Don't forget: vote online for your favorite film, between 1-16 November 2008!

Venue: The Hellenic Centre, 16-18 Paddington Street, Marylebone, London, W1U 5AS

Don't forget: to buy your tickets online and to vote @ the Hellenic Centre for your favorite film in the in-house screenings!

Screen 1 - Great Hall

Trailers and Networking before you enter the Greek moving image dream. Learn about the Hellenic Centre, join the digital photographic exhibition of Melina Merkouri, take a look at the program and videos in the Friend's Room, vote for your favorite films, watch trailers or just drink a cup of coffee and start networking at the bar!

Fiction Feature. UK Premier. Before we where Turtles. Directed by Grigori Poulimas.The film is a chilling portrayal of an emotionally abusive man who is forced to face the tragic consequences of his actions, while his girlfriend comes to realize the affects his abuse has had on her identity. The film was entirely shot in Chicago, and stars unknown Chicago actors, James Zois and Cristin McAlister. Poulimas’ intense writing and direction in ‘Before We Were Turtles’ takes you on a personal and captivating journey with Zois’ and McAlister’s characters, who anguish through the affects of their relationship in very different ways. This heartbreakingly addictive film is one that everyone will relate to. Produser: Sarah Alipourian. Cast: James Zois, Cristin McAlister. Production: Dispepsia Production Inc, USA, 2007. 74 min.

Documentary. World Premier. Euripides' Tragedy Medea. Directed by Andreas Thomopoulos. Dramatized theatrical documentary on Euripide's tragedy MEDEA that we have just completed. The highlights of Euripide's scenes and the mythology around Medea's and Jason's affair leading to the killing of their children, are acted by a progressive theatrical group. A new rubrical approach of Euripides's tragedy MEDEA. Cast: Maria Skoupa, Yannis Vouros, ilias Gogiannos, Costas Sirakis, Vassilis Koukalanis, Tasos Raptis. Production: STUDIO ALFA S.A. and  the theatre Company PROSODIA, Greece, 2007. 51.26 min.

Documentary. UK Premier. The Network. Directed by Andreas Apostolidis. A major ethical crisis is underway in many big museums of the USA, which is also a crisis about dealing in looted antiquities everywhere. Among others at risk are the Metropolitan and Getty’s reputations in the murky market of international art. The former curator for antiquities, Marion True, went on trial in Rome charged with criminal conspiracy. “NETWORK” is a documentary foretelling this crisis, focusing in the ring of people connected in smuggling antiquities, especially Greek and Italian. Most revealing in the documentary are Tomas Hoving (former director of Metropolitan), George Ortiz (major private collector in Geneva), Jerome Eisenberg (Royal Athena Gallery New York) and also General Conforti (Carabinieri), Dick Ellis (former chief of the Art Squad of Scotland Yard), Patrick Gildea (FBI Special Agent).Big cases are presented such as the Corinth Museum theft, the Euphronious Crater, the Marion true involvement in the smuggled bronze statue (the Saarbrucken affair), the Robin Symes and Jacomo Medici persecutions. Script: Andreas Apostolidis/ Nikolas Zirganos. Research: Nikolas Zirganos, Rea Apostolides. Associate Producer:  Rea Apostolides. Cinematography: Vangelis Koulinos. Music Composer: Andonis Bardakos. Production: Anemon Productions, Greece, 2005. 60 min. Ranked among the top five films in four categories (Best Film, Special Mention, Best Narration and Best Script) at the Archaeology Channel International Film & Video Festival in Eugene, Oregon, USA, in May 2007. Network won the Audience Award at the AGON Film Festival 2006 (International Meeting of Archaeological Film of the Mediterranean Area).

Documentary. UK Premier. Voices through the Ashes. Directed by Miltos Hadjoulles. Chronicle of a Greece ablaze during the forest fires in August 2007 that cost 73 lives and incinerated millions of acres of forest and arable land. Shock waves struck the globe when news broke out of a mother that was burned alive holding her four children. SIGMA TV recorded and broadcasted exclusive details of this mother's tragedy; exclusive images from the battle between Cypriot firefighters and the inferno, an instrumental effort in the salvaging of entire village communities; but, also, the bloodcurdling voices that can be heard through the ashes, an eerie reassurance that the land shall again be fertile. Editor: Panayiotis Dimopoulos Editing: Yiannis Kozakos, News Presenter: Nikitas Kyriakoy, Co-ordination & Communication:  Elizabeth Antoniadoy. Production: Sigma Radio TV, Cyprus, 2007, 20 min. The film won the Golden Umbrella Award for the best news coverage in Eastern Europe Festival and Market TV News and Documentaries Coordinator on June 2008. Also Voices through the Ashes has been selected as a 2008 International EmmyR Award Regional Semi-Finalist in the category of News. The film competed in the Final Round of Judging for an International Emmy Award nomination.

Special Screening - Documentary. UK Premier. Voice of the Aegean. Directed by Lydia Karras. Music by Evanthia Reboutsika. The Aegean we love with its pristine beaches and traditional villages is fast disappearing. The rapid, anarchic building of recent years is changing its distinctive character. The film, through the use of archival material, traces the roots of today’s developments and refers to the recent wars, the poverty, the painful emigration. Through dialogue with the islanders , we learn of their own broad concerns. At another level the film emphasizes the importance of nature in our lives and the value of beauty. Elytis’ verse is a reminder of the primeval quality of the Aegean. Creative ideas are suggested to achieve a more sustainable prosperity. Production: Hellenic Broadcasting Corp. ERT SA, Greek Film Centre, 2004. 61 min. Prize for Better Film on the Natural Environment at the European Heritage Film Festival.

Documentary. UK Premier. The Bridegrooms. Directed by Kimon Tsakiris. In the Greek village of Sugar Town, men have a serious problem. Women are fleeing the area in search of work or marriage in the big cities, leaving them behind- and lonely. Their cunning mayor, promises the men to find them wives in order to get re-elected.  He contacts the mayor of the Russian town of Klin, who gathers 100 young women looking for foreign husbands. Against the odds and local traditions which frown upon mixed marriages, the men from Sugar Town set out on a great journey to find their future brides. Script: Kimon Tsakiris. Producers: Rea Apostolides, Kimon Tsakiris. Music: Sergios Voudris. Production: Anemon Productions, Hellenic Broadcasting Corp. ERT S.A., Bi-Optic Productions, Greek Film Centre, George Michaelides, Greece, 2007. 82 min. International Grand Prix for Author's Documentaries του Université Radiophonique et télévisuel internationale (URTI)-Monte Carlo Television Festival. Βραβείο Best Ethnographical Film- Dialektus Film Festival 2008 Ουγγαρία. Βραβείο Καλύτερου Πρωτοεμφανιζόμενου Σκηνοθέτη-2ο Διεθνές Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Κύπρου (CIFF) 2007. Υποψηφιότητα για καλύτερη ευρωπαϊκή τηλεοπτική παραγωγή στις κατηγορίες TV Documentary και TV IRIS- Prix Europa 2007, Βερολίνο. Βραβείο Κοινού-TV Festival Bar, Μαυροβούνιο 2007. Silver Horseshoe-AsterFest Film Festival 2007. Κρατικό Βραβείο Καλύτερου Ντοκιμαντέρ-Φεστιβάλ Κινηματογράφου Θεσσαλονίκης 2006. Βραβείο Κοινού-Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης 2006.

Short Film. UK Premier. Praxis. Directed by Abraham Papavramopoulos. TV Spot. PRAKSIS is an independent, non-governmental organization. Its main target is the creation, application and implementation of social and medical act programs. The applied TV spot promotes PRAKSIS’ campaign for the International Day against Aids (1/12/2007) which was supported from Greek General Secretariat for Youth and other 11 ngos were participating. Every aspect of this spot was a free contribution (thanks to the people mentioned at Credits). The TV spot, with the participation of half-dressed celebrities posing in each others arms, the director of the film successfully depicted the need to fight against social racism towards the HIV-positive population. The main target of the spot was to attract one’s eye by showing them an image that strongly suggests the act of making love and combine it to the importance of the use of condom. The speakage was thought in a way to strengthen this message whilst it says “hug means love, condom (mean) safety!” The celebrities appearing in the Aids Day TV spot have willingly participated knowing that it was a volunteer project; every needed service was provided for free (make up artist, studio for shooting, director, etc). Cast: Aggelidou Labrini, Giavara Despoina, Loulis Hristos, Mamouri Maria, Papadimitriou Dimitris, Papaioannou Lidia, Sissovitis Alekos. Music: Konstantinos Vita. Production: PRAKSIS, Greece, 2008. 0.30 min (30 sec).

Animation. World Premier. The Wedding Ring. Directed by Panagiotis Tsimpiridis. Based on the lyrics of Thanassis Papakonstantinou’s song “The wedding ring” (“Η βέρα” in Greek). The story is about a man who, being bored of his married life, throws his wedding ring to the sea. A fish eats the ring, but finally the fish ends up on the man’s plate and the ring back to his finger. Story based on the lyrics of Thanassis Papakonstantinou’s song “The wedding ring” (“Η βέρα” in Greek). Music by Thanassis Papakonstantinou. Production Manager & Assistant Art Director: Maria Stefanidis. Independent Production, USA, 2008. 2.25 min.

Fiction Feature. UK Premier. Kiss of Life. Directed by Nikos Zapatinas. Pashalis is an agriculturalist, 30 years old who is about to get married to his beloved Anthoula, in Milos island. By mistake, he will be stuck in a boat to Sifnos, where he will meet Zoe, a beautiful but strange photographer. Things will get out of hand, when Pashalis will realize that due to a costal navigation strike he cannot reach Milos for his wedding! His hopes rise again, when along with Zoe, they meet a couple in Sifnos that does everything in their power to help him go back to his future wife and get married!Nevertheless, many unexpected mix – ups will lead to many plot twists, funny incidents and “guilty” revelations. Script: Nikos Zapatinas. Music by: Sumka. Cast: Laertis Malkotsis, Katerina Papoutsaki, Themos Anastasiades, Zeta Douka, Sakis Boulas, Yiannis Zouganelis. Produced by: Harry Antonopoulos, Lily Papadopoulos. Associate Producer: Themos Anastasiades. Line Producer: Yiannis Iakovidis. Production: Village Productions Hellas S.A., Black Orange S.A., Greece, 2007. 100 min. 

Short Film. World Premier. Loneliness. Directed by John Michael Mouskos. The emotions of loneliness and love... Cast: Melen Milae (voice). Independent Production, Cyprus, 2008. 5.30 min

Special Screening - Documentary. UK Premier. People of Peace. Directed by Maria Hatzimichali Papaliou. The film is based mainly on excerpts from ancient Greek writers, as far as the narration is concerned, and uses scenes from conflicts of the last century that demonstrate their devastating effects on the earth and humanity. The excerpts are read by leading personalities of our times, who have taken a stand against the culture of war and destructiveness, such as the Nobel Prize winner Nelson Mandela, the artists Fernando Botero, Theo Angelopoulos, Mikis Theodorakis (who also lent his music to the documentary), and others. These excerpts were selected because when it came to war the ancient Greeks considered it their supreme duty to exercise self-criticism and refrained from succumbing to arrogance when they were victorious. Spoken by these personalities, their words acquire a new force and become the actual, present-day language used to express opposition to war. Script: Fanis Kakridis. Music: Mikis Theodorakis.Production: Positive Hd, Greece, 2006. 34 min. The documentary was filmed with the support of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO and was placed under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic Mr. Karolos Papoulias. It was screened at the Athens Concert Hall on 24 September 2006 in the course of celebrations for the International Day of Peace.

Late Evening Event and Networking. ODYSSEUS AWARDS. Louiza Sofianopoulou and Anna Blonsky; Improvising love: jazzed moments from romantic cinema songs in the Odysseus Awards evening!

The jury decides; you also! 

ODYSSEUS AWARDS 2008 includes:

• Best Fiction Feature Film
• Best Documentary
• Best Short Film
• Best Video Art Movie
• Best Student Film
• Best Animation movie
• Audience Choice
• World Wide Web Visitors Choice
• Best Fiction Feature Film Script
• Best Short Film Script

 IMPROVISING LOVE

Jazzed moments of romantic cinema songs

Louiza Sofianopoulou and Anna Blonsky are “playing” with beloved songs from the world of cinema, using jazz music to give them a more relaxed and liberated feeling. The songs they have chosen come from different countries and are of variable musical styles but all share the same theme; LOVE or else EROS in all of its aspects. Louiza and Anna will perform between rewards.

MORE

Screen 2 - Board Room

Trailers and Networking. Join the different. More experimental, alternative or independent works here; documentaries, short films, fiction feature, video art, student films... A different point of view, a different networking, more cozy atmosphere!

Fiction Feature. World Premier. Antigone. Directed by Angelo Valentino and Costas Costa. ......A modern version of Antigone by Sophocles... Independent Production, Greece, 2008. 77 min.

Documentary. UK Premier. 'Chaomos': The Winter Festival of Kalash. Directed by Yiannis Manolidakis. The film follows the winter solstice festival at the Kalash, a small nation in N.W.Pakistan who is believe to have close relations with the Greek's since ancient times. The documentary was shot by Yiannis Manolidakis and his associate Inger Carslon, during a winter exhibition in 2005, mainly for the purposes of Manolidakis's Ethnological research project. Independent Production, Greece, 2007. 70 min.

Documentary. Etel Adnan 'Words in Exile'. Directed by Vouvoula Skoura. “Etel Adan, Words in Exile” is built around Adnan’s correspondence with Professor of History Fawwaz Traboulsi, as it appears in the book  “Of Cities and Women: Letters to Fawazz” (1993) and fragments of her conversations with Vouvoula Skoura as recorded in Paris and the Greek island of Skopelos from 2003 to 2006. Etel, faced with the sea- the Mediterranean as the ‘conjunctive link’ of cultural experience - creates her own geography of Cities and Women. Paris, Barcelona, Murcia, Amsterdam, Skopelos, Rome and Beirut are the “cities- references’ in the film. Etel compares the attitudes of women –as described effortlessly in her correspondence with Fawwaz- and makes reference to issues involving women in the modern world – like the head-covering. A conversation with the theatre critic, Eleni Varopoulou on our contemporary world, the multicultural world. For Adnan,  the world dawns in Beirut, the city is revisited throughout the film as her idiosyncratic universe is composed in the depiction of closed and open spaces, the interplay of light and darkness,  conversations of consequence and of the insignificant and references to her many travels. Beirut is embedded in happy childhood memories, in times of acrimony and  maturity and re-emerges in the centre of the recent political crisis in Lebanon. Etel harbours no illusions, she is reflexive, she analyses the cause-effect relationship of the developments in the Middle-East, she registers her anti-war stance, she corresponds and paints. Various languages (French, English, Greek and Arabic) are heard on the film, she speaks them all, expressing her intimate exile, and the continuous struggle for an identity in terms of her origins. In her travels, Adnan is seeking a home country. In finding home, she becomes increasingly humanistic. Producer: Nikos Tamiolakis. Production: Cinergon, Greece, 2006. 52 min. GREEK FILM CENTER AWARD.

Student Film. World Premier. Peloponnesus. Directed by Alexandros Papathansiou. Short documentary. The impact of the conflagrations that Peloponnesus was affected on August 2007. It is a research of the causes and effects of the human, natural, and economical disaster of the county of Ilia.  Interviewees: Nikos Bourogiannopoulos, Charalambus Bourogiannopoulou, Aggeliki Lambropoulou, Arisogeitonas Pothos, Katerina Foropoulou. Filmed by Archodia papathanasiou, Alexandros Papathanasiou. Production: Anglia Raskin University, UK, 2008. 10 min.

Fiction Feature. World Premier. Unitas. Directed by Kostis Bassogiannis. Chris, a drug dealer, and Lily, a prostitute, live in the forgotten port town of UNITAS.  Lily wants to leave behind the misery they live in.  She wants to fly far away.  Chris is hesitant and fearful.  Lily abandons him.  Chris realizes he can not live without Lily.  “Ok, we’ll fly”.  Lily is now fearful.  In the port of Unitas, Chris and Lily prepare to spread their wings and take flight, risking it all.  Will their strength last, or will it fade?  How strong are the wings and will of Chris and Lily?  Will they take flight?Will they crash and burn, falling once more in the poorly woven nest that is called Unitas? Cast: Spiros-Andreas Papadatos, Katerina Savrani, Renos Mantis, Panos Garbis, Larissa Vergou, Eugenia Deliali, Drorjije Petrovic. Script: Spiros – Antreas Papadatos, Kostis Bassogiannis. Music: Akis Theotokatos. Independent Production, Greece, 2008, 75 min.

Video Art. UK Premier. Summertime. Directed by Gm Touliatou. The video titled “summertime” is composed by a number of semi-desaturated stills (extracted from the relevant video-row) introduced by and ended up with the lyrics of a famous lullaby (Summertime - Ira Gershwin & Du Bose Heyward, 1933). My constant interest lies in both the simplicity and controversy of the present media (a series of stills referred to the trivial aesthetics of ‘a wedding glorious photo-album of memories’, thus the words of a well known song). They allow me to conduct an experiment on what could be considered as ‘noir ambience’ in terms of a real-life situation, in the realm of the Greek every-day culture. Lyrics: Ira Gershwin and  Du Bose Heyward. Independent Production, Greece, 2007. 2.40 min.

Student Film. World Premier. Nikos Heart Sophia. Directed by Lottie Gammon. A London Greek musician deals with the loss of his family. Cast: Nicos Nicholas as himself. Production: National Film and Television School, UK, 2008. 9.45 min.