardis Marinakis & Spyros Kribalis

Cast: August Lambrou-Negrepontis (Jason), Dimitris Xanthopoulos (Minas), Penelope Tsilika (Eva)

A young boy abandoned by his mother at a country fair takes refuge in the isolated cabin of a mute loner. Gradually the two outcasts form a family, something both have lacked for some time.

“A riveting lead performance of remarkable intelligence and spontaneity and an uncanny, dreamlike mood lend mythic undertones to a lovely, strange tale of a little boy abandoned. Its effect is peculiar and moving and subtly bewitching.” – Variety

HELLENIC FILM ACADEMY AWARD 2020:
Best Cinematography

This film is in Greek with English subtitles


Live Zoom interview with writer/director Vardis Marinakis on Sunday, July 19.


Short film presentation:

THE DANCE OF VARTAN and THE VOYAGE
Directed by Panagiotis Tsalavrettas
2016 / 5 mins

The Polis Ensemble performs two selections by Manos Hadjidakis on traditional instruments.

AWARD WINNERS – 2020 GREEK FILM EXPO
Thank you, America, for making our first-ever online film festival a huge success!

The Audience Award for most popular film went to Meltem, directed by Basile Doganis, a film that skillfully intertwines the story of a young woman coming to terms with her past against the backdrop of the refugee situation in Greece.
The 2020 Alexis Mouyiaris Memorial Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film went to actress Rena Morfi for her role in Fantasia, a musical drama about a club singer’s rise to stardom in the 1990s. For Ms. Morfi, a popular singer in Greece, this was her feature film debut.