PRESS

2023 PRESS RELEASES

Hellenic Film Society USA Presents Maria by Callas
At Museum of the Moving Image, Sunday, December 10

In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of Her Birth

Best-selling Author Nicholas Gage to Give a Talk
About the Life and Loves of the Legendary Opera Singer

Photos Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

The Hellenic Film Society USA is proud to present Maria by Callas, the acclaimed documentary that tells the life story of the legendary Greek-American opera singer. Told through stunning performance footage, TV interviews, and never-before-seen home movies, family photographs, private letters, and unpublished memoirs, the film reveals the essence of the extraordinary woman who rose from humble beginnings in New York City to become a glamorous international superstar and one of the greatest artists of all time. The film was a New York Times Critic’s Pick when it was released in 2018.

The screening will be followed by remarks from best-selling author, Nicholas Gage, offering additional insights into the life and loves of Callas. Gage wrote Greek Fire: The Story of Maria Callas and Aristotle Onassis. The former New York Times reporter is perhaps best known for his award-winning best seller Eleni, about his mother’s experience during the Greek Civil War.

The documentary, directed by Tom Volf, is an intimate portrait revealing the private woman behind the public image and dispels commonly held beliefs about Callas, notably her reputation as a tempestuous diva. The film also sheds new light on Callas’ long and complicated relationship with the love of her life, shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. Throughout most of her life, Volf believes, the opera singer struggled to reconcile the two different women within her: Maria, the woman who longed for a normal life; and Callas, the public figure and icon with an adoring yet demanding following.

Named a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times, film critic Ben Kenigsberg called the film a “documentary that revitalizes history through primary sources, to illuminating, at times enthralling effect.”     

“The Hellenic Film Society is pleased to present this insightful film that explores the fascinating life of one of the most prominent Greek-Americans of the 20th century,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president, Hellenic Film Society USA. “Interviews and home movies reveal Callas’ complexity while stunning performance footage demonstrates why she became such a legend around the world.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation. 

The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image. The series is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA Presents
Award-Winning Box Office Hit BLACK STONE
Sunday, November 19 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY

Astoria, NY – November 7, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents an encore screening of the award-winning box office hit Black Stone, starring Eleni Kokkidou, on Sunday, November 19 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. A trailer for the film can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel. The film is in Greek with English subtitles.

The film, directed by Spiros Jacovides, recently received the Audience Award for Most Popular Film at the New York Greek Film Expo, the Hellenic Film Society’s annual Greek film festival. Eleni Kokkidou, a well-known film, theater, and television actor in Greece, won the award for Best Performance in a Feature Film. She previously received the Hellenic Film Academy Award for Best Actress.

Black Stone tells the story of an overprotective mother who searches frantically for her adult son, who has gone missing. When authorities accuse him of fraud, she becomes even more determined to find him and bring him home where he belongs, even if it means discovering who he really is. The film features a powerful dramatic performance by Greek rapper Negros Tou Moria.

“We are proud to present Black Stone, which was a critical and box office hit in Greece earlier this year,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “Our audiences voted it the most popular film at our film festival earlier this fall, which can be partly attributed to the brilliant performances.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.  

The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image. The series is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the award-winning film, Black Stone, on Sunday, November 19 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA presents New York Greek Film Expo 2023
a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, October 5—15
Presenting the Latest Films from Greece
And a Retrospective of Renos Haralambidis

Astoria, NY – September 21, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) will present its annual New York Greek Film Expo, a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, October 5—15. Screenings of the latest Greek films will be presented at the Village East Cinema in Manhattan and at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ. A special retrospective of the films of the acclaimed director, screenwriter and actor, Renos Haralambidis, will be shown at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image (MoMI) October 13-15.

In attendance throughout the festival will be Haralambidis and many of the filmmakers whose films are being presented. They will participate in Q&A sessions with the audience following their screenings.  HFS will present 14 screenings of 11 feature films, as well as film shorts. Films are in Greek with English subtitles. Additional programming will include a Master Class with Haralambidis; a panel discussion on the state of Greek cinema; a Directors on Directors conversation, and interviews with Haralambidis following each of his screenings by acclaimed film historians Andrew Horton (University of Oklahoma), and Foster Hirsch (Brooklyn College), and David Schwartz, founder of Cinema Projects and former MoMI Chief Curator.

“The New York Greek Film Expo will be showcasing the best of the current Greek film season,” says Jimmy DeMetro, Hellenic Film Society president. “And we are pleased to offer a retrospective of the works of Renos Haralambidis, as we give New Yorkers an opportunity to reassess the work of this important Greek filmmaker.”

A panel discussion on the state of Greek cinema moderated by Nicholas Alexiou, Professor of Sociology, Queens College, CUNY, will be held at the Greek Consulate on Wednesday, October 11. The Renos retrospective kicks off with a “Directors on Directors” conversation on Thursday, October 12 at the Hana House in downtown Brooklyn, followed by a Master Class for film students at The Players Club on Friday, October 13. All four Haralambidis films will be showcased at MoMI: 4 BLACK SUITS (2010) on Friday, October 13; NO BUDGET STORY (1997) and THE HEART OF THE BEAST (2005) on Saturday, October 14. A live musical performance featuring acclaimed jazz vibraphonist and composer Christos Rafalides and Haralambidis will precede the screening of CHEAP SMOKES (2000) on Sunday, October 15.

“The Hellenic Film Society is proud to present the works of Renos Haralambidis,” says George Stephanopoulos, curator of the retrospective and HFS board member. “This retrospective pays tribute to one of Greece’s true auteur directors whose life’s work is his art, encompassing his talents as a director, actor, and writer. Renos represents the best of Greece and Greek cinema with his personal reflections on modern Athenian life at the core of each of his films.”

Screenings will be held at the Village East Cinema, 181 Second Ave (12 St), New York, NY; Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Av at 37 St, Astoria, NY; and the new Barrymore Film Center, 153 Main Street, Fort Lee, NJ.

New York Greek Film Expo 2023 is made possible with support from Metaxa®, the Greek National Tourism Organization, ConnectOne Bank, NYWIFT (New York Women in Film & Television), the Greek Film Centre, the Consulate General of Greece, the New York City Council and the Queens Borough President.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. When the pandemic forced movie theaters to close, HFS began streaming Greek films worldwide and created a YouTube channel to satisfy audience demand for Greek film.

Support for the Hellenic Film society is provided by The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Flushing Town Hall, and Antenna Satellite TV. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

NEW YORK GREEK FILM EXPO 2023 FEATURE FILMS
All films are in Greek with English subtitles

Opening Night Screening
BLACK STONE – New York Premiere. An elderly mother searches for her missing son. When authorities accuse him of fraud, she becomes even more determined to find him, even if it means discovering who he really is. Directed by Spiros Jacovides. With Eleni Kokkidou, Julio George Katsis, Kevin Zans Ansong, 2023 Hellenic Film Academy Award: Best Actress (Eleni Kokkidou).

BROADWAY- New York Premiere. A winsome troupe of castaways establish a small squatter community in an abandoned Athens theater complex. The balance of their makeshift family is upset when a former member of the group, wanted dead by the city’s most dangerous mafioso, is released from prison. Directed by Christos Massalas. With Elsa Lekakou, Foivos Papadopoulos, Stathis Apostolou. Nominated for 15 Hellenic Film Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Elsa Lekakou) and Best Actor (Foivos Papadopoulos).
Recommended for mature audiences. Co-presented with NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television.

DIGNITY (ΜΕ ΑΞΙΟΠΡΕΠΕΙΑ) – New York Premiere. Family members gather on the birthday of their ailing patriarch. What begins as a celebration, however, quickly turns into an intense confrontation when the fraught question of who’s to care for the old man comes up. Secrets and mistakes of the past are revealed, changing the lives of all involved. Directed by Dimitris Katsimiris. With Electra Gennata, Giorgos Ieronymakis, Giannis Kotsifas, Vangelio Andreadaki. 2022 Thessaloniki International Film Festival Audience Award, Film Forward Competition. Hellenic Film Academy Award nomination – Best Supporting Actress (Vangelio Andreadaki)

DODO – New York Premiere. A dodo, a bird extinct for the past 300 years, appears at the villa of a financially troubled family on the eve of their daughter’s marriage to a wealthy heir. Wedding preparations are disrupted, and the line between sanity and madness collapses as the situation spins out of control. Directed by Panos Koutras. With Smaragda Karydi, Akis Sakellariou, Marisha Triantafyllidou, Mariella Savvides. Nominated for 15 Hellenic Film Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Smaragda Karydi), Best Actor (Akis Sakellariou).
Recommended for mature audiences.

IMAN – New York premiere. A terrorist attack in a Cypriot city brings together three seemingly unconnected stories involving two radicalized women, a troubled civil engineer, and a lonely teenage girl. The stories are defined by the characters’ search for redemption from their past, their guilt, and their loneliness. Directed and written by Korinna Avraamidou, Kyriakos Tofaridis. With Stephanie Atala, Andreas Tselepos, Rita Hayek, Margarita Zachariou.

LISTEN (ΑΚΟΥΣΕ ΜΕ) – New York Premiere. A deaf teenager contends with the prejudice and intolerance of her peers and neighbors. When the stability of her family is threatened and her personal relationships are in shambles, she begins the difficult task of facing the truth and ending self-delusions that will lead her to forgiveness and reconciliation. Directed and written by Maria Douza. With Efthalia Papacosta, Dimitris Kitsos, Yorgos Pirpassopoulos. Hellenic Film Academy Award nomination – Best Supporting Actor (Yorgos Pirpassopoulos).
Co-presented with NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television.

WHERE WE LIVE (ΕΚΕΙ ΠΟΥ ΖΟΥΜΕ) – New York Premiere. On his birthday, a young struggling lawyer must confront his obligations as a professional, a son, a friend, an ex-husband, and a lover. By the end of the day, he is a changed man. Directed by Sotiris Goritsas. With Prometheas Aleiferopoulos, Stelios Mainas, Maria Kallimani, Makis Papadimitriou, Christina Tsafou. Nominated for three Hellenic Film Academy Awards.

RENOS HARALAMBIDIS RETROSPECTIVE
All films are directed and written by Renos Haralambidis

4 BLACK SUITS (4 ΜΑΥΡΑ ΚΟΥΣΤΟΥΜΙΑ) – The Marx Brothers meet Aristophanes as four bankrupt undertakers carry the body of a wealthy Greek man whose last wish was to be carried on foot to his home village many miles from Athens. This unique road comedy odyssey turns into an unexpected journey of self-awareness. With Renos Haralambidis, Giannis Zouganelis, Takis Spyridakis, Alkis Panagiotidis.

CHEAP SMOKES (ΦΤΗΝΑ ΤΣΙΓΑΡΑ) – Nikos, struggling with work, romance, and finding meaningful purpose in life, roams the streets of Athens at night looking for love and questioning his existence, when he encounters a motley bunch of quirky characters. Cheap Smokes builds on Renos’s carnivalesque ability to blur boundaries of life and film. With Renos Haralambidis, Anna-Maria Papaharalambous, Michalis Iatropoulos, Kostas Tsakonas, Alkis Panagiotidis.

THE HEART OF THE BEAST (Η ΚΑΡΔΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΚΤΗΝΟΥΣ) – At its core, The Heart of the Beast is a buddy film that crosses comedy with crime. Stefanos, who has a big attitude and even more debt, gets talked into robbing a bank with a former classmate. Eventually, he immerses himself in the wildness, but also the magic, of real life, making the obligatory journey to maturity. With Renos Haralambidis, Giorgos Voultzatis, Mano Vakousis, Tina Thliveri, Mara Darmousli.

NO BUDGET STORY – A financially challenged wannabe movie director falls in love while waiting for the start of his film project. With Renos Haralambidis, Yannis Bostantzoglou, Dimitra Papadima, Giorgos Voultzatis, Vana Pefani. Haralambidis won the coveted FIPRESCI Prize awarded by international film critics at the Istanbul Film Festival.

MORE THAN THE MOVIES!
In addition to screenings, film festival programming includes talks, classes, and parties.

Wed 10/11, 6:30pm – Greek Consulate, 69 E 79th St, New York, NY
Panel discussion on the state of Greek cinema, moderated by Nicholas Alexiou, Professor of Sociology, Queens College. Panelists include Renos Haralambidis; Michael A. Nickles (writer-director), Angelo Venetis (Boo Productions).

Th Oct 12, Doors open 6:30 pm – Retrospective Launch Party at Hana House, 345 Adams St., Brooklyn (Willoughby Plaza)
“Directors on Directors” conversation with Renos Haralambidis from 7-8pm, followed by afterparty. DJ entertainment, food and drink included.

Fr Oct 13, 11am-1pm – The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, NY, NY
Renos Haralambidis Master Class

NEW YORK GREEK FILM EXPO 2023 SCREENING SCHEDULE

Village East Cinema, 181 Second Ave (12 St)

Opening Night
Th Oct 5
7 pm – BLACK STONE, followed by audience Q&A with lead actress Eleni Kokkidou
We invite those attending the screening to join us for an opening night reception immediately following.

Fri Oct 6
7 pm – LISTEN, followed by audience Q&A with director Maria Douza
9:20 pm – BROADWAY

Sat Oct 7
7 pm – DIGNITY, followed by audience Q&A with director Dimitris Katsimiris
9:15 pm – DODO, followed by audience Q&A with actor Mariella Savvides

Sun Oct 8
1:30 pm – BLACK STONE, followed by audience Q&A with lead actress Eleni Kokkidou
4 pm – WHERE WE LIVE, followed by audience Q&A with director Sotiris Goritsas
7 pm – IMAN

Barrymore Film Center, 153 Main St., Fort Lee, NJ

Mon Oct 9
7:30 pm – BLACK STONE

Tue Oct 10
7:30pm—DODO

Renos Haralambidis Retrospective
Museum of the Moving Image, 35 Ave at 37 St, Astoria, NY

Fr Oct 13
7 pmFOUR BLACK SUITS, followed by interview with David Schwartz, former Chief Curator of MOMI

Sat Oct 14
1pm – NO BUDGET STORY, followed by interview with film historian Andrew Horton
3 pm – THE HEART OF THE BEAST, followed by interview with film historian Foster Hirsch

Sun Oct 15
4:30pm – CHEAP SMOKES, featuring a live musical performance by Renos Haralambidis and Christos Rafalides, prior to screening. Followed by an interview with film historian Andrew Horton.

Download the press release in its pdf version

New York Public Library and the Hellenic Film Society USA
TO PRESENT FREE FILM SCREENING
At the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan

Astoria, NY—September 13, 2023—The New York Public Library, in association with the Hellenic Film Society USA, will present a free screening of MELTEM, the compelling drama directed by Basile Doganis, on Friday, September 29, 5:30 pm, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, Fifth Avenue at 40th Street in Manhattan. The director will be there to introduce his film and, with HFS president Jimmy DeMetro, will participate in a Q&A session with the audience following the screening.

MELTEM follows a young French woman of Greek descent who travels to the island of Lesbos with two friends to sell her deceased mother’s house and put behind her all that is Greek. However, a chance encounter with a Syrian refugee searching for his mother puts the trip on a different course. The film is in French and Greek with English subtitles.

Doganis is a Greek-French director and screenwriter. He studied philosophy in France and Japan (PhD) before focusing on filmmaking. He has several short films and documentaries to his credit. MELTEM is his first full-length feature film.

“Meltem has a timely message about the importance of roots, family, and having a sense of place in one’s life,” said DeMetro. “The story unfolds with a beguiling spontaneity. The film is shot with the kind of intelligence and wisdom one expects in the works of more seasoned directors.”

Doors will open at 5 pm for those who have registered in advance at:
www.showclix.com/event/meltem

The library generally overbooks free events, and registration does not guarantee admission. If there are any unclaimed registered seats, they will be released to standbys shortly before the start of the screening.

This program is made possible by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). The Hellenic Film Society USA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote Greek cinema in the US. (www.hellenicfilmusa.org)

The New York Public Library, in association with the Hellenic Film Society USA, present a free screening of MELTEM, on Friday, September 29, 5:30 pm, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in Manhattan.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA Presents FREE Movie Screening—
MAMMA MIA HERE WE GO AGAIN!
Sunday, August 27 at Athens Square Park in Astoria

Astoria, NY – August 16, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS), in association with the New York City Parks Department, will present a free screening of Mamma Mia Here We Go Again! on Sunday, August 27 at 7:45pm at Athens Square Park, 30th Avenue/30th Street, in Astoria, NY.

The film, with its lively ABBA soundtrack, is a sequel to the earlier film based on the popular Broadway show. Sophie, who got married in the first Mamma Mia movie, is now pregnant, and dreams of renovating a taverna while reuniting with her grandmother, played by Cher, and her mother’s old friends and boyfriends on the Greek island of Kalokairi. The cast includes Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, and Christine Baranski.  

“While this is not the type of film our fan base has come to expect from us, it captures the Greek love of life and celebration,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society USA. “When we showed the original film last summer, the audience was literally dancing in the aisles. It’s a fun family movie, ideal for a summer evening.”

The free screening of the film, rated PG-13, is being presented in cooperation with NYC Parks Arts, Culture & Fun and Movies Under the Stars. Viewers may bring chairs for their comfort. For further information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497 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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. When the pandemic forced movie theaters to close, HFS began streaming Greek films worldwide and created a YouTube channel to satisfy audience demand for Greek film.

Support for the Hellenic Film society is provided by The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF), the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Flushing Town Hall, and Antenna Satellite TV. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society presents a free screening of the movie musical Mamma Mia Here We Go Again at sundown on Sunday, August 27 at Athens Square Park, 30th Avenue/30th Street in Astoria, NY. The popular family movie, featuring a fun ABBA soundtrack, stars Meryl Streep and Cher. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA Presents
Romantic Drama, WHAT IF—Christopher Papakaliatis’ Directorial Debut
Sunday, June 4 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY

Astoria, NY – May 23, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the romantic drama, What If, starring the renowned actor-director Christopher Papakaliatis, on Sunday, June 4 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. The film is the directorial debut of Papakaliatis, who created and stars in the popular series Maestro in Blue, currently streaming on Netflix.

The film, recipient of two Hellenic Film Academy Awards, underscores how life can be forever changed by a chance encounter, or an action not taken. Two parallel stories demonstrate how mysterious, dangerous, yet enthralling life can be. A trailer for the film can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel. The film is in Greek with English subtitles.

What If broke box office records when it was first released in Greece in 2012, and it established Papakaliatis, who was already known for his television work, as a young film director to take note of,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “We are happy to present the film for those who want to experience it again and for those who have never seen it. It’s as fresh as the day it was originally released, a truly worthy addition to the canon of great cinematic romantic dramas.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.  

The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image. The series is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the romantic drama, What If on Sunday, June 4 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA Presents
MAN OF GOD, Award-Winning Box Office Hit
Sunday, May 7 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY

Astoria, NY – April 19, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the inspiring drama, Man of God, on Sunday, May 7 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. Directed by Yelena Popovic, the film stars Aris Servetalis, one of Greece’s most highly regarded actors, and Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke.

The award-winning biopic tells the story of Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a humble Greek Orthodox priest who lived in the 20th century and was persecuted by religious superiors jealous of his popularity. Man of God was a box office hit in Greece and during limited release in the US. A trailer for the film can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel. The film is in English.

“American filmgoers have been asking for this film since it was first released to sold-out audiences in Greece,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “Many will be inspired by this modern-day saint who endured unjust slander and humiliation, but who led by example and ultimately triumphed over adversity.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.  

The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image. The series is partially supported by funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, Statewide Community Regrants Program with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, and administered by Flushing Town Hall.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the award-winning biopic, Man of God on Sunday, May 7 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA Celebrates Women’s History Month—
Presents Three Films By or About Women: On Demand and In Person,
Plus Interviews with Acclaimed Women Filmmakers

Astoria, NY – March 3, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS) proudly celebrates Women’s History Month with programming that salutes the contributions of women in Greek film. Two films by acclaimed director Olga Malea will be available on demand March 3-12; the Always on Sunday monthly Greek film screening at the Museum of the Moving Image will present the film Patchwork, featuring a powerful lead performance by Angeliki Papoulia; and HFS will release a fascinating interview with actor/writer/director Mimi Denissi on its YouTube channel on International Women’s Day, March 8.

“Many creative women are playing an increasingly prominent role in Greek film as directors, writers, and actors and when we have shown their films over the years, they have been very well received,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “These are artists whose voices need to be heard and whose perspectives need to be shared, and we are proud to present their films to American audiences.”

HFS will be streaming two films for ten days. Little Greek Godfather is a family comedy about an American-born boy sent to Crete to baptize the baby of a local Greek politician, only to struggle with the Greek language and local customs. Marjoram is a psychological drama about a little girl whose mother enters her into a television cooking competition. Both films will be streaming for ten days beginning Friday, March 3.

Patchwork will be presented on Sunday, March 26 as part of the Always on Sunday monthly Greek film series at the Museum of the Moving Image on 35th Avenue at 37th Street in Astoria. The film is a tour de force featuring an award-winning performance by Angeliki Papoulia about a woman coming to terms with her ambiguous feelings about motherhood.

In addition, the Hellenic Film Society is proud to present an exclusive interview with Mimi Denissi, the acclaimed actor, writer, director and producer, whose long list of credits includes Smyrna, My Beloved.  HFS will launch the interview on its YouTube channel on International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8.

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org 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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA
Presents 18, Award-Winning Drama
Sunday, February 26 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY

Astoria, NY – February 13, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the powerful drama, 18, on Sunday, February 26 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. Directed by Vassilis Douvlis, the film just won the Audience Award for Best Film at the Cypriot and Greek Film Festival of Barcelona.

The powerful coming-of-age film portrays the difficulties faced by misguided adolescents as they try to navigate a world forged by economic crisis, the resurgence of fascism, and the pandemic. The film is in Greek with English subtitles. A trailer for the film can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel.

“Director Vassilis Douvlis has created a gripping film that holds viewers’ attention,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “It is an important film that intelligently deals with alarming social issues that are not just Greek, but global. I am delighted that 18 is getting the accolades it deserves.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. When purchasing film tickets, please use discount code SUNDAY20. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.  

The screening is part of Always on Sunday, the Greek film series presented monthly by the Hellenic Film Society at the Museum of the Moving Image.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the award-winning Greek film, 18, on Sunday, February 26 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA
Resumes GREEK FILMS ON DEMAND—
Two Greek Films will Stream February 3-12

Astoria, NY – January 30, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA launches its winter streaming season with two films by the acclaimed Greek director, Giorgos Georgopoulos. Tungsten and Not to Be Unpleasant But We Have To Talk About Something Serious will be available online worldwide, February 3—12, through  www.hellenicfilmusa.org. Both films star Vangelis Mourikis and Omiros Poulakis.

The metaphorical title Tungsten references the metal with the highest melting point. Centered on Athenians living close to the edge during the Greek economic crisis, the film has been widely praised by critics as one of the best Greek films of recent years.

Not To Be Unpleasant offers a change of pace. A dark comedy about toxic masculinity, the film revolves around a young womanizer who must track down his former partners in an effort to help find a cure for a sexually transmitted disease that is fatal only to women.

“Georgopoulos is at the forefront of talented Greek directors. His films are compelling and always interesting to watch, and we are especially excited about offering them online,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “In addition to showcasing the work of a talented director, the films offer the chance to see astonishing performances by the inimitable Vangelis Mourikis and Omiros Poulakis.”

Trailers for both films, and an interview with the director can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel.

Greek Films on Demand has been popular with audiences since originally launched by the Hellenic Film Society (HFS) during the pandemic. HFS continues to present monthly Greek films in person at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY, through its Always on Sunday monthly film series, but has resumed its online offerings to give audiences outside of New York the opportunity to enjoy Greek films.

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org 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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA resumes Greek Films on Demand with a tribute to director Giorgos Georgopoulos. Tungsten (shown above) and Not to Be Unpleasant But We Have To Talk About Something Serious (below) will be available online worldwide, February 3-12. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version

Hellenic Film Society USA
Presents Greek Comedy Classic My Friend, Lefterakis
Sunday, January 29 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY

Astoria, NY – January 11, 2023 – The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the classic Greek film comedy, My Friend Lefterakis, on Sunday, January 29 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. The beloved 1963 farce from Greece’s famed Finos Film Studio stars two of Greek cinema’s most accomplished comic actors, Dinos Iliopoulos and Kostas Voutsas.  The screening is part of HFS’s Always on Sunday series of monthly Greek film screenings at MoMI.

Directed by Alekos Sakellarios, the film is about a cheating husband who invents a friend, Lefterakis, as a cover for his womanizing. But his wife is onto him, so she devises a devilish plan to expose his cheating ways. Replete with intrigue and hilarious surprises, the film is in Greek with English subtitles. A trailer for the film can be found on the Hellenic Film Society’s YouTube channel.

“The comedy in My Friend, Lefterakis, really holds up 60 years later,” says Jimmy DeMetro, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “Seeing it again on the big screen at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival this past November was a real treat, and we knew we had to bring it to our American audience.”

For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org and follow on Facebook and Instagram. When purchasing film tickets, please use discount code SUNDAY20. The Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue in Astoria, is conveniently located near public transportation.  

HFS will soon be announcing plans to bring back Greek Films on Demand beginning in February.

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 deserves to 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 prestigious Museum of the Moving Image for its series of monthly Greek film screenings, HFS presents the annual New York Greek Film Expo film festival annually. HFS also hosts a YouTube channel offering free Greek films and interviews with filmmakers.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is the lead supporter of the Hellenic Film Society USA. Additional support is provided by the Greek National Tourism Organization, the Kallinikeion Foundation, Antenna Satellite TV, and NYC & Company. For additional information, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org or call 347-934-9497.

Press Contact for information or photos: Nancy Nicolelis/718-898-7002/nancy.nicolelis.hfs@gmail.com

The Hellenic Film Society USA presents the classic Greek film comedy, My Friend Lefterakis, on Sunday, January 29 at 3pm at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. For further information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Download the press release in its pdf version