LAGFF Orpheus Awards

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Closing Night Orpheus Awards & Party

Karyofyllia Karabeti Honored with 2024 Orpheus Award

Photo credit: Vanessa Skopeo (@HeartSparkStudios)

Several hundred guests attended Closing Night of the 18th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival on June 9 at Silver Screen Theatre, Pacific Design Center. The critically acclaimed MURDERESS (FONISSA), starring Karyofyllia Karabeti and directed by Eva Nathena, was featured and included a live dialogue with the film’s star and director. The screening was preceded by a lively red carpet hosted by influencer Becca Brazil and followed by the Orpheus Awards. 

The Orpheus Awards hosted by Arianna Papalexopoulos honored renowned Greek actress Karyofyllia Karabeti with the 2024 Orpheus Award. Awards Presenters were Angelo Hatgistavrou: Best Animation, Maria Korinthiou: Best Short Film, Jaswant Shrestha: Best Documentary, Eliza Gerontakis: Honoree Award, Elena Evangelo: Best Performance + Best Director, Marie Avgeropoulos: Best Film. 

The Closing Night reception and party were presented by The Kolovos Family, appetizers and catering by NICK THE GREEK, wines by AVRA, VIP Room catering by Petros, Cocktails from Kleos Mastiha, Dulce Vida Tequila, and Empress Gin, Water from Smart Water, soft drinks and cookies by Optima Foods and VIP gift bags from Chrysofora olive oil and Hellenic Aesthetic.

LAGFF 2024 Jury Panelists: Spiro Skentzos, Colin Campbell, Andrew Wagner, Jaswant Shrestha, María Elena de las Carreras, Eugene Brancolini, Cheng Guo, Portlynn Tagavi, Chris Tsirgiotis, Hugh O’Gorman, Lisa Ogdie, and Jourdain Searles.

LAGFF 2024 showcased 80+ films over 9 days in theatres and one week online (June 9-16), including feature films, shorts, documentaries, animation, and retrospectives, highlighting the depth of the Greek Film Industry today. The on-line portion of the Festival (June 9-16) offers virtual screenings and events on the LAGFF platform powered by Eventive and presented by the GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION. On June 13, a Distribution Agreements Webinar with Entertainment Attorney Carol T. Contes and Freestyle Digital Media's Head of Digital Film Distribution Bill Vergos is geared toward independent filmmakers.

The 2024 Orpheus Winners:

ANIMATION

Ready by Eirini Vianelli - Best Animation

Claw Machine by George Salameh - Special Jury Award

SHORTS

Wings by Fivos Imellos - Best Short

Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou - Special Jury Award

DOCUMENTARIES

Kristos, the last child by Giulia Amati - Best Documentary

Laughing in Afghanistan by Anneta Papathanassiou - Special Jury Award

BEST PERFORMANCE

Best Performance - Dimitra Vlagopoulou for her role in Animal 

Special Jury Award - Karyofyllia Karabeti for her role in Murderess

BEST DIRECTOR

Best - Adonis Florides for Africa Star

Special Jury Award - Eva Nathena for Murderess

BEST FILM

Animal by Sofia Exarchou

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience for SHORT

ONE NOTE MAN by George Siougas

Audience Award for DOCUMENTARY

Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field by Michael Selditch

Audience Award for FEATURE FILM

JAUNT by Alexi Papalexopoulos

Discovery Days Honorable Mention

Four Funerals And A Wedding (Montenegro) 

Director / Writer: Nikola Mijovic

Producer: Maja Kecojevic (Parangal Film)

Discovery Days Winner

Nearby Faraway (Greek, Germany) 

Director / Writer: Sonia Liza Kenterman

Producer: Myrto Stathi (BYRD)

Photo credit: Vanessa Skopeo (@HeartSparkStudios)

Now in its 10th edition, the DISCOVERY DAYS story & screenplay lab continues to serve as an industry leader in developing artistic international feature film projects as well as fostering ties between filmmakers from Southern Europe / the Balkans and the Los Angeles community of cinema. Many films that have participated in the lab go on to successful paths, including MEDIUM directed by Christina Ioakeimidi, screening at this year's LAGFF. Under the leadership of director Araceli Lemos, Discovery Days received a record number of submissions and ultimately selected seven projects. The team includes Joel Garber (Producer), Karina Logothetis (Producer) and Nasos Gatzoulis (Programmer). To celebrate Discovery Days' 10th anniversary edition, Greek sculptor Kyriakos Rokos created this year's award.

DISCOVERY DAYS 2024 Jury: Mo Perkins, Orly Ravid, Dea Vasquez, and Jonathan Wysocki.

DISCOVERY DAYS 2024 Mentors - https://www.lagff.org/discovery-days/meet-the-experts-2024/