2020 PRESS RELEASES
Hellenic Film Society USA Commemorates the Jewish Community of Greece
And Holocaust Remembrance With Two Greek Films
Streaming Worldwide Throughout January
Astoria, NY — January 2, 2021 — Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) has announced that it will stream two Jewish-themed Greek films throughout the month of January to mark Holocaust Remembrance. The drama, Cloudy Sunday, and documentary, My Sweet Canary, began streaming worldwide on Sunday, January 3 through Saturday, February 6.
Cloudy Sunday (Ouzeri Tsitsanis), directed by Manoussos Manousakis, is a drama set in the Nazi-occupied Greek city of Thessaloniki in 1943, when during an alarming escalation of Jewish persecution, a young Christian resistance fighter falls in love with a Jewish woman. Traditional Sephardic music and the melodies of Vasilis Tsitsanis add to the poignancy of this enthralling drama about love and the horrors of war. The Forward calls it “a powerful, melancholy text that has important implications for contemporary struggles.”
My Sweet Canary, a Greek/Israeli co-production written and directed by Roy Sher, is a rousing documentary about the life of legendary Greek singer Roza Eskenazy, a Sephardic Jew who is widely credited with popularizing the musical genre of rebetika, considered a form of Greek blues, during a 50-year career that began in the 1920s. Both films will be shown with English subtitles.
“The Hellenic Film Society is proud to recognize, during Holocaust Remembrance, Jewish contributions to Greek culture, and to pay tribute to the tens of thousands lost in concentration camps,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “The moving films we’ve selected capture the joys as well as the horrors of that time and will resonate with today’s audiences.” Nearly 60,000 Greek Jews died in the Holocaust during the Nazi occupation of Greece during World War II.
January’s programming is made possible by a generous donation from the Koslosky Family Foundation. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.
The two films are presented as part of the Hellenic Film Society’s Always on Sunday on Demand film series, an outgrowth of the Always on Sunday film series which began at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY in 2018. The monthly online series follows the successful virtual Greek film festival that HFS presented in July after the pandemic forced movie theaters to close indefinitely, precluding the presentation of the New York Greek Film Expo, the Society’s annual spring film festival in theaters around the New York metropolitan area.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Queens Council on the Arts, and the New York City Council through the office of Council Member Costa Constantinides. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
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Hellenic Film Society USA presents ALWAYS ON SUNDAY ON DEMAND, monthly streaming Greek film series
Two new films to stream Sunday, January 3, 2021—Saturday, February 6, 2021
 Cloudy Sunday, directed by Manoussos Manoussakis, is a wartime romance set in Thessaloniki against the backdrop of Nazi occupation. When a Jewish woman and a young Christian resistance fighter fall in love, they are forced to make painful decisions during the darkest days of World War II. |
 In My Sweet Canary, three young musicians from Greece, Turkey, and Israel tell the story of Roza Eskenazi, a Sephardic Jew who took the Greek music scene by storm in the 1920s and ‘30s, as the Diva of Rebetiko. The documentary, directed by Roy Sher, traces her career and delves into why her music, thought of as Greek blues, is still relevant today. |
Hellenic Film Society USA Announces December Film Selections
For Always on Sunday on Demand,
Monthly Greek Film Series Streaming Worldwide
Astoria, NY — December 1, 2020 — Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) has announced the two award-winning films that it will stream worldwide in December, as part of its Always on Sunday on Demand Greek film series. EYES OF NIGHT and GUINESS will begin streaming Sunday, December 6 and will be available any time, from any device around the world, until Saturday, January 2, 2021.
EYES OF NIGHT, written and directed Periklis Hoursoglou is a gripping drama about three flawed people in search of love and connection. Not widely seen after its initial release, the film signaled the new sophistication and world-class aspirations of modern Greek cinema. GUINESS, a satire directed by Alexis Kardaras, tells the tale of a down-on-his-luck gambler trying to turn his life around. Both films are in Greek with English subtitles.
“We are delighted by the response we’ve gotten to our new streaming Greek film series, which we launched in November,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of Hellenic Film Society USA. “This confirms our guiding principle that there is an enthusiastic audience for quality Greek films.”
For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.
Always on Sunday on Demand is an outgrowth of the Always on Sunday film series which began at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY in 2018. The new monthly series follows the successful virtual Greek film festival that HFS presented in July after the pandemic forced movie theaters to close indefinitely, precluding the presentation of the New York Greek Film Expo, the Society’s annual spring film festival in theaters around the New York metropolitan area.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Queens Council on the Arts, and the New York City Council through the office of Council Member Costa Constantinides. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
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Hellenic Film Society USA presents ALWAYS ON SUNDAY ON DEMAND, monthly streaming Greek film series
Two new films to stream Sunday, December 6, 2020—Saturday, January 2, 2021
 EYES OF NIGHT, written and directed Periklis Hoursoglou is a gripping drama about three flawed people in search of love and connection. Not widely seen after its initial release, this film signaled the new sophistication and world-class aspirations of modern Greek cinema. |
 GUINESS, directed by Alexis Kardaras, tells the tale of a down-on-his-luck gambler trying to turn his life around. |
Hellenic Film Society USA Launches Always on Sunday on Demand
Monthly Greek Film Series to Stream Worldwide
Astoria, NY — October 22, 2020 — Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is proud to announce Always on Sunday on Demand, a new streaming Greek film series. On the first Sunday of every month, HFS will begin streaming two Greek films for the duration of the month. All films will be available for streaming any time, from any device around the world. The first two films will begin streaming Sunday, November 1.
The new monthly series follows the successful virtual Greek film festival that HFS presented in July after the pandemic forced movie theaters to close indefinitely, precluding the presentation of the New York Greek Film Expo, the Society’s annual spring film festival in theaters around the New York metropolitan area.
“We are thrilled to offer these Greek film favorites to audiences across the country and around the world, where people may not have had access until now,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of Hellenic Film Society USA. “We still believe that watching a film in a movie theater is the best viewing experience but if there’s a silver lining here, it’s that it has forced us to think beyond the movie screen and introduce Greek film to a
whole new audience around the globe.”
Always on Sunday On Demand will kick off with two very different, engaging films, which will be available for streaming from Sunday, November 1 through Saturday, December 5. Plato’s Academy, considered an important film in the Greek canon, is a satire set in Athens in which its protagonists grapple with the changing of their once homogeneous society. The Hollywood Reporter said that director Filippos Tsitos offers “wry wisdom and steady laughs” and “seems to have a genius for…comedy.” Plato’s Academy won the Best Feature Film Award of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Antonis Kafetzopoulos won the Hellenic Film Academy Award for his role.
Lost in the Bewilderness, directed by Alexandra Anthony, is a documentary about a young Greek boy who is kidnapped by his mother and smuggled out of Greece. His return to his homeland 11 years later is a rocky journey as he struggles to get reacquainted with his family and his Greek roots. The Boston Globe calls the film “a masterpiece.” Both films have English subtitles.
Always on Sunday on Demand is an outgrowth of the Always on Sunday film series which began at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY in 2018.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Queens Council on the Arts, and the New York City Council through the office of Council Member Costa Constantinides. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
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Hellenic Film Society USA presents ALWAYS ON SUNDAY ON DEMAND, monthly streaming Greek film series
First two films to stream Sunday, November 1—Saturday, December 5
 The award-winning satire, Plato’s Academy, is considered by film critics to be among the best Greek films of the past 10 years. The film has been praised for transcending the parameters of gentle comedy to seriously examine the issue of immigration and to attempt a redefinition of what it means to be Greek. The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for its “wry wisdom and steady laughs.” |
 Lost in the Bewilderness is a feature-length documentary about Lucas, kidnapped at age five by his mother from his native Greece, and found in the U.S. on the eve of his 16th birthday. Part detective story, part meditation on childhood and the immutable bonds of family, the film chronicles Lucas’s journey of growth and self-discovery. The Boston Globe calls the film “a masterpiece.” |
Swing Away Screening at Pop-Up Drive-In in Astoria, NY
Warm-Hearted Family Comedy to be Shown Saturday, August 22
New York, August 18, 2020—Swing Away, the story of a burned-out golfer who visits Greece to regroup and reconnect with her roots, will be presented outdoors in Astoria on Saturday, August 22 at 8:30pm. The screening is part of the Bel Aire Diner’s summer film series, which premiered during the pandemic to offer viewers safe, socially distant entertainment. The pop-up drive-in is in the diner’s parking lot located on the corner of Broadway and 21st Street in Astoria, Queens.
The film, directed by Michael Achilles Nickles and starring Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie, That ‘70s Show) and John O’Hurley (Seinfeld), is about a troubled professional golfer who travels to her grandparent’s village in Greece and is shaken out of her funk by mentoring a young girl determined to become a golf sensation. While there, she also rallies the townspeople to stand up against a greedy real estate developer who wants to turn the local course into 5-star golf resort and waterpark.
“While most people cannot travel to Greece at this time, watching Swing Away is the next best thing to being there,” says George Stephanopoulos, the film’s producer and a board member of Hellenic Film Society USA, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Greek films and those made by Greek and Greek-American filmmakers to American audiences. “Swing Away was shot on location on the island of Rhodes in and around the town of Lindos so the setting and cinematography create a Greek island experience that is unique in terms of its natural beauty, ancient history and mythology.”
The film was released in theaters and on demand in October 2017 and premiered at numerous international film festivals in Greece, Cyprus, UK, Canada, Australia, and US including the Savannah Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Chesapeake Film Festival and notably the 2018 Greek Film Expo presented by the Hellenic Film Society USA.
“We’re delighted that the Bel Aire is showing Swing Away,” said Jimmy DeMetro, Hellenic Film Society president. “The message of following your dreams and standing up for what you think is right is especially timely right now. It’s the perfect film to watch as a family on a summer night.”
To purchase tickets, please visit https://www.belairediner.nyc/store/event/swing-away/. The Bel Aire Diner is located at 31-91 21st Street in Astoria, NY.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization presents high-quality, well-crafted feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that depict the rich culture and history of Greece and Cyprus. HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. They also present Always on Sunday, a series of monthly Greek film screenings, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY, as well interviews with filmmakers and panel discussions about filmmaking that inform, enlighten, and inspire audiences of all nationalities.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. The Greek Film Expo on Demand is made possible with support from the Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, and the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
 The warm-hearted family comedy Swing Away will be screened at the Bel Aire Diner’s pop-up drive-in on Saturday, August 22 in Astoria, Queens. Swing Away is the story of a burned-out golfer who visits Greece to regroup and reconnect with her roots. |
Hellenic Film Society’s Virtual Greek Film Festival Was a Success–
Thousands of At-Home Streams During Greek Film Expo on Demand
New York, July 28, 2020—Greek Film Expo on Demand, the first-ever virtual Greek film festival in the US, ended its 10-day run on July 20. The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) presented a robust program and viewers from 27 states streamed 10 feature films, six film shorts, a series of webinars on filmmaking, and interviews with directors. Webinars were available worldwide via Zoom, while films streamed throughout the US, except California.
The Hellenic Film Society announced two awards presented at the conclusion of their annual film festivals. 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 an Expo Feature Film went to Rena Morfi, making her feature film debut in Fantasia, a musical drama about a club singer’s rise to stardom. Morfi is the popular lead singer of the Greek band, Imam Baildi.
“When we couldn’t present our annual film festival in theaters due to the pandemic, we had to find another way to deliver movies and not disappoint our loyal Greek film fans,” said Jimmy DeMetro, Hellenic Film Society president. “The silver lining has been that, for the first time, we could bring Greek films to audiences across the country, many of whom haven’t had access to Greek films until now. It has been very gratifying to see how enthusiastically people responded to our streaming film festival and, based on the audience reaction, we are now exploring ways to continue an online film presence.”
The 10 films presented, including many US premieres, offered something for every cinematic interest, from Adults in the Room, the latest by legendary filmmaker Costa-Gavras to Madalena, a digitally restored 1960s comedy classic. Most of the screenings were followed by greetings from the films’ directors. In addition, HFS conducted live interviews via Zoom with directors joining from Europe, during which they discussed the making of their films and provided insights into the story. Two panel discussions on filming in Greece, including tax incentives available to producers, were also held. All interviews will be available on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization presents high-quality, well-crafted feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that depict the rich culture and history of Greece and Cyprus. HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. They also present Always on Sunday, a series of monthly Greek film screenings, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY, as well interviews with filmmakers and panel discussions about filmmaking that inform, enlighten, and inspire audiences of all nationalities.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. The Greek Film Expo on Demand is made possible with support from the Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, and the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
 Meltem, written and directed by Basile Doganis, is the winner of the Hellenic Film Society’s 2020 Greek Film Expo on Demand Audience Award. Starring Daphne Alexander, the film skillfully intertwines the story of a young woman coming to terms with her past against the backdrop of the refugee situation in Greece. |
 The Hellenic Film Society’s 2020 Alexis Mouyiaris Memorial Award for Best Performance in an Expo Feature Film went to Rena Morfi, making her feature film debut in Fantasia, a musical drama about a club singer’s rise to stardom. Morfi is the popular lead singer of the Greek band, Imam Baildi. |
Hellenic Film Society USA Presents Virtual Greek Film Festival–
Greek Film Expo on Demand Available Online July 10-20, 2020
New York, June 29, 2020—The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) announced the first-ever virtual Greek film festival in the US, to be held July 10-20, 2020. Audiences across the country will have the opportunity to stream ten quality, entertaining Greek films to their devices throughout the US. For many of the films, it will be their US premiere. In addition, virtual interviews with directors of the films are also planned.
Until this year, HFS presented the New York Greek Film Expo film festival in the spring in movie theaters in New York City and Long Island. When New York theaters closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Society explored other options for presenting Greek films to its loyal audiences and decided on a virtual film festival.
“We are thrilled to present these fine films on demand, at a time when people are looking for ways to be entertained safely,” says Jimmy DeMetro, HFS President. “We believe that watching a film in a movie theater is the best viewing experience, but we are proud to be breaking new ground. Going virtual gives us the opportunity to reach a national audience for the first time. We have a great line-up, from the very best award-winning films of the year to beloved classics of Greek cinema.”
For further information about the Greek Film Expo on Demand or to purchase tickets in all states except California, please visit https://hellenicfilmusa.org/ or call 646-844-1488.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization presents high-quality, well-crafted feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that depict the rich culture and history of Greece and Cyprus. HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. They also present Always on Sunday, a series of monthly Greek film screenings, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY, as well interviews with filmmakers and panel discussions about filmmaking that inform, enlighten, and inspire audiences of all nationalities.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. The Greek Film Expo on Demand is made possible with support from the Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, and the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
Following is the 2020 feature film lineup:
ADULTS IN THE ROOM, directed by Costa-Gavras
This riveting political drama focuses on the confrontational financial bailout negotiations between Greece’s finance minister and the EU. From board rooms to back rooms, master filmmaker Costa-Gavras deftly exposes the arrogance and hypocrisy of the political elite.
DEFUNCT, directed by Zacharias Mavroeidis
Aris leaves his yuppie downtown lifestyle behind and moves into his late grandfather’s home in an Athens suburb. Before long, he discovers a family secret that will forever change the way he looks at life. Winner, Fischer Audience Award for Best Picture, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 2019.
FANTASIA, directed by Alexis Kardaras
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 and the toll it takes on her personal life.
JAMAICA, directed by Andreas Morfonios
In this bittersweet comedy, the power of brotherly love helps two estranged brothers overcome their differences and learn a valuable life lesson. Starring Spiros Papadopoulos and Fanis Mouratidis. Winner, Best Film Audience Award, New York Greek Film Expo 2018.
MADALENA, directed by Dinos Dimopoulos
In this comedy classic, a young woman fights tradition—and the odds—when she takes control of her late father’s fishing boat in order to support her siblings. Digitally restored for its 60th anniversary, this award-winning film glitters again with its striking black and white cinematography.
MELTEM, directed by Basile Doganis
A young French woman of Greek descent travels to the island of Lesbos to sell her mother’s house and put her Greek past behind her. A chance encounter with a young Syrian refugee sets the trip on a different course. This film is mostly in French with English subtitles.
NOT TO BE UNPLEASANT BUT WE NEED TO HAVE A SERIOUS TALK, directed by Giorgos Georgopoulos
In this droll black comedy, a young womanizer discovers that he is carrying a sexually transmitted disease and must track down his former partners in hopes of finding the one with the first viral strain. Best Screenplay, Hellenic Film Academy Award 2020 | Best Greek Film, Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2019.
SIEGE ON LIPERTI STREET, directed by Stavros Pamballis
Near the buffer zone dividing the city of Nicosia, a desperate father crushed by economic austerity, fights to keep his family’s home from being repossessed. Winner of five Best Picture awards, including FIPRESCI Prize (International Federation of Film Critics) | Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2019.
A SIMPLE MAN, directed by Tassos Gerakinis
Heavily in debt and struggling to save his relationship with his headstrong daughter, a vintner faces even more trouble when a dangerous fugitive from the police invades his home and takes him hostage. This suspenseful, tautly filmed drama is thoroughly engrossing.
ZIZOTEK, directed by Vardis Marinakis
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. Variety calls it “riveting”, “moving and subtly bewitching.” Winner of Best Cinematography, Hellenic Film Academy Award 2020.
Hellenic Film Society USA Hosts Hollywood Producer Celia Costas
to Celebrate Women’s History Month
following Film Screening of PAUSE—
In association with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT)
at the Museum of the Moving Image, March 8
Astoria, NY – March 1, 2020 – Following the film screening of the award-winning Greek film, Pause, the Hellenic Film Society USA will host Greek-American Hollywood producer Celia D. Costas for an interview and question-and-answer session with the audience. Ms. Costas, born and raised in Brooklyn, who maintains her ties to Greece, is the winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, for Angels in America and Warm Springs. She has also produced Hollywood films including The Girl on the Train, August: Osage County, and The Intern, starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway. Her current project is tick, tick…BOOM!, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, on which she is the executive producer. The event, on Sunday, March 8 at 4pm at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria, is presented in association with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT).
“We are honored to celebrate Women’s History Month with Celia Costas, the Greek-American Hollywood producer,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of Hellenic Film Society USA. “As an accomplished producer who has been involved with more than 40 films, she is the pride of the Greek-American community.”
Prior to the Q&A session, the Hellenic Film Society will present a screening of the award-winning Greek film, Pause as part of MoMI’s Always on Sunday monthly Greek film series. The film, in Greek with English subtitles, is written, directed, and produced by women. The Los Angeles Times says Stella Fyrogeni “carries the film with a bravura performance of a woman at her wit’s end.” Rotten Tomatoes calls Pause “One of the 20 most daring films of 2019.”
The Museum, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488 and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to collaborating with the Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. This fall, HFS also presented film festivals in Philadelphia and Atlanta.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA and the Kallinikeion Foundation. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
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 | To mark Women’s History month, the Hellenic Film Society will host Greek-American Hollywood producer Celia D. Costas for an interview and audience question-and-answer session. Ms. Costas is the winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, for Angels in America and Warm Springs. Her more than 40 Hollywood credits include producer of films including The Girl on the Train, August: Osage County, and The Intern, starring Robert DeNiro and Anne Hathaway. Her current project is tick, tick…BOOM!, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, on which she is the executive producer. The interview will be held following the screening of the Greek film, Pause, on Sunday, March 8 at 4pm at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria. Both events are presented in association with New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT). A single ticket allows entry to both events. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org |
Oscar-Winning Director Costa-Gavras
Attends Sold-Out Screenings of His Films
Presented by Hellenic Film Society USA and the Museum of the Moving Image
Astoria, NY – February 11, 2020 – Oscar-winning filmmaker Costa-Gavras was in New York for a rare US visit to attend the premiere of his latest film, Adults in the Room, a drama about the Greek economic crisis. The Hellenic Film Society USA, hosted Costa-Gavras Weekend, presenting screenings of that film and his masterpiece, Z, at the Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria, Queens on February 8-9. The famed director was met by sold-out shows and standing ovations. He participated in post-screening interviews with film experts and Q&A sessions with the audience. Actors Christos Loulis and Alexandros Bourdoumis, who star in the new film, also attended, as did producer Michele Gavras.
“Adults in the Room is intelligent filmmaking at its finest. Every scene, every camera movement reveals the thrilling touch of a master filmmaker. The film lingers in my mind and I’m certain it will continue to resonate, says Jimmy DeMetro, President of the Hellenic Film Society. “It was a thrill to see how the audience—young and old—reacted to both films and to the director himself. It was our honor to host this important filmmaker, whose work has had an enormous impact on world cinema.”
Costa-Gavras has directed 24 films since the beginning of his career in 1965, including Missing, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay. Z won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 1970.
The Hellenic Film Society will mark Women’s History Month with a special screening on Sunday, March 8 as part of its monthly Always on Sunday film series at MoMI. In June the Film Society will present the New York Greek Film Expo, a film festival featuring the latest and best films from Greece.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to collaborating with MoMI for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. This fall, HFS also presented film festivals in Philadelphia and Atlanta.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, and Antenna Satellite. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
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| Oscar-winning director Costa-Gavras (center) appeared at the New York premiere of his newest film, Adults in the Room, on Sunday, February 9 at 4:30pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens, presented by the Hellenic Film Society USA. The director, along with producer Michele Gavras, and actors Christos Loulis and Alexandros Bourdoumis, who star in the new film, were interviewed by film historian Foster Hirsch following the screening. |
Hellenic Film Society USA Hosts Legendary Director Costa-Gavras
for the New York Premiere of His Latest Film, Adults in the Room
and a Screening of his Oscar-Winning Masterpiece, Z,
At the Museum of the Moving Image, February 8-9
Astoria, NY – January 22, 2020 – The Hellenic Film Society USA proudly presents a rare New York visit by Oscar-winning director Costa-Gavras, in town for the New York premiere of Adults in the Room, a drama about the Greek economic crisis. The screening will be presented on Sunday, February 9 at 4:30pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. The previous day, on Saturday, February 8 at 3pm, the Museum will show a digitally restored print of Z, marking the 50th anniversary of its original release, when it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The famed director will attend both screenings and will participate in an audience Q&A session following each film.
Based on the book by former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who led the tense negotiations between Greece and the European Union to avert bankruptcy, Adults in the Room was written and directed by Costa-Gavras and is seen by the director as a Greek tragedy for our modern times. “The film is a reflection on real events, recounted via cinematographic logic and constraints of space and time,” he says. “In this story, it is the human adventure that matters most: how these events affected the social, economic and political life of society, and not only that of Greece.” Christos Loulis and Alexandros Bourdoumis, who star in the film, will also attend the screening and post-film Q&A. The film is in English, Greek, French, and German, with English subtitles. The screening is part of the Museum’s Always on Sunday monthly Greek film series.
On Saturday, February 8, the Hellenic Film Society will present Z, a political thriller which tells the story of a journalist seeking the truth behind the murder of a prominent professor, despite the government’s cover-up efforts. The drama is a fictionalized account of the 1963 killing of Grigoris Lambrakis, who led the forces opposing the placement of US Polaris missiles in Greece. In its review, Variety calls Z “a punchy political pic that mixes action, violence, and conspiracy on a robust, lavish scale.” The film, starring Yves Montand and Irene Papas, with music by Mikis Theordorakis, won 12 major awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The film is in French, Russian, and English, with English subtitles.
“We are elated that Costa-Gavras chose the Hellenic Film Society to present the New York premiere of Adults in the Room,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of the Hellenic Film Society. “It is our honor to host this important director, whose work has had an enormous impact on world cinema.”
Costa-Gavras has directed 24 films since the beginning of his career in 1965, including Missing, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488 and follow on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to collaborating with the Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. This fall, HFS also presented film festivals in Philadelphia and Atlanta.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA and the Kallinikeion Foundation. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
 | Director Costa-Gavras will appear at the New York premiere of his newest film, Adults in the Room, on Sunday, February 9 at 4:30pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. The writer and director is best known for his film masterpiece Z, which won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 1970. The film will be screened on Saturday, February 8 at 3pm. Costa-Gavras also won an Oscar for Missing, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. |
 | Costa-Gavras’ film masterpiece, Z, can be seen Saturday, February 8 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. The release of the digitally restored print marks the film’s 50th anniversary. The political thriller won the Oscar for Best Foreign Film. The director, in a rare US appearance, will attend the screening and participate in a Q&A session with the audience. |
 | Adults in the Room, based on a book about the Greek financial crisis, will have its New York premiere at the Museum of the Moving Image on Sunday, February 9 at 4:30pm. The leading actors, Christos Loulis and Alexandros Bourdoumis, will join the director for a post-screening Q&A with the audience. |
Hellenic Film Society USA Presents Still River
At Museum of the Moving Image, Sunday, January 12 at 4:30pm
Part of the Always on Sunday monthly Greek film series
Astoria, NY – January 2, 2020 – The Hellenic Film Society USA will present a screening of Still River (Akinito Potami) on Sunday, January 12 at 4:30pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. The film is part of the monthly Always on Sunday Greek film series presented at the Museum.
In this haunting drama about love, trust and faith struggling in the face of doubt, a civil engineer working in a remote industrial area of Siberia finds his troubled marriage further shaken when his wife becomes pregnant without recent intimacy. Trying to explain the inexplicable, one seeks scientific proof while the other starts believing in miracles, a clash between the rational and the spiritual.
“Still River is an ambitious undertaking that tells a provocative story in a stunningly cinematic way,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of the Hellenic Film Society. “Shot on location under severe weather conditions, it’s an expensive production that took two years to make and stars prominent actors. This film is an important one for the Greek film industry and is unlike any other Greek film I have seen.”
Set against striking frozen landscapes, Still River was shot on location in Latvia by director Angelos Frantzis. The film won the Greek Film Critics Award (PEKK) at the 2018 Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The film stars Katia Goulioni, winner of many acting awards for her role in Polyxeni, including the Hellenic Film Academy Award and the award for Best Performance in a Feature Film at the 2018 New York Greek Film Expo, presented by the Hellenic Film Society. The film also stars Andreas Konstantinou, winner of the Hellenic Film Academy Award for his performance in The Last Note. Still River is in Greek with English subtitles and, due to the subject matter, is recommended for mature audiences.
The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488 and follow on Facebook and Instagram. When purchasing film tickets, please use discount code SUNDAY20.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to collaborating with the Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. This fall, HFS also presented film festivals in Philadelphia and Atlanta.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA and the Kallinikeion Foundation. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 646-844-1488.
Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com
Directed by Angelos Frantzis, Still River is a haunting drama about love, trust and faith struggling in the face of doubt. The stunningly photographed film stars the award-winning actors, Katia Goulioni (Polyxeni) and Andreas Konstantinou (The Last Note) two of the biggest film stars in Greece today. Still River won the Greek Film Critics Award (PEKK) at the 2018 Thessaloniki International Film Festival.
Still River will be presented by the Hellenic Film Society USA on Sunday, January 12 at 4:30pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.
2020 MEDIA COVERAGE
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ASTORIA – The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) on October 22 announced Always on Sunday On Demand, a new streaming Greek film series. On the first Sunday of every month, HFS will begin streaming two Greek films for the duration of the month. All films will be available for streaming any time, from any device around the world. The first two films will begin streaming Sunday, November 1.
The new monthly series follows the successful virtual Greek film festival that HFS presented in July after the pandemic forced movie theaters to close indefinitely, precluding the presentation of the New York Greek Film Expo, the Society’s annual spring film festival in theaters around the New York metropolitan area.
“We are thrilled to offer these Greek film favorites to audiences across the country and around the world, where people may not have had access until now,” said Jimmy DeMetro, President of Hellenic Film Society USA. “We still believe that watching a film in a movie theater is the best viewing experience but if there’s a silver lining here, it’s that it has forced us to think beyond the movie screen and introduce Greek film to a whole new audience around the globe.”
 Lost in the Bewilderness, directed by Alexandra Anthony, is a documentary about a young Greek boy who is kidnapped by his mother and smuggled out of Greece. (Photo: Courtesy of AYA Films) |
Always on Sunday On Demand will kick off with two very different, engaging films, which will be available for streaming from Sunday, November 1 through Saturday, December 5. Plato’s Academy, considered an important film in the Greek canon, is a satire set in Athens in which its protagonists grapple with the changing of their once homogeneous society. The Hollywood Reporter said that director Filippos Tsitos offers “wry wisdom and steady laughs” and “seems to have a genius for…comedy.” Plato’s Academy won the Best Feature Film Award of the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Antonis Kafetzopoulos won the Hellenic Film Academy Award for his role.
Lost in the Bewilderness, directed by Alexandra Anthony, is a documentary about a young Greek boy who is kidnapped by his mother and smuggled out of Greece. His return to his homeland 11 years later is a rocky journey as he struggles to get reacquainted with his family and his Greek roots. The Boston Globe calls the film “a masterpiece.” Both films have English subtitles.
Always on Sunday On Demand is an outgrowth of the Always on Sunday film series which began at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY in 2018.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema can and should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization promotes feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that promote the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Queens Council on the Arts, and the New York City Council through the office of Council Member Costa Constantinides.
The National Herald
HFS’ Greek Film Expo on Demand Draws Thousands of At-Home Streams
August 3, 2020
| Meltem, written and directed by Basile Doganis, is the winner of the Hellenic Film Society’s 2020 Greek Film Expo on Demand Audience Award. Starring Daphne Alexander, the film skillfully intertwines the story of a young woman coming to terms with her past against the backdrop of the refugee situation in Greece. (Photo: WTFILMS) |
NEW YORK – The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) presented a robust program during the 10-day run of the Greek Film Expo on Demand, the first-ever virtual Greek film festival in the United States. During the Film Expo which wrapped up on July 20, viewers from 27 states streamed 10 feature films, six film shorts, a series of webinars on filmmaking, and interviews with directors. Webinars were available worldwide via Zoom, while films streamed throughout the U.S., except California.
On July 28, HFS announced two awards presented at the conclusion of their annual film festivals. 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 an Expo Feature Film went to Rena Morfi, making her feature film debut in Fantasia, a musical drama about a club singer’s rise to stardom. Morfi is the popular lead singer of the Greek band, Imam Baildi.
“When we couldn’t present our annual film festival in theaters due to the pandemic, we had to find another way to deliver movies and not disappoint our loyal Greek film fans,” said Jimmy DeMetro, Hellenic Film Society president. “The silver lining has been that, for the first time, we could bring Greek films to audiences across the country, many of whom haven’t had access to Greek films until now. It has been very gratifying to see how enthusiastically people responded to our streaming film festival and, based on the audience reaction, we are now exploring ways to continue an online film presence.”
| The Hellenic Film Society’s 2020 Alexis Mouyiaris Memorial Award for Best Performance in an Expo Feature Film went to Rena Morfi, making her feature film debut in Fantasia, a musical drama about a club singer’s rise to stardom. Morfi is the popular lead singer of the Greek band, Imam Baildi. (Photo: Blackbird Production) |
The 10 films presented, including many U.S. premieres, offered something for every cinematic interest, from Adults in the Room, the latest by legendary filmmaker Costa-Gavras to Madalena, a digitally restored 1960s comedy classic. Most of the screenings were followed by greetings from the films’ directors. In addition, HFS conducted live interviews via Zoom with directors joining in from Europe, during which they discussed the making of their films and provided insights into the storylines and the production. Two panel discussions on filming in Greece, including tax incentives available to producers, were also held. All interviews will be available on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel: click here.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization rooted in the belief that Greek cinema should be part of the American cultural landscape. The organization presents high-quality, well-crafted feature films, documentaries, and film shorts made by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as films that depict the rich culture and history of Greece and Cyprus. HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival every spring. They also present Always on Sunday, a series of monthly Greek film screenings, at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY, as well interviews with filmmakers and panel discussions about filmmaking that inform, enlighten, and inspire audiences of all nationalities.
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. The Greek Film Expo on Demand is made possible with support from the Onassis Foundation USA, the Kallinikeion Foundation, and the Queens Council on the Arts with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Oscar-winning director Costa-Gavras will make a rare appearance in New York for the premiere of Adults in the Room, a drama about the Greek economic crisis.
Presented by the Hellenic Film Society USA, the screening will take place on Sunday, February 9 at 4:30 pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. On Saturday, February 8 at 3 pm, the Museum will show a digitally restored print of Z, marking the 50th anniversary of its original release, when it won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The famed director will attend both screenings and will participate in an audience Q&A session following each film.
Based on the book by former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who led the tense negotiations between Greece and the European Union to avert bankruptcy, Adults in the Room was written and directed by Costa-Gavras and is seen by the director as a Greek tragedy for modern times.
“The film is a reflection on real events, recounted via cinematographic logic and constraints of space and time,” he says. “In this story, it is the human adventure that matters most: how these events affected the social, economic and political life of society, and not only that of Greece.” Christos Loulis and Alexandros Bourdoumis, who star in the film, will also attend the screening and post-film Q&A. The film is in English, Greek, French, and German, with English subtitles. The screening is part of the Museum’s Always on Sunday monthly Greek film series.
On Saturday, February 8, the Hellenic Film Society will present Z, a political thriller that tells the story of a journalist seeking the truth behind the murder of a prominent professor, despite the government’s cover-up efforts. The drama is a fictionalized account of the 1963 killing of Grigoris Lambrakis, who led the forces opposing the placement of US Polaris missiles in Greece. In its review, Variety calls Z “a punchy political pic that mixes action, violence, and conspiracy on a robust, lavish scale.” The film, starring Yves Montand and Irene Papas, with music by Mikis Theodorakis, won 12 major awards, including the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. The film is in French, Russian, and English, with English subtitles.
“We are elated that Costa-Gavras chose the Hellenic Film Society to present the New York premiere of Adults in the Room,” says Jimmy DeMetro, President of the Hellenic Film Society. “It is our honor to host this important director, whose work has had an enormous impact on world cinema.”
Costa-Gavras has directed 24 films since the beginning of his career in 1965, including Missing, starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
*The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is located near public transport. For further information or to purchase tickets, visit hellenicfilmusa.
The event has been organized by the Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS). The event will run until July 20.
Ten films will be available to stream during the festival. The line-up includes Adults in the Room, Defunct, Fantasia, Madalena, and many more.
For more information on the upcoming film expo, visit their site HERE.
Read the full story HERE.
The Hellenic Film Society USA is dedicated to promoting Greek cinema throughout the United States. Our mission is to share the richness of Greek films with a wider American audience, to showcase Greek movies, and to preserve the film heritage of Greece.
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