"Meteora" and "Mitsigan-Hardships And Beauties" Bookend 7th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - June 2, 2013 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA - JUNE, 2013;   The 7th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival - http://lagff.org (June 6-9, Writers Guild Theater, Beverly Hills) announced its 2013 Program, including the selected feature for the ever-popular Opening Night gala, which will be Spiros Stathoulopoulos' drama, METEORA, which debuted at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.  Kimon Tsakiris' (SUGARTOWN) documentary, MITSIGAN – HARDSHIPS AND BEAUTIES, will close the festival on Sunday, June 9th, following the presentation of this year’s Orpheus Awards. In addition, festival representatives elaborated on their previously announced tribute to writer/director Elia Kazan, noting the screening of Kazan's AMERICA AMERICA, introduced by HBO's President of Miniseries & Cinemax Programming and LAGFF Advisory Board member, Kary Antholis, on Friday, June 7.

Greece has long been known for cinematic masters such as Theodoros Angelopoulos and Michael Cacoyannis. In the last three years, thanks to directors such as Yorgos Lanthimos, Greek cinema has become increasingly important in the world scene, gaining critical acclaim in prestigious festivals such as CANNES, VENICE, TORONTO and KARLOVY VARY.  LAGFF gives the opportunity to U.S. audiences and the U.S. film industry to view and participate in its many depths.  

LAGFF Director of Programming Aristotle Katopodis said, “This year we have over 30 features, documentary and short films representing the Greek diaspora in over 11 countries - more than ever before.  The theme that permeated the 2013 submissions is the toll taken by economic turmoil, whether the films are from Greece or from Greeks around the globe,” further noting that, “These filmmakers have responded powerfully with a redefinition of values and principles. They are raising their voices and shedding light on pressing issues, with anger, pathos and even humor. Our selections capture the most vibrant of these, while showcasing some innovative filmmaking and a slew of new, young, and daring artists not to be missed.”

Opening the festival's red carpet gala on Thursday, June 6, is Spiros Stathoulopoulos’ (PVC-1) US premiere of the period drama, METEORA, starring Theo Alexander (TRUE BLOOD). Set in a 12th century monastery in Greece, METEORA is the story of an illicit love affair between a Greek Orthodox monk and a Russian Orthodox nun. METEORA was an official selection of the Berlin Film Festival.

Kimon Tsakiris, whose documentaries SUGARTOWN: THE BRIDEGROOMS and SUGARTOWN: THE DAY AFTER won over audiences at the 2007 and 2011 editions of LAGFF, returns this year with his new film, MITSIGAN - HARDSHIPS & BEAUTIES,  about Mitsos "Mitsigan" Tsiganos, a modern-day Greek cowboy and the owner of "Hardships & Beauties", a vegetable and fruit farm in southwestern Greece. The story follows Mitsigan on a journey throughout that region's farming area, as he meets with old and new friends and comes to the realization that his country will never be the same again.

Prior to the Closing Night screening, the festival will present its Orpheus Awards for Best Feature, Best Documentary, Best Short and Audience Choice, as well as Jury distinctions.  The winner of LAGFF's inaugural Project Discovery Forum will also be presented with the Aegean Award at that time. The screening will be followed by an exclusive reception for filmmakers, Gold Pass members & VIP guests, hosted by the Consul General of Greece, Los Angeles, Elisabeth Fotiadou.

As part of the tribute to Elia Kazan, the festival will present the filmmaker's 1963 Oscar-winning drama, AMERICA AMERICA, on Friday evening as its Centerpiece presentation.   The LAGFF Tribute to Elia Kazan is sponsored by CINEMAX®, a premium television service offered by Home Box Office, Inc.  Cinemax features high-impact original series specifically created for the channel like Strike Back® and BansheeSM, as well as the widest variety of film entertainment, combining select and broad-appeal films that showcase Hollywood’s hottest hits, the best in new cinema, action-packed thrillers, wild comedies, classic screen gems and more.

Adding to the already impressive line-up is Ektoras Lygizos' critically acclaimed and award-winning drama, BOY EATING THE BIRD'S FOOD, that garnered this year's Hellenic Film Academy Award for Best Film and also recently won the prestigious European Crossing Award in the European Competition.   BOY, which marks Lygizos’ feature directorial debut, is a modern-day adaptation of Knut Hamsun's classic 1890 novel, Hunger, which follows a young outcast desperately trying to survive on the streets of Athens.  

LAGFF 2013 will also feature the US premiere of Panagiotis Evangelidis' poignant documentary, THEY GLOW IN THE DARK, shot in post-Katrina New Orleans, about Michael and Jim, two middle-aged gay friends and ex-lovers, penniless and with HIV, who reunite after twenty years.  THEY GLOW IN THE DARK won the 2013 FIPRESCI Prize at this year’s Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.

Stella Theodoraki's thought-provoking documentary, AMNESIA DIARIES, was filmed almost entirely by Theodoraki herself over a 4-year period in 1985, 1986, 2010 and 2012, and reflects on the rapidly changing world. Theodoraki’s past meets her present-day experiences, attitudes and thoughts when, in an environment of social unrest and despair in modern-day Athens, she begins recording her "diary" after the loss of her best friend, trying to make sense of what was, is and will be. DIARIES were awarded the Loukia Rikaki Award and Best Documentary at this year's Hellenic Film Academy Awards.  

Another award-winning film, Thanos Anastopoulos’ thriller, THE DAUGHTER, will make its US premiere bow at the festival. THE DAUGHTER, one of the major winners at the Hellenic Academy Awards this year, tells the story of fourteen-year-old Myrto who, upon learning that her father has fled to avoid paying his debts kidnaps the son of his business partner whom she blames for bankrupting her father's joiner's workshop.

Box Office for  LAGFF is now open at http://lagff.org  for Gold Pass Membership purchases The All-Access VIP GOLD PASS is currently $220 and is valued at over $300.  

General screening admissions are $13 online / $16 at the door.

Centerpiece Film AMERICA AMERICA and Elia Kazan Tribute is currently on sale $20 online / $25 at the door.
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