The 19th annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) wrapped up on June 1st with a sold-out Closing Night Film and Orpheus Awards Ceremony at the Harmony Gold Theatre. The festival celebrated Greek cinema, showcasing a diverse range of talent and compelling storytelling.
The evening featured the mystery-drama Arcadia, directed by Yorgos Zois, followed by a Q&A session with Zois and LAGFF Festival Director Aristotle Katopodis. The Orpheus Awards Ceremony was kicked off by standup comedian and actor Angelo Tsarouchas, a longtime friend of the LAGFF, and hosted by Vivianne Linou of KNX Radio.
Greek Film Festival highlights and Orpheus Award winners
This year’s festival, made possible by its dedicated team of staff, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters, offered a rich program. Highlights included an Opening Night at the Egyptian Theatre, a special tribute to legendary director Costa-Gavras, and a captivating conversation between two cinematic masters: Oliver Stone and Costa-Gavras.
The prestigious Orpheus Awards recognized outstanding achievements in Greek film:
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- Giannis in the Cities, directed by Eleni Alexandrakis, was a double winner, taking home both the Best Feature Film Orpheus Award and the Audience Award.
- Penny Panayotopoulou received the Best Director Orpheus Award for Wishbone.
- Eva Samioti earned the Best Performance Orpheus Award for her leading role in Riviera.
- The Best Documentary Orpheus Award went to Panellinion, directed by Spyros Mantazavinos and Kostas Antarachas.
- Jimi Drosinos’ 11:01 won the Best Short Film Orpheus Award.
- Timur Kognov’s The Three Sisters was honored with the Best Animation Film Orpheus Award.
The festival also presented Special Jury Recognition Awards to films demonstrating exceptional merit:
- Kyuka – Before Summer’s End, by Kostis Charamountanis (Feature)
- The Last Nomad, by Filippos Ferentinos (Documentary)
- Underground, by Yiannis Christoforou (Animation)
Audience Awards were also presented to:
- Super Paradise, by Steve Krikris (Documentary)
- Ultimately Cleansed, by Andrew Tippie (Short Film)
Los Angeles festival virtual program and Discovery Days
For those who couldn’t attend in person, most of this year’s films are available through LAGFF’s virtual program, presented by the Greek National Tourism Organization.
The virtual festival began on June 1st and runs through June 8th. More information and virtual passes can be found at https://www.lagff.org/.
The 11th Discovery Days Awards 2025 also concluded, highlighting emerging talent.
Discovery Days Director Karina Logothetis presented the awards, noting:
“We were deeply moved by the work and discipline of the participants. Over the course of four days, we witnessed their stories take form, their visions grow sharper, and a real sense of creative unity emerge – with filmmakers inspiring and lifting each other up throughout the process.”
The top honor went to Anchored, presented by writer/director Katerina Mavrogeorgi. The jury described it as a story that “explores a personal emotional journey on the shores of the Greek island of Ikaria, an island buffeted by treacherous storms and an existential wind,” praising its “poetic gaze…about loss and grief that ultimately takes us to a place of peace.”
An Honorable Mention was awarded to The Son, by director/writer Yorgos Athanasiou and writer George Zafeiropoulos, recognized for its “original and evocative world and an interesting rural Greek take on sci-fi.”
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