Los Angeles Greek Film Festival Presents the 2023 Orpheus Awards

The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) announced the winners of its 2023 Orpheus Awards at a ceremony on Sunday night at the Silver Screen Theatre in the Pacific Design Center.

The LAGFF is an annual showcase that brings films and filmmakers from Greece, Cyprus and other countries in the region to the United States.

Toplining the honors: “Listen,” directed by Maria Douza, which won for best fiction feature film. “Iman,” helmed Corina Avramidou and Kyriakos Tofarides, took home the special jury award for best film, and Panos Koutras won the best director award for “Dodo.”

Spiros Jacovides won an honorable mention for best director for “Black Stone,” and Efthalia Papacosta was awarded the best performance trophy for “Listen.” “Black Stone” also won the audience award for feature film, and an honorable mention for best performance went to Stephanie Atala for “Iman.”

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2023 Orpheus Awards

Best feature fiction

Listen by Maria Douza

The film sends a message of love and compassion and tolerance. It deals with important issues of the times from the point of view of the new generation that struggles to find its way amidst a desensitized adult world. At the same time, it is a story that is superbly acted, masterfully crafted and, most importantly, made with compassion.

Special Jury Award

Iman by Corinna Avaraamidou and Kyriacos Tofarides

A film about humanity and controversial matters, extremism, corruption, violence, and at the core of it the lack of love. A well-crafted and directed film that we honor with the Jury Special Award.

Audience Award

Black Stone by Spiros Jacovides

While filming absent civil servants, a documentary crew stumbles upon Haroula, a desperate, overprotective Greek mother in search of her son. But when he is accused of fraud, Haroula sets out with her other, disabled son and a Greek-African taxi driver to bring him back home where he belongs. Even if this means discovering who her son really is.

Best documentary, short and animation

In the documentary category, the award for best doc went to “The Other Half,” by Giorgos Moutafis (from the online slate), and the special Jury prize for documentary directing went to “Queen of the Deuce” by Valorie Kontakos. “Venizelos: the Struggle for Asia Minor” took the audience award.

In short films, “Pebble,” by Karina Logothetis, won for best short, and a special jury award was bestowed on “Air Hostess – 737,” by Thanasis Neofotistos. “5pm Seaside,” by Valentin Stejskal, received in honorable mention. The audience award went to “Share For Me.”

In animation, “My Mother the Sea,” by Aspasia Kazeli, won for best animation, with an honorable mention going to “Trojan Horace,” by Scott Graham.

In addition to screenings, LAGFF 2023, which ran from June 2-11, included workshops, panels, LGBTQ Programming, an inaugural LAGFF Film Student Fellowship, a Los Angeles City College Masterclass and 28 Online Screenings – plus a virtual program of screenings following the Festival.