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ORPHEUS 2018

12th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival

June 4-10, 2018

orpheus awards lagff

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 Orpheus Awards Closing Night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film.

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

Orpheus Awards Honoree


George Chakiris will receive the 2018 Honorary Orpheus Award at the 12th Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival. Chakiris was selected by the festival committee to receive this year’s honor because of his worldwide contributions to movies and his extraordinary dedication to the preservation of its history. The award will be presented by Rita Moreno as part of the Orpheus Awards ceremony following the closing night film on June 10 in Hollywood.

Orpheus Awards Host


Chuck Dukas, is best known for his work as a television audience warm-up host on hit shows such as “American Idol”, “Americas Got Talent”, “The Voice”, and “Dancing with the Stars”, just to name a few. He has made countless appearances on daytime television such as ’ The Bold and The Beautiful”, “The Young and the Restless”, “Days of our Lives” and the Nickelodeon’s hit show “The Thundermans.”.

Orpheus Awards Comedian


ANT has steadily climbed the comedy hill to become one of the most successful comedians of our me. A regular guest on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno and “The Tyra Banks Show”, ANT is the only comedian to appear on all five seasons of NBC’s hit series “Last Comic Standing”. He is recognized as the host of VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club” and in the LOGO series, “U.S. of ANT.”

 

Orpheus Awards Presenters

VASSY’s songs “We Are Young, “Secrets”, “Bad”, “Nothing to Lose”, “Lost” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Chart. VASSY collaborated with David Guetta, T i . s t o , KSHMR, Afrojack, Showtek, Oliver Rosa the name of few. VASSY’s music incorporates dance, reggae and soul as a base for her vocal styling.

Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is the President and CEO of Earth Friendly Products, maker of ECOS laundry detergent and over 200 other environmentally friendly cleaners made with plant-based ingredients. Kelly has been recognized for her highly effective leadership and influential voice in the green movement and in corporate social responsibility

Christos Vasilopoulos was born in Athens ,Greece.For the first 7 years of his acting career,he worked with many acclaimed actors on stage and also was part of the National Theatre of Greece for 4 years.His TV career in Greece started on the show “Erotas”. Christos worked on shows like Banshee, Blindspot and The Last Ship(TNT), independent movies, and Video games.

Thaao Penghlis is an Australian actor. Best known for roles in day time soap operas such as Days of Our Lives, Santa Barbara, and General Hospital, but has also guest-starred on crime dramas, such as Kojak, Cannon, Tenspeed & Brown Shoe. He also starred in the 80’s remake of Mission: Impossible. Penghlis has studied under acting teacher, Milton Katselas.

Ronnie Yeskel ager years of casting theatre in NYC, Ronnie became the casting director for the LA Theater Center. Known for her work on Films & TV projects such as “The Marrying Man” (1991) , Pulp Fiction (1994), The Sessions (2012) and Igby Goes Down (2002). Reservoir Dogs (1992), Bean (1997) Waking the Dead (2000), L.A Law. Ronnie is currently working on Human Terrain, A Dolphin In Our Lake.

Valorie Massalas in her prolific career as a casting director, cast the nominated for 3 Oscars “Gods and Monsters” (1998), Robert Downey Jr., in “Chaplin” (1992) who also received an Oscar nomination for his performance. Valorie is also known for her work on Total Recall (1990), Alive (1993) and Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade (1989), Back to the Future II & III (1989-1990) Obsessed (2009), The Wedding Ringer (2015).

Penelope Spheeris is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. She has directed both documentary film and scripted films. Her best known works include the trilogy titled The Decline of Western Civilization, each covering an aspect of Los Angeles underground culture, and the film Wayne’s World, her highest-grossing film. She received an Honorary Orpheus Award in 2009.

Gia Carides is an Australian actress. She is best known for her portrayals of Cousin Nikki in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002 & 2016), Liz Holt in Strictly Ballroom (1992) and Susy Connor in Brilliant Lies. Gia Carides has been working as an actress since age 12 in film and in theatre. She has been nominated twice for her work. She has appeared in as many American films as Australian films, and continues to work in both countries.

Greg Yaitanes is an Emmy Award winning television and film director. Greg is one of the most recognized names in Hollywood, directing and producing some of the top series over the past two decades. Damages, Lost, Prison Break , Heroes and Grey’s Anatomy. His Emmy Award came in 2008 as result of his work on House, M.D., the most popular show worldwide. Between House and Banshee, Greg has led his team to 29 Emmy nominations and 6 wins.

Rita Moreno has had a thriving acting career for the better part of six decades. Among her notable acting work are supporting roles in the musical films The King and I (1956) and West Side Story (1961). One of the very few performers to win an Oscar, an Emmy, a Tony and a Grammy. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor. Currently Rita stars in the critically acclaimed Latino sitcom, One Day at a Time on Netflix.

Orpheus Awards Jury


Orpheus Awards Winners

Honorary Orpheus: George Chakiris
Best Short Film: GOLDFISH, dir. Yorgos Angelopoulos
Best Documentary Film: DOLPHIN MAN, dir. Lefteris Haritos
Best Feature Fiction Film: POLYXENI, dir. Dora Masklavanou
Best Performance: Katia Goulioni in POLYXENI
Best Director: Thodoris Atheridis, PERFECT STRANGERS
Honorable Mention for Documentary: GOLDEN DAWN GIRLS, dir. Hårvard Bustnes
Special Jury Award: 1968, dir. Tassos Boulmetis
Audience Award for Short Film: STILL, dir. Mavra Peponis
Audience Award for Documentary: 1968, dir Tassos Boulmetis
Audience Award for Feature Fiction Film: THE LAST NOTE, dir. Pantelis Voulgaris

 
 

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