17th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival launches Global Greek Film Initiative

Α Decrease font Enlarge font
17th Los Angeles Greek Film Festival launches Global Greek Film InitiativeGGFI is strategically designed to establish an array of new annual programs to promote cultural exchange between Greece, the USA, and the Hellenic Diaspora

The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF), an annual film festival that showcases new works from Greek filmmakers worldwide, now in its 17th consecutively successful year, announced on October 10 that is set to expand its mission and scope of action with an ambitious agenda under the umbrella program Global Greek Film Initiative (GGFI).

GGFI is strategically designed to establish an array of new annual programs to promote cultural exchange between Greece, the USA, and the Hellenic Diaspora, service opportunities for employment and economic growth within Greece, and be the North American hub and global one-stop collective for Greek film programs and initiatives.

Lia Bozonelis, a Greek-American writer-producer and LAGFF Board Member who conceived the idea of a year-round multi-faceted program, stated that “Greece is experiencing a hard-won opportunity with the amount of international production pouring in. Combining insights and evaluation from working within the studio system along with our organization’s mission and resources, we can help ensure that Greece remains a center for film production and a global base for fostering new talent.”

The GGFI founders, Board Members Lia Bozonelis and Ersi Danou and Festival Director Aris Katopodis will be supported by a Council of Trustees and group of Dignitaries, comprised of the most trusted organization donors and top Hollywood professionals, such as former Chairman and studio head Jim Gianopulos, writer-actress Nia Vardalos, TV director-producer Greg Yaitanes, European Parliament Member and actor-writer Alexis Georgoulis, to name a few, as well as up-and-coming Hollywood professionals representing the new generations of Greek-Americans in the entertainment business.

“For long-term success, you need to adapt, change and be relevant every day,” Katopodis said. “Change is good. Casting a wider framework, Global Greek Film Initiative represents the growing influence of the Hellenic Diaspora in Greece, especially at a time when Greece is becoming a major film production hub in Southern Europe.”

According to Panos Kouanis, President & CEO of Greece’s National Centre of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) “in less than five years, Greece has become one of the top destinations for filming not only in Europe but also worldwide; particularly in 2021, more than 10 high-budget productions were filmed in Greece – for Amazon, Netflix, Paramount Studios, Apple TV, Millennium Films – as a result of the very competitive investment incentive and tax incentive that is offered.”

“The sudden influx of American and international film production in Greece has caused the urgent need for a sustainable industry infrastructure and well-trained crews,” Danou, Board Member and LAGFF Co-Founder added. “The Global Greek Film Initiative is here to help by coordinating efforts and offering workshops, training classes, and scholarships. It will also strengthen our festival and expand to more programmatic avenues.”

Under GGFI, the organization will include several new programs:

The inception of a crew training program for Greek professionals in the entertainment business, administered by American professionals and technicians.
Strategies to facilitate Hollywood film production in Greece.
Scholarships for Greek film students to attend and participate in Los Angeles Greek Film Festival as well as enjoy personalized programs of professional development and networking.
Under GGFI, LAGFF’s already established International Project Discovery Forum, an international screenplay development lab and pitching forum, under 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 & tradition, diversity, women’s empowerment and LGBTQAI+.
Alexis Georgoulis – who also serves as a Member of the European Parliament Cult Committee, Co-founder of the Cultural Creators Friendship Group at the European Parliament, and a GGFI Dignitary – stated: “I am really excited about the GGFI’s mission. I strongly support this major breakthrough for the Greek Film Industry. There is no other initiative like this in existence. It’s exactly what Greece needs!”

Nia Vardalos, a GGFI Dignitary and longtime supporter of LAGFF, shared her enthusiasm: “Having just wrapped an incredibly wonderful experience directing My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 filmed entirely in Greece, I can unequivocally say… on your next film… go Greek!”

“As a citizen of Greece, I have dreamed of shooting a series in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Rich in texture and bathed in the most stunning light, the islands and mainland Greece offer endless backdrops to enrich our storytelling,” offered Greg Yaitanes (House of the Dragon), who serves as a GGFI Dignitary.

The GGFI team is set to begin its new programs in early 2023. For more information, please visit – https://www.lagff.org/lagff-launches-global-greek-film-initiative-ggfi/.

RELATED TOPICS: GreeceGreek tourism newsTourism in GreeceGreek islandsHotels in GreeceTravel to GreeceGreek destinationsGreek travel marketGreek tourism statisticsGreek tourism report

Tornos
  1. 27/11 18:30

    UN World Tourism Organization endorses growing presence on the ground

  2. 27/11 14:51

    Greek merchant shipping fleet rose in numbers during September

  3. 27/11 14:44

    Teatro Grattacielo & Thessaloniki Concert Hall hold La Vestale for Callas Centenary

  4. 27/11 13:33

    Greek budget recorded a primary surplus of 6.08 billion euros in January-October

  5. 27/11 10:29

    Greek PM meeting with investors in London

  6. 27/11 08:55

    Top livestock facilities and animals to be provided to Greece's Thessaly farmers for free

  7. 26/11 12:58

    NBG: Fires, floods, disasters, inflation, costs cutting into Greece’s tourism sector

  8. 26/11 11:05

    Greek PM to BBC: Parthenon Sculptures case is like cutting up ‘Mona Lisa’

  9. 26/11 10:52

    Transport Minister: Thessaloniki Metro project will be fully operational by end 2024

  10. 26/11 09:02

    Boat schedules cancelled due to high winds on Sunday

  11. 26/11 07:08

    Greek government spox: 71% of freelancers declare lower income than minimum wage

  12. 25/11 14:08

    Chinese, Turks and Russians top Greece Golden Visa list getting passports

  13. 25/11 14:05

    Greece-Turkey High-level Cooperation Council 'one more step' in improving relations

  14. 25/11 13:54

    Weather service upgrades warning for 'Bettina' front in Greece

  15. 25/11 10:01

    Event in Chicago about Greek bureaucracy and Greek-American matters

  16. 24/11 14:40

    10th International Summer University Greek Language, Culture, and Mass Media in Boston

  17. 24/11 14:11

    European Union Commission offers €43.1 million in support for Greek farmers

  18. 24/11 12:48

    IPTO has secured enough power to boost launching offshore wind parks in Greece

  19. 24/11 11:43

    Land-use and Green Fund bill passes in Greek Parliament with ruling party votes

  20. 24/11 10:32

    Prime Minister: Port infrastructure in Greece undergoing major revamp

  21. 24/11 07:36

    Energy Minister: Greece could become global protagonist in offshore park industry

  22. 23/11 21:31

    Apartment prices rise 11.9% in Greece during Q3

  23. 23/11 21:09

    Athens Christmas tree lighting ceremony organized on Thursday

  24. 23/11 20:28

    Greek Foreign Minister meets with visiting Indonesian Vice President in Athens

  25. 23/11 15:11

    World-class distinctions bring Athina Luxury Suites at the top once again

  26. 23/11 11:15

    14th Ethnofest - Athens Ethnographic Film Festival opens on November 29

  27. 22/11 16:03

    Greek Cultural Center in Astoria of NYC will soon celebrate its 50th anniversary

  28. 22/11 13:07

    Greek state borrowing program from markets amounts to €9 billion during 2024

  29. 22/11 11:17

    International conference on social dialogue and inequalities in Athens on November 23-24

  30. 22/11 09:59

    Travel receipts rose by 15.2% to 18 billion euros in Greece during January-September

  31. 21/11 14:59

    Minister: Greece and India relations upgraded with the memorandum of cooperation

  32. 21/11 14:08

    National Economy and Finance Minister: Greek economy will rise even higher in 2024

  33. 21/11 13:19

    Greek Foreign Minister travels to Madrid for Euro-Med Group Med-9

  34. 20/11 22:59

    Transport Minister: Greece's entire railway network fully restored by 2025

  35. 20/11 21:39

    Greek airports see record hike in passenger traffic during January-October 2023

  36. 20/11 21:24

    AHEPA Supreme President visits New Haven Chapter 98 and presents Heroes Medals

  37. 20/11 19:13

    Embassy: Energy is the principal pillar of the US-Greece strategic relationship

  38. 20/11 16:10

    Tilda Swinton-Olivier Saillard show 'Embodying Pasolini' at Onassis Stegi in Athens

  39. 20/11 09:03

    Media guide: Get to know Greece’s diverse wines

  40. 19/11 14:29

    Archdiocesan Cathedral Philoptochos organizes the Chrysanthemum Ball in NYC

  41. 19/11 13:21

    Economic good news from EC dominates Greek PM's review of the past week

  42. 19/11 11:24

    Greek Consulate General & Teatro Grattacielo presented Callas tribute in New York

  43. 19/11 09:16

    Media report: Revealing the rich tapestry of Greek wines

  44. 18/11 16:12

    World Tourism Organization launches San Marino action for accessible tourism

  45. 18/11 16:11

    Telefonica and UNWTO to boost digital, sustainable and inclusive tourism

  46. 18/11 14:27

    Greek budget recorded primary surplus of 5.8 billion euros in January-October

  47. 18/11 14:04

    HFSF successfully concludes public offer of 22% of National Bank's share capital

  48. 18/11 13:46

    Ships docked in Greece on Saturday due to strong winds

  49. 18/11 12:59

    Greek PM visits supermarket and is briefed on 'permanent price reduction' initiative

  50. 18/11 10:50

    Event in Seoul marks 70th anniversary of Greece's participation in the Korean War

  51. 17/11 16:04

    UNWTO workshop promotes modern tourism communications for Africa

  52. 17/11 13:20

    Hellenic Professional Women organized Health and Wellness Event in New York

  53. 17/11 11:28

    FAITH Endowment offers 168 scholarships to top Greek American University Students

  54. 17/11 09:37

    Cyprus’ untapped business potential highlighted at event in New York City

  55. 16/11 18:57

    Toronto celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of its Theological Academy

  56. 16/11 17:09

    Greek FinMin presents 352-million-euro support package for 2.3 million citizens

  57. 16/11 15:00

    Gale force winds and temperature drop in Greece this weekend

  58. 16/11 14:04

    Prime Minister forecasts Gaza conflict will not greatly impact Greek tourism sector

  59. 16/11 13:53

    Changes in public transport of Athens on Friday

  60. 16/11 10:43

    Front Runners in Sports Management 5.0 comes with world-class sports names on December 7-9, 2023

  61. 15/11 20:02

    Saint Demetrios Cathedral of Astoria marks 96th Annual Gala in New York

  62. 15/11 19:06

    Greek budget recorded primary surplus of 6.084 billion euros in January-October

  63. 15/11 18:57

    Study in Greece conference: Higher education 'at crossroads of transformative journey'

  64. 15/11 11:14

    Energy Minister announces new measures to protect electricity consumers in Greece

  65. 14/11 20:58

    Greece to reopen 10-year bond issue for 200 million euros on Wednesday

  66. 14/11 19:46

    Road traffic restrictions to come into effect in downtown on Wednesday

  67. 14/11 18:54

    Council of Bars & Law Societies of Europe to organize two-day conference in Athens

  68. 14/11 16:40

    PM: New record in tourist arrivals this year, with German visitors preferring Greece

  69. 13/11 22:01

    Greece and Turkey agree to implement or reactivate CBM activity in 2024

  70. 13/11 18:07

    Greek Infrastructure & Transport Minister attends 2023 IBTTA Tolling Summit in Athens

  71. 13/11 10:46

    GNTO's General Secretary: Greek tourism season's extension strategy is bearing fruit

  72. 11/11 23:57

    UNWTO marks Qatar Tourism Awards to recognize excellence in sector

  73. 11/11 21:37

    25th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum on December 11 in NYC

  74. 11/11 15:40

    Greek PM: Government will use all available tools to keep food prices down

  75. 11/11 14:33

    Over 500,000 smart electricity meters installed in Greece by end of 2023

  76. 11/11 10:22

    7th Thessaloniki Summit to take place on November 20-21

  77. 11/11 00:04

    Tourism significance for growth highlighted in World Economic Outlook report

  78. 10/11 23:44

    Hellenic Post Chief: New business plan fully underway and progressing rapidly

  79. 09/11 22:26

    Greek Tourism Minister meets with Monica Bellucci in Thessaloniki

  80. 09/11 21:16

    E-Governance Minister: Greek state services to be fully digitized by 2027

  81. 09/11 20:49

    UNWTO: Nearly half of all global destinations now offer digital nomad visas

  82. 09/11 19:35

    Island Park AHEPA Chapter 458 sponsors 5th Annual Golf Outing in New York

  83. 09/11 11:42

    Greek Migration Minister meets with German and US Ambassadors to Athens

  84. 08/11 22:50

    Chinese Ambassador: 'China-Greece relations with greater radiance in the new era'

  85. 08/11 22:09

    UNWTO Summit in London: Transforming the sector through education and youth

  86. 08/11 21:41

    40th Authentic Marathon to affect traffic in Athens on November 11-12

  87. 08/11 20:44

    Parthenon AHEPA Chapter. 495 hosts fundraiser for flood victims in Greece

  88. 08/11 19:54

    Premier inaugurates new waste processing plant in Peloponnese of Greece

  89. 08/11 13:23

    Tourism Corporation of Valparaiso in Chile obtains Unwto.quest certification

  90. 07/11 22:34

    Greek PM meets EIB President and attends signing DEDDIE financing agreement

  91. 07/11 14:47

    Director Alexander Payne presented new movie at Thessaloniki International Film Festival

  92. 07/11 13:37

    Property Show Athens 2023 opens at Zappeion Megaron on Tuesday

  93. 07/11 13:36

    Bank of Greece Director calls for a re-examination of tax exemptions

  94. 07/11 12:40

    Meteo: Drought recorded in 38% of Greek territory

  95. 06/11 21:31

    Greek Tourism Minister at WTM: Great year for sector with remarkable performances

  96. 06/11 18:34

    New Yorkers from the island of Samos mark Anniversary of Union with Greece

  97. 06/11 16:24

    WTM 2023 Global Report: Tourists abandon sun loungers in favour of new experiences

  98. 06/11 14:50

    AEGEAN: Greek state to exercise its warrants on carrier's shares

  99. 06/11 14:41

    Empress Theophano Prize bestowed to the United Nations Secretary-General

  100. 06/11 11:45

    Meetings with local communities on New Stavros Niarchos Foundation hospitals