Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Celebrates First Decade Capturing the Films from Greece

On Thursday, June 2nd LAGFF will have a special tribute to iconic Greek director Alexis Damianos with a screening of the all-time favorite masterpiece "Evdokia" in its original 35mm format. First released in 1971, this Greek/UK co-production is a love story between a prostitute (Evdokia) and a sergeant (Yorgos). The film features an original Manos Loizos' Rembetico musical piece and stars the late Maria Vassilou (Chrysothemis) and Chris Zorbas (Silhouettes). In 2002, the Greek Film Critics Association voted Evdokia as one the 5 best Greek films of all time.

Thursday also offers writer/director Athina Rachel Tsangari's critically acclaimed comedy "Chevalier". Tsangari, who is attending this year's festival, will also be conducting a Directing Master Class on Saturday, June 4 which is open to the public.

There is something for every Cinephile on Friday, June 3 when the Festival screens 15 films beginning at 4:00 P.M. The TGIF program includes a searing look at relationships with Panos Karkanevatos' "Riverbanks" (Ohthes) and Dimitri Anthanitis' drama "Invisible". Representative of Friday's documentary offerings is Loukas Stamellos' "Golden Dawn: A Personal Affair" about the Greek neo-Nazi party "Golden Dawn" and Vasilis Katsoupis' "My Friend Larry Gus" about the Milan, Italy-based electronic artist.

Preceding all narrative and documentary films is a litany of the best creative shorts of 2015 and 2016. Highlights include Haris Pantelidakis comedy "Pacino's Way", Nikos Tsemberopoulos', "Simon Says" winner of the Grand Prize of the Competition Section Greek Film Short Film of the 21st Athens International Film Festival 'Opening Nights'
,Christos Liakouris' family drama and festival circuit favorite "Pet" and "Stutterer" Benjamin Cleary and Serena Armitage's 2016 Oscar Winner for Short Film (Live Action). Michael Paledimos, "Stutterer's" Producer will be in attendance for the film
with Q&A to follow.

New this year, Loyola Marymount University (LMU) Professor of Classics Katerina

Zacharia instituted an Interdisciplinary Core course on "Representations of Greece: Ancient and Modern" with embedded student internships at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. The 16 LMU-LAGFF interns and Prof. Zacharia assisted in the selection of this year's program. LAGFF designated an LMU Special Selection slot at 10 pm on Saturday, June 4th 2016, during which the LAGFF-LMU interns selected Angelos Frantzis modern fantasy drama "Symptom" and the short "Pet" by Christos Liakouris for their screening.
For the first time in Festival history, LAGFF is opening its screenings free of charge to all college students with a valid student ID. Discounted tickets to the Opening and Closing Night Galas for eligible students will also be offered.

"With two major North American premieres and possibly the best Greek film of all time, we are proud to kick off our 10th annual LAGFF. We are screening an unprecedented 55 films and enjoying the attendance of over 50 filmmakers, representing their films in the festival. This is a Festival to experience and remember," states artistic director Aris Katopodis.
For a complete list of films and screening times visit http://lagff.org