Orpheus Awards


Named for the legendary Greek poet and “father of songs”, the Orpheus Award is the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival’s annual prize intended to honor the best in Greek and Greek inspired cinema. Since the Festival’s inception in 2007 the awards night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film.

The award itself was designed and sculpted by Greek artist Miltos Papastergiou. Papastergiou, who studied under Yannis Pappas, attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris and has regularly presented his work in both Athens and Larissa.

Past Orpheus Award Juries have included producers, directors, noted film critics, and award winning actors including: Bill Krohn (Film Critic, Cahiers du Cinema), Lane Kneedler (Programming Consultant), Michael Economou (USC), Gary Mairs (CalArts), Chantal Chauzy (Strand Releasing), Stratton Leopold (Producer), Joan Churchill (Director/Cinematographer), Steven Peros (Screenwriter), and Mike Goodridge (Film Critic, Screen International).

2012 Orpheus Winners:

Best Feature Film
Apartment in Athens, dir. Ruggero Dipaola

Best Documentary Film
Sayome, dir. Nikos Dayandas

Best Short Film
The Palace, dir. Anthony Maras

Special Jury Award
Wasted Youth, dir. Argyris Papadimitropoulos & Jan Vogel

Audience Award
Sayome, dir. Nikos Dayandas

2011 Orpheus Winners:

Best Feature Film
Knifer, dir. Yannis Economides

Best Documentary Film
The Game Must Go On, dir. Angeli Andrikopoulou and Argyris Tsepelikas

Best Short Film
RF, dir. Stavros Liokalos

Audience Award
Without Borders, dir. Nick Gaitatjis

2010 Orpheus Winners:

Best Feature Film
PLATO’S ACADEMY, dir. Filipos Tsitos

Best Documentary Film
COLOSSI OF LOVE, dir. Nikkos Mistriotis

Best Short Film
THE CHARMER OF GRAMMOS, dir. Vangelis Efthymiou

Audience Award
Fiction: 4 BLACK SUITS, dir. Renos Haralambidis
Documentary: PLUNDER FROM A BLEEDING LAND, dir. Takis Papayiannidis

Winner of Special Achievement in Film
DOGTOOTH, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos

2009 Orpheus Winners:

Best Feature Film
GUINESS, dir. Alexis Kardaras

Best Documentary Film
T IS FOR TROUBLE AND THE SELF ADMIRATION SOCIETY, dir. Dimitris Athiridis

Best Short Film
THE GRANDFATHER, dir. Nikias Chryssos

Special Jury Commendation
VALSE SENTIMENTALE, dir. Constantia Voulgaris
CHAMELEON BEACH, dir. Adam Schmedes
WE CALL HER DAISY, dir. Stefan Georgriou

Audience Award
NO SUBTITLES NECESSARY, dir. James Chressanthis