Presenting Partner An initiative of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria Melbourne Sydney Adelaide Brisbane 12-31 October 2011 Palace Cinema Como 299 Toorak Road, South Yarra www.greekfilmfestival.com.au
18 TH GREEK FILM FESTIVAL WELCOME The Greek Film Festival is presented by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria and Bank of Cyprus Australia. 2011 Antipodes Festival Board of Management Leonidas Vlahakis (Co-Chair), Tammy Iliou (Co-Chair), Paul Kounnas (Secretary), Jim Bossinakis (Treasurer), Michael Christoforidis, Helen Kalimniou, George Kallianis, George Koletsis, Nicole Konstandakopoulos, Costas Markos, Jorge Menidis, Christina Patsias and George Stavrias. Film Festival Co-ordinator Dimi Lafazanos Film Festival Assistant Co-ordinator Olympia Houliaras National Network Co-ordinator Dimitra Lafazanos Program Editors Emma Westwood Stephen Baker Dr Alfred Vincent Sponsorship & Marketing Tony Tsourdalakis Accounts Stacey Tsaboukos Art Direction & Design Carlo Mazzarella & David Buzzi One Heavy Trailer Editor Tim Anastasi Onset Productions Web Design and Development Mecca Medialight Special thanks Anthi Baltatzis, Angela Hatzilepos, Nia Kateris, Penny Kyprianou, Steve Messinis, Kim Petalas, Elysia Zecolla Hill. The Greek Film Festival is managed by the National Network of Hellenic Festivals It is heartening that the Antipodes Greek Film Festival in its 18th year continues to flourish. Interestingly, during these tumultuous times in Greece, film production has increased. This is most evident in our opening night movie Need for Lies, which in a satirical way unravels the strife many face in Greece. We are privileged to also screen Attenberg which won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival. We are also paying tribute to Michael Cacoyannis who passed away this year, by screening two of his most awarded films Stella and A Girl in Black. The Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, through its cultural arm the Antipodes Festival, is committed to supporting contemporary film. Enjoy. Είναι πολύ ενθαρρυντικό το γεγονός ότι το Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικού Κινηματογράφου των Αντιπόδων συνεχίζει επί 18 χρόνια την ανοδική του πορεία. Είναι σημαντικό επίσης το γεγονός ότι κατά τη διάρκεια της δύσκολης αυτής περιόδου στην Ελλάδα, η κινηματογραφική παραγωγή έχει αυξηθεί. Αυτό είναι ιδιαίτερα εμφανές στην ταινία που παρουσιάζουμε στα εγκαίνια του φεστιβάλ με τίτλο Ζητείται Ψεύτης, η οποία με ένα σατιρικό τρόπο παρουσιάζει τα προβλήματα που αντιμετωπίζουν πολλοί σήμερα στην Ελλάδα. Φέτος έχουμε επίσης το προνόμιο να παρουσιάσουμε την ταινία Attenberg που κέρδισε το βραβείο ηθοποιίας στο Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου της Βενετίας. Παράλληλα, αποτίνουμε φόρο τιμής στον Μιχάλη Κακογιάννη, παρουσιάζοντας δύο από τις πιο βραβευμένες ταινίες του, τις: Στέλλα και Το κορίτσι με τα μαύρα. Η Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Κοινότητα Μελβούρνης και Βικτώριας και το Φεστιβάλ Αντίποδες, έχει δεσμευτεί να υποστηρίζει τον ελληνικό κινηματογράφο. Απολαύστε τις ταινίες του Φεστιβάλ. Bill Papastergiadis President Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria Welcome to the 18th Greek Film Festival produced by the GOCMV and presented with the generous support of the Bank of Cyprus. In the world we live in we are witnessing social and economic upheaval that has vast consequences. In times of trouble, it is the cultural fabric of our society, developed over thousands of years, that binds us together. As part of this, cinema has the power to tell stories that help us contextualise, understand and, at times, laugh at the turmoil around us. This year we are excited to bring to you our most dynamic film program ever, that we know will reach out to the broadest audience. This year s festival represents the diversity of Greek cinema and features historical films, modern drama, biographies, and comedies, deliciously loaded with political satire and criticism. We are especially pleased that the Greek Student Film Festival has returned after its inaugural success. We thank our sponsors and supporters and hope you enjoy this year s festival. Καλωσορίσατε στο 18ο Φεστιβάλ Ελληνικού Κινηματογράφου του Φεστιβάλ Αντίποδες, που παρουσιάζεται από την Ελληνική Ορθόδοξη Κοινότητα Μελβούρνης και Βικτώριας με την ευγενική υποστήριξη της Τράπεζας Κύπρου. Φέτος είμαστε στην ευχάριστη θέση να σας παρουσιάσουμε το καλύτερο πρόγραμμα από ποτέ το οποίο είμαστε βέβαιοι ότι θα ικανοποιήσει όλους. Επίσης με ιδιαίτερη χαρά παρουσιάζουμε για δεύτερη συνεχή χρονιά το Φεστιβάλ Μαθητικού Κινηματογράφου σε συνεργασία με το Ελληνικό Προξενείο Μελβούρνης Ευχαριστούμε τους χορηγούς και υποστηρικτές μας. Leonidas Vlahakis & Tammy Iliou Co-Chairs, Antipodes Festival
TICKETING AND VENUE INFORMATION VENUE PALACE Cinema Como Corner Toorak Rd & Chapel St South Yarra VIC 3141 Bookings: (03) 9827 7533 or www.palacecinemas.com.au Opening Night Event Melbourne Premiere of Ieroklis Michaelidis Need For Lies followed by Opening Night Party. Time: 6.30pm for 7.00pm screening Date: Wednesday 12 October Venue: Palace Cinema Como All tickets $45.00 Tickets General Admission Adult $18.00 Concession $15.00 Eligible Concessions: Palace Movie Club members (max 2), Full-time Students (photo ID required), Senior Citizens, Health Care card holders, Pensioners. (The cardholder must present a current ID card in order to gain the concession.) Special Events Moonstruck & A Taste of Crete $25 Rembetiko & Closing Night Event $30 Student Film Festival Adult $10 Children 16 and under $5 Multiple Film Passes 5 film pass $78.00 Palace Movie Club $70.00 10 film pass $145.00 Palace Movie Club $130 (Multiple film passes are for separate, pre-selected sessions, valid for one person only. Not valid for opening night, closing night or special screenings.) PLEASE NOTE THAT MULTIPLE FILM PASSES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE FROM THE BOX OFFICE, NOT ONLINE. Group Bookings $14.00 (per ticket) For 20 or more tickets to a single, pre-selected session. Not valid for opening night, closing night or special screenings. * Palace Cinemas Complimentary tickets and other cinema promotions or ticket offers are not valid for Festival screenings. HOW TO BUY In Person Palace Cinema Como Daily during box office hours until sold out (no booking fees apply for tickets purchased in person). Online Available 24hrs via www.palacecinemas. com.au/sessiontimes. GFF sessions can be found by selecting venue (Palace Cinema Como), followed by date. Major credit cards accepted. Booking fees apply. (You will be required to present the credit card used for online purchases and all relevant concession card/s when collecting tickets from the box office). By Phone (03) 9827 7533 Tickets may be purchased using all major credit cards by phone during box office hours. Booking fees apply. (Credit card is debited at time of booking and must be produced when collecting tickets. Patrons are encouraged to collect tickets 20 minutes prior to the session to avoid queues. Booking fees apply). GETTING THERE Public Transport Located 200 metres from South Yarra Train Station (Frankston, Cranbourne, Pakenham, Sandringham, Dandenong trains from Flinders Street). Or stop number 31 on the 008 Toorak Tram from Toorak or the city. Parking Wilson Parking offers secure parking in the Como Centre. Accessibility Palace Cinema Como is equipped with Disabled facilities, located on level 2A when exiting the lifts. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne & Victoria T: (03) 9662 2722 info@greekcommunity.com.au FESTIVAL CONDITIONS All Festival films are restricted to persons aged 18 years and over, unless specified. This does not necessarily relate to the content of the films, but to the censorship laws regulating festival, as enforced by the Office of Film & Literature Classification. Festival tickets, once acquired, are nonrefundable and non-exchangeable. Lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced or refunded. Please note that screenings and times are subject to change. All seating is unreserved. All non-english language films screen with English subtitles. The Festival reserves the right to alter the program without notice. Dates, times and programs are correct at the time of publication, but may need to altered.
OPENING NIGHT CLOSING NIGHT 4 5 Need for Lies (Ζητείται Ψεύτης) dir: Ieroklis Michaelidis SPECIAL EVENT Wednesday 12 October, 6.30pm Following the screening, join us at the official Opening Night party for Greek mezedes, wine and live music. All tickets $45 Rembetiko (Ρεμπέτικο) (1983) dir: Kostas Ferris SPECIAL EVENT Monday 31 October, 8.30pm Following the screening, join us for Greek mezedes, wine and live Greek blues (Rembetika) music. All tickets $30 One of Greece s best-loved stage comedies, Dimitris Psathas satire on Greek political machinations comes to life on the silver screen. Theofilos Ferekis (played by the film s director Ieroklis Michaelidis) has been appointed Minister of Health and Welfare. It s time for him to deliver on the promises, pork-barrelling, and wheeling and dealing he orchestrated during his election campaign. Hopelessly unable to meet his mark, Theofilos hires the shady Theodoras Parlas (Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos) a professional liar as his senior advisor. Can Theofilos and Theodoras squirm their way out of the mess? Will the new Minister be held to account? Find out in this Spin City meets The West Wing look at politics in Greece. Όταν ο Θεόφιλος Φερέκης αναλαμβάνει το Υπουργείο Υγείας & Κοινωνικής Αλληλεγγύης, έρχεται αντιμέτωπος με όλες τις χάρες που είχε τάξει προεκλογικά στους ψηφοφόρους του. Μόλις καταλάβει ότι δεν πρόκειται να τα βγάλει εύκολα πέρα, χρειάζεται επειγόντως να προσλάβει έναν επαγγελματία ψεύτη, τον Θεόδωρο Πάρλα, ή Ψευτοθόδωρος, ταλέντο στις ψεύτικες υποσχέσεις. Greece 2010 91mins e-cinema Written by Panayotis Mantziafos and Konstandina Yiahali, based on the play with the same title by Dimitris Psathas Produced by Manos Krezias, Kostas Lambropoulos and Dionysis Samiotis Cast: Ieroklis Michaelidis, Zeta Makrypoulia, Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos Ieroklis Michaelidis is no stranger to Greek audiences, with over twenty years experience in front of the camera in countless television roles. Need for Lies is his directorial debut. As an actor he starred most recently in The Flight of the Swan, alongside James D Arcy, Alicia Witt and Colm Meaney. Beautifully restored and remastered, this highly acclaimed Greek epic makes a rare cinematic appearance. In this film version of the life of the famous rembetiko singer Marika Ninou, Sotiria Leonardou doubles as co-writer and lead actress, in a career-defining performance. Born in Turkey in 1917, Marika arrived in Greece as a refugee as a very young child, along with the other Greeks living on Turkish soil. Her abusive father and victimised mother find employment as rembetiko players in seedy clubs, and soon Marika follows in their ill-fated footsteps. Her life swings between joy and suffering, but remains defined by a constant fight for survival. Combining music with biopic and actual newsreel footage, this film masterfully and emotionally creates a bridge to Greece s past. Winner of the Silver Bear at the 1984 Berlin Film Festival, as well as numerous awards at the 1983 Thessaloniki Film Festival. Η ταινία αφηγείται την ιστορία μιας μεγάλης ρεμπέτισσας από τη γέννηση της στη Σμύρνη το 1917, μέχρι το θάνατο της στην Αθηνά το 1955. Η πολυβραβευμένη ταινία του Κώστα Φέρρη που σημάδεψε τον σύγχρονο Ελληνικό Κινηματογράφο. Greece 1983 110mins 35mm Written by Kostas Ferris and Sotiria Leonardou Cast: Sotiria Leonardou, Nikos Kalogeropoulos, Michalis Maniatis, Themis Bazaka, Nikos Dimitratos Kostas Ferris was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1935, to Greek parents. His films include The Murderess (1974) and An exile on Central Boulevard (1979), although he is most famous for Rembetiko (1983) and his passion for reviving the ethos of this Greek blues music.
COMEDY 6 7 Once Upon a Time There was a Baby (Μια φορά και ένα... μωρό) dir: Nikos Zapatinas Other Half (Το Έτερον Ήμισυ) dir: Vangelis Seitanidis Two very different men and one abandoned baby are thrown together in this comedy of opposites and unfortunate situations. Middle-aged Nondas is a shady character who has been involuntarily shackled with his lover s baby. He s on a mission to find the runaway mother when he stops his car by the side of the road to relieve himself. That s when he notices Alkiviadis, who is lying on the train tracks in a suicide attempt, overwhelmed by debt, childlessness and an unfaithful wife. In the end Alkiviadis does not kill himself, but mayhem and surprises abound in the finest of road movie traditions with lingerie, a cheating partner and a guilty best man just a few of the issues Nondas has to negotiate in his quest to reunite baby and mother. O Νώντας, ένας 50άρης, άνθρωπος της νύχτας-κοινώς «λαμόγιο», γνωρίζει τον Αλκιβιάδη, ένα συμπαθή νοικοκύρη που χρωστάει παντού, που τον απατά η γυναίκα του, που δεν απέκτησε ποτέ παιδιά. Ο Νώντας, που ταξιδεύει με σκοπό να βρει τη μητέρα της Περσεφόνης, του μωρού που του έχει «φορτώσει» κάποια από τις πρώην του, θα ελευθερώσει τον Αλκιβιάδη και θα τον πάρει μαζί του - θέλει δε θέλει. Greece 2011 86mins 35mm Written by Nikos Zapatinas Produced by Village Films Greece Cast: Petros Filippidis, Sakis Boulas, Angeliki Pavlopoulou, Markela Giannatou, Joyce Evidi Born in Athens, Nikos Zapatinas studied maths (Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki), cinema (Paris III) and music in various academies. He has directed television series, documentaries and films, including Feedback (1974), Nannies (1979), Bonus (2001) and Elias of the 16th Precinct (which screened at the Greek Film Festival in 2009). A very modern, riotous comedy featuring a rich cast of today s most popular Greek actors looking at just how far we ll go to find our other half. Faidon and Vicky are successful relationship therapists who, as husband and wife, practice what they preach: the ideal couple is made, not found. Then they meet a couple that act as a metaphorical fist-to-the-stomach, revealing Vicky and Faidon s marriage to be anything but truly compatible. Is it too late for them to turn their lives around? Whatever the answer, one absolute certainty remains: a relationship needs work if not to be saved, then to be ended. www.toeteronimisi.gr Μια κωμωδία που ταξιδεύει από τον καναπέ του ψυχαναλυτή μέχρι τον παράδεισο των πρωτόπλαστων προκειμένου να δώσει απάντηση στο βασικό ερώτημα: το ταίρι του το βρίσκει κανείς ή το φτιάχνει; Greece 2011 91mins 35mm Written by Panayotis Christopoulos Produced by Panos Papahadzis, Maria Tsiga Cast: Krateros Katsoulis, Vladimiros Kyriakidis, Dafni Lambroyanni, Katerina Papoutsaki, Foteini Tsakiri Born in Athens in 1964, Vangelis Seitanidis received his MFA in film direction from Columbia University. He has written books on Wim Wenders and Robert Altman, as well as the screenplay for Nikos Panayotopoulos Beautiful People (2001). His films include Ghost of a Chance (2001), Face Control (screened at the Greek Film Festival in 2006) and Under Your Make-up (2009).
COMEDY 8 9 Everything is Going to be Alright (Όλα θα πάνε καλά) dir: Yannis Xanthopoulos The Heiress (Η Κληρονόμος) dir: Panayotis Fafoutis A comedy where Ruthless People meets Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Miltiadis (Akis Sakellariou) cooks up a scheme to kidnap well-known and notoriously corrupt lawyer Yotis Mathiopoulos (Dimitris Piatas). To help him execute the plan, he enlists the help of his fiancée, Gina (Faye Xila), and her unofficial partner, the short-fused Fanis (Orfeas Avgoustidis). Things are thrown into chaos when a comedy of errors sees our band of crooks wind up with Yotis aunt, Elenitsa (played by Greek cinema veteran, Efi Papatheodorou) as their captive instead of Yotis. They are unaware that Yotis has been plotting to get rid of her anyway. Propelled into a world of thugs and organised crime, Miltiadis, Gina and Fanis soon learn that Aunt Elenitsa isn t the benign elder she may initially seem and so their lives are sent into a tail-spin. Ένα αρραβωνιασμένο ζευγάρι, η Τζίνα και ο Μιλτιάδης μαζί με τον Φάνη, αποφασίζουν να απαγάγουν τον διεφθαρμένο μεγαλοδικηγόρο Μαθιόπουλο. Η απειρία όμως των κακοποιών έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να απαχθεί λάθος πρόσωπο, και συγκεκριμένα, η θέια του, Ελενίτσα! Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece 2009 96 mins e-cinema Written by Yannis Xanthopoulos Produced by Panos Papahadzis Cast: Orfeas Avgoustidis, Faye Xila, Akis Sakellariou, Efi Papatheodorou, Dimitris Piatas Yannis Xanthopoulos has a solid pedigree in Greek cinema and television dating back to 1980. His screenwriting credits include Eyewitness (1993), Borderline (1994) and Extended Play (2006); the latter he also directed. Everything is Going to be Alright is his second feature as writer and director. A soccer comedy that finds the back of the net! Woman of leisure Vera (Smaragda Karydi) an attractive former stewardess finds herself thrust into the cut-throat world of professional football following her philandering husband s untimely death. In order to secure her family s inheritance, Vera takes the reins of her late husband s struggling Black Panthers Football Club in Greece s A-League championship in an effort to turn their fortunes around. Armed with her wits and tenacity, the laughs flourish as Vera fights to overcome both her lack of knowledge of football, as well as the entrenched prejudices on and off the field. This is Working Girl meets Wildcats but done Greek style. Η Βέρα είναι μια όμορφη πρώην αεροσυνοδός και σύζυγος του Στέλιου Σκαρίμπα, ευκατάστατου προέδρου της μικρομεσαίας ποδοσφαιρικής ομάδας «Μαύροι Πάνθηρες». Ζει μια ήσυχη ζωή, μεγαλώνοντας τα δυο παιδιά της. Όλα κυλούν ομαλά, μέχρι που μια εξωσυζυγική περιπέτεια του Στέλιου έχει μοιραία κατάληξη... Contains nudity Greece 2009 94mins e-cinema Written by Dimitris Emmanoulidis Produced by Panos Papahadzis Cast: Smaragda Karydi, Gerasimos Skiadaresis, Petros Lagoutis, Titika Stasinopoulou, Kostis Koroneos After many years working in Greek television drama, The Heiress marks Panayotis Fafoutis graduation to feature film direction. His most recent film, Paradeisos in which he assumes both writing and directorial responsibilities was released earlier this year.
COMEDY 10 11 Charisma (Χάρισμα) dir: Christina Ioakimidi Plato s Academy (Ακαδημία Πλάτωνος) dir: Filippos Tsitos A sunny, romantic comedy about learning to open yourself to love. Ismini (Vaso Kavalieratou) is a single woman in her early 30s. She is strong, independent and sensitive, but she is also emotionally handicapped. Her defence mechanism for protecting her wellbeing is to avoid emotional attachment to the men who move in and out of her life. In one of the rare moments that Ismini unwittingly lowers her defences, rough diamond Haris (Makis Papadimitriou) enters her life. Will Ismini choose to push away the unsophisticated and irrascible, but also passionate, Haris or will he be the one that infiltrates her tough exterior? Η Ισμήνη μόλις πάτησε τα τριάντα της. Είναι καλλιεργημένη, ευγενική, ευαίσθητη και συναισθηματικά τσακίζει για πλάκα. Όλα καταρρέουν, όμως, όταν ο μπρούτος, απλοϊκός κι αγενής Χάρης μπαίνει για τα καλά στη ζωή της. Sex scenes Greece 2010 85mins 35mm Written by Christina Ioakimidi Produced by Christina Ioakimidi and Louizos Aslanidis Cast: Vaso Kavalieratou, Makis Papadimitriou and Yannis Tsortekis Christina Ioakimidi was born in 1975 in Athens. She studied directing at film school in London, during which she made several short films. Charisma is her debut feature film where she takes on the roles of writer, producer and director. This sharp comedy/drama took out the 2009 Orpheus Award for Best Feature Film at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Bitter after being abandoned by his wife and forced to care for his elderly mother, who has suffered a stroke, Stavros (Antonis Kafetzopoulos) spends his days with his mates drinking coffee, playing soccer and sneering at the Chinese and Eastern European labourers working on projects in their neighbourhood. Globalisation and xenophobia collide as Stavros finds himself confronting his prejudices - and questions about his own identity - when Nikos (Yorgos Souxes), an itinerant Albanian labourer, enters his world to hilarious, yet profound effect. Η ταινία μιλάει για τους μετανάστες και την ενσωμάτωσή τους, μέσα από μια μαύρη κωμωδία, όπου προκαλεί τον προβληματισμό χωρίς να σου δίνει την εύκολη λύση. Η ερμηνεία του Καφετζόπουλου είναι εξαιρετική αφού καταφέρνει να περνάει τα διαφορετικά συναισθήματα μέσα από την εικόνα. Occasional coarse language Greece 2009 103mins 35mm Written by Alexis Kardaras and Filippos Tsitos Produced by Thanassis Karathanos and Konstandinos Moraitis Cast: Antonis Kafetzopoulos, Anastas Kodzine, Titika Saringouli, Yorgos Souxes Born in Athens in 1966, Filippos Tsitos originally studied marketing. After gaining work as a photographer, he moved to Berlin in 1991 and commenced studies in directing at the German Film and Television Academy. Plato s Academy is his second feature film and a companion piece to his debut, My Sweet Home (2001).
COMEDY 12 NEO CINEMA 13 Biloba (Μπιλόμπα) dir: Sophia Papachristou Riders of Pylos (Οι Ιππείς της Πύλου) dir: Nikos Kalogeropoulos A feel-good comedy where new Europe collides with old Greece and the two join forces against a common foe. The quiet and uncomplicated life of the inhabitants of the rustic Greek island of Pera Kassiros is thrown into upheaval with the arrival of Peter (Lars Brygmann) an engineer with an international corporation, supervising construction of a high-tech waste recycling plant for producing electricity on the island. After becoming accepted by the locals, Peter soon discovers the true intentions behind the corporation s plans for the plant and the island. Despite falling in love with Areti (Mechthild Grossmann) a mysterious local woman he is forced to leave Pera Kassiros. Upon his return home, Peter is faced with a moral dilemma: let his company use the plant in Pera Kassiros as a cover for the dumping of toxic substances, or betray his employers but save the island and the woman that have found a place in his heart? Ένας Γερμανός μηχανικός που δουλεύει σε μια ασυνείδητη οικολογικά πολυεθνική πηγαίνει σε ένα νησί του Αιγαίου, στην Πέρα Κάσσιρο για την κατασκευή ενός έργου. Εκεί σύντομα θα αντιληφθεί ότι οι κάτοικοι εισπράττουν χρήματα από το δημόσιο για έργα που δεν θα ολοκληρωθούν ποτέ. Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece 2009 97mins 35mm Written by Sophia Papachristou Cast: Lars Brygmann, Mechthild Grossmann, Dimitris Piatas Sophia Papachristou was born in Athens in 1958. After graduating from the Athens School of Law and the Stavrakos Film School, she completed a MFA program in Film Direction at New York s Columbia University. Biloba is her second feature film following The Golden Apples of the Hesperides, for which she won the Best Debut Director prize at the 1997 Thessaloniki Film Festival. In his roles as writer, director and performer, renowned actor Nikos Kalogeropoulos continues a life s work of irreverent commentary on Greek society. A 50-year-old poverty-stricken actor with a glorious past, Tilemachos (Nikos Kalogeropoulos), flees Athens to escape his creditors. He travels to the heart of historic Messinia and finds refuge in a decrepit castle once bustling with activity, but now empty except for its two inhabitants, brothers Evimeros (Dimitris Kamberidis) and Myron (Ilias Logothetis). While exploring the beautiful countryside, he meets and falls in love with Evimeros estranged daughter, Demokratia (Julia Kalogridou), who is also leader of a group of volunteers called Riders of Pylos. Ένας γνωστός Αθηναίος ηθοποιός, που έχει καταστραφεί οικονομικά, εγκαταλείπει την Αθήνα και αναζητεί «καταφύγιο» στη πρότυπη πολιτεία «Πολυπύλου». Η επαφή του με τους μποέμηδες κατοίκους της περιοχής αλλά και η γνωριμία του με μια κοπέλα οικολόγο δίνουν καινούργιο νόημα στη ζωή του. Greece 2011 98mins e-cinema Written by Nikos Kalogeropoulos Produced by Christos V. Konstantakopoulos Cast: Nikos Kalogeropoulos, Ilias Logothetis, Takis Spiridakis, Julia Kalogridou, Dimitris Kamberidis Nikos Kalogeropoulos was born in Filiatra, Messinia, and studied at the Kostis Michailidis and Veakis Theatre Schools in Athens. As an actor, he has been awarded two Greek State Awards for Best Actor in a leading role and one for Best Actor in a supporting role, as well as the prestigious Greek State Award for Exceptional Performance for his lead in Rembetiko (1983). He is known also as a playwright, composer and poet. Riders of Pylos is his first foray into filmmaking.
NEO CINEMA 14 15 Red Sky (Κόκκινος Ουρανός) dir: Layia Yiourgou Nobody (Κανένας) dir: Christos Nikoleris Against the idyllic backdrop of Southern Crete and the Libyan Sea unfolds this smouldering, erotic drama that sees the friendship of two men tested by the intrusion of a beautiful woman into their perfect world. In an attempt to make a new start far from the city s maddening crowds, friends Aris (Orfeas Avgoustidis) and Stelios (Apostolis Totsikas) begin a banana greenhouse business on the island of Crete, where they live a simple life focused on work and the nearby tavern. Foreign tourists come and go, but Cordoba (Pihla Viitala) a friend of Aris sister has a more insidious affect. Cordoba arouses interest in both men, who vie for her affection despite their initial reticence at bringing her into their fold. But she cannot decide who she wants, identifying elements of her ideal man in both their personalities, which leads to an explosive situation. Ο Άρης κι ο Στέλιος, δυο νέοι με στενή φιλία, κάνουν ένα καινούργιο ξεκίνημα στη ζωή τους. Μετακομίζουν σε ένα άγονο κι απομακρυσμένο από τον κόσμο σημείο της Κρήτης και στήνουν ένα θερμοκήπιο. Η άφιξη μιας Γερμανίδας, της Κόρντοβα, φέρνει αναστάτωση και θα βρεθούν αντιμέτωποι με έναν πειρασμό. Greece 2011 105mins e-cinema Written by Layia Yiourgou Produced by Layia Yiourgou Cast: Apostolis Totsikas, Orfeas Avgoustidis, Pihla Viitala, Efstathia Tsapareli, Laertis Vasiliou Layia Yiourgou was born in Heraklion, Crete, in 1949. She studied at the Vakalo School of Interior Design and Graphic Arts, the Athens School of Fine Arts and the London International Film School. Her films include Country House (1994), Tomorrow Will Be Too Late (2001) and Lyubi (which screened at the Greek Film Festival in 2006). [The film Nobody] spices up the world s most famous tragic romance with some local Homer and fast cars (Variety). Goran (Antinoos Albanis) and Julia (Georgina Liossi, in an incendiary debut performance) are the star-crossed lovers of this Shakespearean tale about second-generation immigrant teenagers living in Athens his family hailing from Russia, hers from Albania. Like Romeo and Juliet, Goran and Julia were meant to stay in separate worlds, but when their worlds collide, love hits like a lightning bolt. Trapped in a cycle of street violence and hatred, they live in constant danger just by spending time with each other. Winner of an audience vote award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. Ο Γκόραν και η Τζούλια, Ρώσος κι Αλβανίδα, είναι δυο έφηβοι μετανάστες δεύτερης γενιάς, δυο παιδιά με όνειρα και φιλοδοξία να ξεφύγουν από το περιβάλλον που μεγάλωσαν. Τα πράγματα για τους δυο νέους θα γίνουν ακόμη πιο περίπλοκα, όταν οι δρόμοι τους θα συναντηθούν. Greece 2011 95mins 35mm Written by Panayotis Iosifelis Produced by Yannis Exintaris Cast: Georgina Liossi, Antinoos Albanis, Nikolas Papayannis, Giorgos Papageorgiou, Dimitris Kapetanakos Born in Thessaloniki in 1966, Christos Nikoleris studied Foto-Film Design at the Fachhochschüle Bielefeld in Germany. In 1995 he co-founded the audiovisual production company N-Orasis where he works as a director and film editor, having shot over 150 commercials and music videos. Nikoleris also teaches at the Film School of Thessaloniki s Aristotle University. Nobody is his first feature film.
NEO CINEMA 16 Apnea (Άπνοια) dir: Aris Bafaloukas There is a strong echo of the films of Michelangelo Antonioni in Apnea, a dreamily atmospheric, hypnotic first feature (The List, UK) Dimitris (Sotiris Pastras) a 23 year old swimmer dives into the water of a dark pool after achieving success in the European Championships. He has fulfilled the dream of a lifetime, but feels emptier than ever. As his body floats in the water, the past comes flooding into his mind, reminding him about his relationship with Elsa (Youlika Skafida), an environmental activist who has mysteriously disappeared. Winner of an audience vote and a FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. www.apnea-film.com O Δημήτρης, ένας 23χρονος κολυμβητής, με επιτυχία στο Ευρωπαϊκό πρωτάθλημα, έχει εκπληρώσει το όνειρο της ζωής του αλλά νιώθει πιο κενός από ποτέ. Εικόνες και μνήμες πλημυρίζουν το μυαλό του, θυμίζοντάς του την σχέση του με την Έλσα που εξαφανίστηκε μυστηριωδώς. Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece 2010 90mins e-cinema Written by Yannis Tsiros Produced by Aris Bafaloukas & Elisabeth Tsouctidi Cast: Youlika Skafida, Sotiris Pastras, Andrianna Babali, George Karamichos, Akyllas Karazisis Aris Bafaloukas was born in Athens. For eight successive years, he held national swimming records in 50m and 100m freestyle, and competed with the national team at many international events. He graduated in Physical Education at Athens University and studied at the L. Stavrakos Hellenic Film and TV School. He has worked as an assistant director with well-known filmmakers, as well as writing and directing short films and episodes for TV. Apnea is his debut feature.
18 TH GREEK FILM FESTIVAL Melbourne Screening Schedule 12-31 October Palace Cinema Como Cnr Toorak Road & Chapel Street South Yarra T: (03) 9827 7533 All films are restricted to patrons 18 years and over, unless specified. Check Festival website for updated censorship information www.greekfilmfestival.com.au SPECIAL EVENT SUNDAY 30 OCTOBER 11:30 AM Wednesday 12 October 6.30PM OPENING NIGHT EVENT NEED FOR LIES Thursday 13 October 6.45PM 9PM Red Sky Knifer Friday 14 October 6.45PM 9PM Plato s Academy Apnea SATURDAY 15 October 2PM 4.15PM 6.30PM 9PM Biloba Need for lies Everything is Going to be alright Red Sky Sunday 16 October 1.30PM 3.45PM 6PM 8PM Plato s Academy The Heiress Need for Lies A Girl in Black Monday 17 October 6.45PM 9PM Shooting vs. Shooting RIDERS OF PYLOS Tuesday 18 October 6.45PM 8.45PM Charisma Biloba Wednesday 19 October 6.45PM 9PM Plato s Academy The Signature Thursday 20 October 6.45PM 9PM RIDERS OF PYLOS Black Field Friday 21 October 6.45PM 8.45PM 45m 2 ATTENBERG SATURDAY 22 October 2.30PM 4.30PM 6.45PM 9PM My life and Times The Heiress Need for Lies Red Sky Sunday 23 October 1.30 PM 3.30PM 6PM 8.15PM Once upon a time there was a baby Other Half MOONSTRUCK & A TASTE OF CRETE Everything is Going to be alright Monday 24 October 6.45PM 8.45PM My Sweet Canary Knifer Tuesday 25 October 6.45PM 9PM Nobody Apnea Wednesday 26 October 6.45PM 9PM Without Borders 45m 2 Thurday 27 October 6.45PM 9PM Journey to Mytilene ATTENBERG Friday 28 October 6.45PM 9PM Other Half Once upon a time there was a baby SATURDAY 29 October 2.15PM 4.30PM 6.45PM 9PM Journey to Mytilene Once upon a time there was a baby The Heiress Need for lies Sunday 30 October 2PM 4PM 6.15PM 8.30PM Other Half Everything is Going to be alright Stella The Signature Monday 31 October 6.30PM 8.30PM Stuffed & Best of Festival CLOSING NIGHT EVENT REMBETIKO
NEO CINEMA 20 21 Attenberg dir: Athina Rachel Tsangari Knifer (Μαχαιροβγάλτης) dir: Yannis Economides Through the eyes of Marina (awardwinning newcomer Ariane Labed), Attenberg takes an arresting swipe at coping in a post-post-modern age. At 23, Marina is repressed and late maturing, but the approaching death of her father (Vangelis Mourikis) forces her to embrace life, including her latent sexuality, and other people. She feels more in common with the animals she imitates from the documentaries of David Attenborough, to whose name, in a common mispronunciation, the film owes its title. Attenberg shares its creative team and its offbeat style with Dogtooth (Greek Film Festival 2009), with Tsangari and Giorgos Lanthimos swapping director and producer roles. Lanthimos also stars in some of the film s most purposefully awkward scenes. Recently selected as the Greek Film Academy s nominee for the Foreign language Oscar. Η Μαρίνα μεγαλώνει με τον αρχιτέκτονα πατέρα της σε μια παραθαλάσσια πόλη. Το ανθρώπινο είδος την απωθεί. Το παρατηρεί εξ αποστάσεως, μέσα από τα ντοκιμαντέρ πάνω στη ζωή των θηλαστικών του Sir David Attenborough και τα μαθήματα σεξουαλικής αγωγής που της παραδίδει η μοναδική της φίλη, Μπέλλα, ενώ ο πατέρας της προετοιμάζει τελετουργικά την αναχώρησή του. Sex scenes and sexual references, nudity and mild coarse language Greece 2010 95mins 35mm and e-cinema Written by Athina Rachel Tsangari Athina Rachel Tsangari has a BA in Literature from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, an MA in Performance from New York University s Tisch School of the Arts, and an MFA in Film Directing from the University of Texas in Austin. Attenberg is her second feature, her first being The Slow Business of Going (2001), which was acquired by MoMA for its permanent film collection. Yannis Economides multi awardwinning tale of lust, power, envy and anger promises to be one of the hottest tickets at this year s festival. Through the eyes of the idle and bitter Nikos (Stathis Stamoulakatos), the film explores Athens modern, gritty dark side the Athens you won t find on guided tours and postcards. This is an Athens on economic life-support. The sudden death of Nikos father signals the return of his uncle Alekos (Vangelis Mourikis). A business relationship develops between them that propels Nikos into a world pervaded by restlessness, hatred and bitterness. Knifer scooped the pool at the Hellenic Film Academy Awards this year, taking out Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. It was also judged Best Greek Film of the Year at the Greek Association of Film Critics awards. Ο Νίκος περνάει τεμπέλικα τις μέρες του στην επαρχία χωρίς παρόν και μέλλον. Μετά το θάνατο του πατέρα του, ο θείος του, τον παροτρύνει να εγκαταλείψει το χωριό και να έρθει στην Αθήνα, όπου άξαφνα θα βρεθεί μπλεγμένος σε μια παράξενη κατ`οίκον εργασία. Low level violence and strong coarse language Greece 2010 108mins e-cinema Written by Yannis Economides and Doris Avgerinopoulos Produced by Panos Papahadzis and Christos Konstantakopoulos Cast: Stathis Stamoulakatos, Vangelis Mourikis, Maria Kallimani, Yannis Voulgarakis, Yannis Anastasakis Yannis Economides was born in Limassol, Cyprus in 1967 and studied film in Athens. He directed his debut feature film, Matchbox, in 2003. His second feature, Soul Kicking, premiered in official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. Knifer is his third film.
NEO CINEMA 22 23 45 m 2 (45 Τετραγωνικά) dir: Stratos Tzitzis Moonstruck (Στο Ξέσπασμα του Φεγγαριού) dir: Stratos Markidis SPECIAL EVENT Sunday 23 October, 6pm Join us after the screening for an evening of Cretan culinary delights, wine and music from the region. Presented in association with the Pancretan Association of Melbourne. All tickets $25 Real life and fiction poetically interplay in this exploration of the everyday travails of Greece s 700 euro generation those who survive on minimum wage and, consequently, can t afford to leave the family home. Christina (Efi Longinou) is a 23 year old woman desperate to escape the overly protective watch of her mother (Rania Oikonomidou). With only enough money to survive two months, she rents a 45-metre-square apartment of her own and, within this fragile sanctuary, finds her true self emerging as she rummages through the belongings of the former tenant a guy her age. Using a fly-on-the-wall style, filmmaker Stratos Tzitzis gives this social drama an observational edge that accurately depicts the grievances of contemporary Greek youth through strong, naturalistic performances. Η κάμερα του Τζίτζη καταγράφει την καθημερινότητα των νέων ανθρώπων σε μια αφιλόξενη πόλη όπως η πρωτεύουσα, που αντί να προσφέρει ευκαιρίες, αφαιρεί κάθε προοπτική. Greece 2010 80mins e-cinema Written by Stratos Tzitzis Produced by Mihalis Panayotopoulos Cast: Efi Longinou, Rania Oikonomidou, Alexandra Palaiologou, Yorgos Yannopoulos, Thanos Grammenos Educated at the Greek National School of Economics, Stratos Tzitzis studied film at the Stavrakos Film School and attended a script workshop at UCLA. He has worked as assistant director to Pantelis Voulgaris, Giorgos Panoussopoulos and Nikos Perakis. His films include Love Is An Elephant (2000) and Rescue Me (which screened at the Greek Film Festival in 2002). From the director of last year s Greek box office hit I Love Karditsa comes a tale of forbidden love, essentially a telenovella produced for the big screen. Lovers of romance and Greek soap operas will be thoroughly enraptured with Moonstruck. Alexandra and Manos, two young students, meet by chance at a local tavern and are instantly taken by each other. Their affair is cut short when Alexandra s brother intercepts, but as fate would have it, they meet again in London, where they have both moved to study. They begin a relationship but are crushed when they discover that their families are sworn enemies. This only fuels their desire further, despite knowing the consequences for each other and their families. Μια εκσυγχρονισμένη εκδοχή του Ρωμαίου και της Ιουλιέτας, όταν δύο νέοι από αντίπαλες φατρίες ερωτεύονται, δημιουργώντας συνθήκες ακόμη μεγαλύτερης έντασης ανάμεσα στις αντιμαχόμενες φαμίλιες. Μια δραματική ιστορία πάθους και εκδίκησης, που εκτυλίσσεται στο όμορφο νησί της Κρήτης. Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece 2010 90 mins e-cinema Written by Giorgos Chrissovitsanos and Ioanna Giannouli Produced by Manos Krezias, Stratos Markidis and Dionysis Samiotis Cast: Iosif Marinakis, Kostas Apostolakos, Tania Tripi Born in Cairo, Egypt in 1948, Stratos Markidis began his career producing films, before directing a number of television programs including I Have a Secret, Disappearance and Love s Knife for ANT-1 Channel. His film screened at the 2010 Greek Film Festival.
NEO CINEMA 24 25 Without Borders (Χωρίς Σύνορα) dir: Nick Gaitatjis The Signature (Η Υπογραφή) dir: Stelios Haralambopoulos An dramatic adventure that crosses continents and international borders. The simple and carefree life of Thanasis (Giorgos Voyatzis) is shattered when his adopted six-year-old daughter Melissa (Veronika Vassilakopoulou) is taken away without warning to the United States by her biological mother. With the help of his cousin, the eccentric Plato (Georges Corraface, who also appears in The Signature), Thanasis sets out on a search to retrieve Melissa at any cost. Ο Θανάσης, ένας καλοκάγαθος πωλητής, έχει υπό την προστασία του την μικρή Μελίσα, που η μητέρα της Μίλλα, μετανάστρια από την Ρωσία, του την εμπιστεύτηκε, προκειμένου να αναζητήσει την τύχη της στην Αμερική. Όλα θα ανατραπούν στη ζωή τους, όταν η Μίλλα επιστρέφει στην Ελλάδα με τον άνδρα της, για να πάρει την κόρη της. Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece USA 2010 97mins 35mm Written by Nick Gaitatjis Produced by Nick Gaitatjis and Sandra Staggs Cast: Giorgos Voyagis, Georges Corraface, Seymour Cassel Nick Gaitatjis was born in Veria, Greece. He moved to the USA to study cinema, where he also directed many live theatre productions before returning to Greece to work on a number of prime time television shows. With much of his career spent in producing roles, Without Borders is Gaitatjis second feature as director, following on from Gettin It (2006). An enigmatic thriller about true love and sacrifice, set within the art world. Famous painter Maria Demou (Maria Protopappa) died mysteriously 15 years ago. In preparing a retrospective exhibition of her work, young researcher Anna (Alexia Kaltsiki) calls on Maria s lover, Angel (Georges Corraface), who uncovers some paintings Anna did not realise existed. This awakens her curiosity about the past and even Angel s possible involvement in Maria s sudden death. When Anna threatens to cancel the exhibition, Angel feels compelled to open his heart to her, revealing the truth of his life the enigmatic existence of an alter ego and the transcendent beauty of his art. Η Άννα, μια νεαρή ιστορικός τέχνης, ετοιμάζει ένα τιμητικό αφιέρωμα στα έργα της διάσημης ζωγράφου Μαρίας Δήμου. Στο πλευρό της για να την βοηθήσει, είναι ο σύντροφος της Δήμου και στενός συνεργάτης της, Άγγελος. Μαζί θα ξετυλίξουν το κουβάρι της ζωής της Μαρίας, και το μυστήριο που τυλίγει τον θάνατό της. Nudity and sex scenes Greece 2011 130mins e-cinema Written by Stelios Haralambopoulos Produced by Thanos Lambropoulos Cast: Georges Corraface, Maria Protopappa, Alexia Kaltsiki, Nikos Kouris Born in Athens in 1956, Stavros Haralambopoulos studied at the Stavrakos Film School and the School of Economic and Commercial Sciences. He is a co-founder of the independent production company Periplus. His films include Hades (1996) and the documentaries The Moment Time Was Suspended (1993), Patmos (1995) and Mediterranean Stories (1999-2000).
NEO CINEMA 26 27 Journey to Mytilene (Ταξίδι στη Μυτιλήνη) dir: Lakis Papastathis Black Field (Μαύρο Λιβάδι) dir: Vardis Marinakis Veteran filmmaker Lakis Papastathis combines nostalgic fiction with his personal experiences when reacquainting with his birthplace Mytilene, on the Aegean island of Lesbos. Christos Hatzipanayotis plays Kostas who is, ostensibly, an on-screen version of Papastathis a filmmaker who returns from working in Paris to his childhood home after inheriting the family residence. His return sees him amiably reacquainted with relatives and friends; fond reminiscences facilitate a connection between the older, wiser Kostas and the same man as a ten-year-old boy. However, Kostas has to manage a daunting confrontation with a dark time in his family s history, along with his relationship with Eleni a young woman working at a nursing home on the island. Ο Κώστας μετά από είκοσι χρόνια παραμονής του στο Παρίσι αποφασίζει να επιστρέψει στην πατρίδα του, τη Μυτιλήνη. Ένα βαρύ οικογενειακό ιστορικό τον κρατούσε μακριά. Κατά την επιστροφή του συναντάει όσους από τους συγγενείς του έχουν απομείνει και θυμάται έντονα εκείνους που έχουν φύγει για πάντα από τη ζωή. Greek and English language with English subtitles Greece 2010 105mins e-cinema Written and produced by Lakis Papastathis Cast: Christos Hatzipanayotis, Maria Zorba, Dimitris Katalifos Lakis Papastathis career spans over forty years in Greek film and entertainment. Born in Volos in 1943, he studied cinema in Athens and was an assistant director in several Greek films from 1968 to 1971, as well as working in television as far back as 1974. Journey to Mytilene is his fourth feature, following When the Greeks (1981), Theofilos (1987) and The Only Journey of his Life (2001). The year is 1654 when Greece was under the Ottoman Empire. A wounded man (Christos Passalis) arrives at a remote Orthodox convent; he is a Janissary a Greek who had been taken from his parents and brought up to serve in the Ottoman army. A young Greek nun, Anthi (Sofia Georgovassili), who has taken an oath of silence, nurses him back to health. The two fall in love against the odds. But Anthi has a secret: she is actually a boy who grew up as a girl and was hidden in the monastery to avoid being captured and forced to become a Janissary. The lovers escape to the nearby forest and lose themselves in a dreamlike existence, but soon they must face up to a harsh reality. Την περίοδο της Τουρκοκρατίας, η Ανθή, μια έφηβη μοναχή, αναλαμβάνει να φροντίσει έναν βαριά τραυματισμένο Γενίτσαρο. Κι ενώ η Ανθή και ο πολεμιστής έρχονται κοντά, ο Τούρκος διοικητής τον αναζητά. Οι δυο τους θα το σκάσουν από το μοναστήρι και θα βρουν καταφύγιο στο γειτονικό δάσος όπου εκεί θα ανακαλυφθεί ένα τρομερό μυστικό. Greek and Turkish language with English subtitles Confronting Adult Themes Greece 2009 106mins e-cinema Written by Vardis Marinakis Produced by George Lykiardopoulos Cast: Sofia Georgovassili, Christos Passalis, Despoina Bebedeli, Maria Panourgia, Despoina Kourti Born in Athens, Vardis Marinakis studied at London s National Film School under the supervision of Steven Friars. He has directed international award-winning short films like Defteri Fysi (Second Nature) and Summer Love, as well as numerous television commercials. Black Field is his feature film debut.
28 MICHAEL CACOYANNIS 21 June 1921 25 July 2011 Michael Cacoyannis was born on June 11, 1921 in Limassol, Cyprus. He studied law in London and was called to the Bar in 1943, but after working in law and for the BBC s Greek service he decided to enter into the world of acting and directing. In 1952 he left London to settle in Athens and one year later the success of his first film Windfall in Athens marked the beginning of an international career in directing. His films including Stella, A Girl in Black, A Matter of Dignity, Zorba the Greek, and the trilogy of Electra, The Trojan Women and Iphigenia were regularly screened at the most prestigious international film festivals. Michael Cacoyannis was distinguished not only as an international filmmaker, but also as a stage and opera director, with critically acclaimed productions all over the world. For his work and overall contributions to the Arts, Michael Cacoyannis was honoured with many international titles and awards including: the Order of the Golden Phoenix (Greece), the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (France), the Grand Cross / Order of Makarios III (Cyprus) and the Special Grand Prix of the Americas (Montreal). Michael Cacoyannis biography and image courtesy of the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation. A Girl in Black (Το Κορίτσι με τα Μαύρα) dir: Michael Cacoyannis Despite a modest budget, one camera and a shooting schedule of just eight weeks in 1956, this film brought renewed international attention to the Greek film industry. Spectacularly shot on the island of Hydra by Cacoyannis regular collaborator Walter Lassally, A Girl in Black sees a writer (Dimitris Horn) take up residence in the house of an impoverished widow for a short holiday. The woman and her family are publicly disgraced when she is caught in the arms of a lover. The scandal arouses sympathy in the writer, who also falls in love with the widow s timid daughter, Marina (Elli Lambeti). But feuds and rivalries stand in their way, and the couple find themselves bearing the brunt of further hostility. Ο Παύλος και ο Αντώνης φτάνουν στην Ύδρα για να περάσουν μερικές μέρες ξεκούρασης. Θα νοικιάσουν δωμάτια στο σπίτι της χήρας Φρόσως, που ζει μαζί με την κόρη της Μαρίνα. Ο Παύλος σιγά-σιγά ανακαλύπτει ότι η οικογένεια είναι μια ειδική περίπτωση στο νησί, ανακαλύπτει όμως και την θλιμμένη ομορφιά της Μαρίνας. Greece 1956 101mins B&W e-cinema Written by Michael Cacoyannis Cast: Elli Lambeti, Dimitris Horn, Eleni Zafeirou, Stephanos Stratigos, Giorgos Foundas 29 Stella (Στέλλα) dir: Michael Cacoyannis This 1955 retelling of Carmen launched the career of actress/politician Melina Mercouri, who debuted with the title role of Stella at the age of 35. She is a headstrong rembetiko singer a wild child who repeatedly rejects the marriage proposals of the professional soccer player she loves, Miltos (Giorgos Foundas). Eventually, he coaxes her into accepting, but all does not go smoothly from then on. Originally the stuff of controversy and panned by critics, Stella is now regarded as one of the greatest Greek films of all time. Features music by Manos Hadjidakis and Vasilis Tsitsanis. Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film in 1956. Η Στέλλα είναι τραγουδίστρια που έχει δεσμό με τον Αλέκο, γόνο πλούσιας οικογένειας. Όταν θα σκοτωθεί ο Αλέκος σε ένα ατύχημα η Στέλλα θα βρεθεί σε στενή πολιορκία από τον ποδοσφαιριστή του Ολυμπιακού, τον Μίλτο. Greece 1955 100mins B&W 35mm Written by Michael Cacoyannis & Iakovos Kambanellis Produced by Milas Film Cast: Melina Mercouri, Giorgos Foundas, Alekos Alexandrakis, Christina Kalogerikou, Voula Zoumboulaki My Life And Times: Michael Cacoyannis (Μια Ζωή, μια Εποχή: Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης) dir: Lydia Karras An unmissable documentary about the great Greek-Cypriot filmmaker and stage director. Under the skilful direction of Lydia Karras, Michael Cacoyannis probably best known to western audiences as the maker of Zorba The Greek narrates the story of his life. From his childhood in Cyprus to Hollywood and beyond, Cacoyannis takes us on a journey spanning over five decades of a dramatically changing world. The documentary also includes recollections from Walter Lassally, Vincent Cassel, Claire Bloom and Charlotte Rampling on their collaboration with Cacoyannis. Ο Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης αφηγείται ο ίδιος για πρώτη φορά τη ζωή και την εποχή του! Mια πολύτιμη μαρτυρία όπου με οξυδέρκεια και χιούμορ σχολιάζει σε αποσπάσματα ταινιών του τους διεθνείς αστέρες που συνεργάστηκαν μαζί του. Greece Cyprus 2011 87mins e-cinema Written and produced by Lydia Karras Cast: Michael Cacoyannis, Charlotte Rampling, Claire Bloom, Vincent Cassel Lydia Karras studied Sociology at the Sorbonne, International Relations at University College, London, and obtained an MA with distinction in Classics from London University. She has directed 13 documentaries, among them Voice of the Aegean, awarded Best Film on Nature at the 2005 European Heritage Film Festival. Together with her husband, Costas, she founded the Hellenic Society for the Environment and the Protection of the Cultural Heritage.
DOCUMENTARIES AND SHORT FILM 30 In order to be submitted the films must be a short fiction, animation of documentary film and include the theme. This year s theme was a journey which was open to the interpretation and creativity of the students and teachers involved.melbourne s best entries will be screened as part of the 18th Greek Film Festival and three prizes will be awarded in each category. 11 The films will be screened and awarded on Sunday 30th October, 2011 at 11:30am at Palace Cinema Como. The event is a collaborative effort between the Antipodes Festival and the Education Office of the Consulate General of Greece in Melbourne with the support of the Victorian state government s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. My Sweet Canary (Καναρίνι μου Γλυκό) dir: Roy Sher Roza Eskenazi sang the way she lived with passion, fire and love. Inspired by her legacy, three young musicians from Greece, Turkey and Israel embark on an exciting musical journey to recount the story of Greece s original and best-loved rembetiko singer from the 1930s. This is the first time her story has been told in film. It is a journey that takes them from Istanbul to Thessaloniki and to Athens as they follow the musical trail Roza left behind. Most of all, it s a journey into a world that has largely vanished, but whose sounds continue to echo throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Ένα μουσικό ταξίδι στα βήματα της ρεμπέτισσας Ρόζας Εσκενάζυ από την Κωνσταντινούπολη και την Θεσσαλονίκη μέχρι την Αθήνα, με συνοδοιπόρους 3 καλλιτέχνες από την Ελλάδα, το Ισραήλ και την Τουρκία. Stuffed dir: Mary Melabiotis Male bonding is given a whole new meaning in this modern day Greek Australian dating Odyssey, as three guys struggle to withstand the call of the Sirens trying to lure them away from the good Greek girls. Το δέσιμο μεταξύ φίλων αποκτά νέο νόημα στη μοντέρνα αυτή Ελληνο-Αυστραλιανή ερωτική Οδύσσεια όταν τρεις κολλητοί φίλοι δυσκολεύονται να αντισταθούν στο κάλεσμα των Σειρήνων οι οποίες προσπαθούν να τους τραβήξουν μακριά από τις καλές Ελληνοπούλες Language: English and Greek Australia 2011 15mins e-cinema Written by Mary Melabiotis A Ballamela production Cast: Jenny Apostolidis, Lee Andrikopoulos, Emmanuel Papadakis, Nikita Ballas Shooting vs Shooting (Πεθαίνοντας για την Αλήθεια) dir: Nikos Megrelis This groundbreaking documentary spotlights the deaths of journalists in the recent Iraq War the bloodiest war ever for media personnel on the ground. It reveals unknown sides to the atrocities committed by fanatics and the responsibilities of governments, while simultaneously detailing individual examples of courage, altruism and humanity that stood out amid the horrors of war. Distinguished journalists and authors from all over the world among them Peter Arnett, John Pilger, Michael Massing, Anthony Shadid, Chris Cramer, Kevin Sites, Philip Knightly, Aidan White disclose the hidden agenda behind targeting journalists in Iraq and other war zones. More than three years of research, 70 interviews and filming in more than ten countries have been powerfully distilled to shed light on the facts, as well as the need for justice and respect of human rights. Following the success of last year s inaugural Greek Student Film Festival and Competition, it returns again for 2011. This year the Festival was open to Modern Greek Students from primary through to tertiary level Australia-wide. Categories Primary school students (years 5-6) Secondary school students (years 7-9) Secondary school students (years 10-12) Tertiary students Prizes Three prizes will be awarded in each category 1st prize, $400 2nd prize, $300 3rd prize, $200 All students will receive a certificate of participation. Language: Greek, English, Turkish, Hebrew and Ladino, with English subtitles Greece Israel France 2011 89mins e-cinema Το ντοκιμαντέρ αφορά στους άδικους θανάτους δημοσιογράφων και εργαζόμενων στα μέσα ενημέρωσης, που σκοτώθηκαν στο Ιράκ, από την έναρξη του πολέμου το 2003 μέχρι και σήμερα. Αποκαλύπτει άγνωστες πλευρές των γεγονότων, την ευθύνη των κυβερνήσεων καθώς και μοναδικά παραδείγματα ανδρείας, αλτρουισμού και ανθρωπισμού. Various languages with English subtitles War themes Greece 2011 80mins e-cinema
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