The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF), an annual film festival showcasing new works by Greek filmmakers from around the world, now in its 17th consecutive successful year, announced October 10 that it will expand its mission and scope of action with an ambitious program. as part of the global program Global Greek Film Initiative (GGFI).
GGFI is strategically designed to establish a range of new annual programs aimed at promoting cultural exchanges between Greece, the United States and the Hellenic diaspora, service opportunities for employment and economic growth in Greece, and to be the plate North American rotating cast and a unique global collective for Greek Film Programs and Initiatives.
Lia Bozonelis, a Greek-American writer-producer and LAGFF board member who conceived the idea for a multi-faceted, year-round program, said that “Greece is experiencing a hard-won opportunity with the influx of international production. and evaluation By working within the studio system and the mission and resources of our organization, we can help ensure that Greece remains a center of film production and a global base for fostering new talent.
GGFI founders, board members Lia Bozonelis and Ersi Danou and festival director Aris Katopodis will be supported by a board of directors and a group of dignitaries, composed of the most trusted donor organizations and top professionals in ‘Hollywood, such as former president and studio head Jim Gianopulos. , writer-actress Nia Vardalos, television director-producer Greg Yaitanes, MEP and actor-writer Alexis Georgoulis, to name a few, as well as up-and-coming Hollywood professionals representing new generations of Greek Americans in entertainment. business.
“To achieve long-term success, you have to adapt, change and be relevant every day,” Katopodis said. “Change is good. In a broader context, the Global Greek Film Initiative represents the growing influence of the Hellenic diaspora in Greece, particularly at a time when Greece is becoming a major center of film production in Europe from South.
According to Panos Kouanis, President and CEO of the Greek National Center for Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME), “in less than five years, Greece has become one of the main filming destinations not only in Europe but also in the world ; Particularly in 2021, more than 10 big-budget productions were filmed in Greece – for Amazon, Netflix, Paramount Studios, Apple TV, Millennium Films – thanks to the highly competitive investment incentives and tax incentives on offer.
“The sudden influx of American and international film production into Greece has necessitated an urgent need for sustainable industrial infrastructure and well-trained crews,” added Danou, board member and co-founder of LAGFF. “The Global Greek Film Initiative is here to help us by coordinating efforts and offering workshops, training courses and scholarships. This will also strengthen our festival and expand into more programmatic avenues.
As part of the GGFI, the organization will include several new programs:
The creation of a crew training program for Greek entertainment professionals, administered by American professionals and technicians.
Strategies to facilitate the production of Hollywood films in Greece.
Scholarships for Greek film students to attend and participate in the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival as well as benefit from personalized professional development and networking programs.
As part of GGFI, the International Project Discovery Forum already established by LAGFF, an international scenario development laboratory and pitching forum, under the aegis of GGFI, will offer workshops in Greece administered by American professionals.
Multiple series of online and in-person screenings/events with various relevant focus areas including: faith and tradition, diversity, women’s empowerment and LGBTQAI+.
Alexis Georgoulis – who is also a member of the European Parliament’s Worship Committee, co-founder of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group in the European Parliament and a GGFI dignitary – said: “I am really excited about the mission of the GGFI. I strongly support this major step forward for the Greek film industry. There is no other initiative of this type. This is exactly what Greece needs!
Nia Vardalos, GGFI dignitary and long-time LAGFF supporter, shared her excitement: “After having an incredibly wonderful experience making My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 filmed entirely in Greece, I can say unequivocally… for your next film …go Greek! »
“As a Greek citizen, I dreamed of filming a series in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Rich in texture and bathed in the most breathtaking light, the islands and mainland Greece offer endless settings to enrich our storytelling,” offered Greg Yaitanes (House of the Dragon), who is a GGFI dignitary.
The GGFI team is expected to start their new programs in early 2023. For more information, please visit – https://www.lagff.org/lagff-launches-global-greek-film-initiative-ggfi/.
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