A Weekend to Remember: Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2025 Closes with Orpheus Awards & Lifetime Achievement Honor for Costa-Gavras
Photography by Urbanite LA, Oliver Stone © Regine Mahaux | Costa-Gavras © David Koskas
Courtesy of MANOS Public Relations
The 19th annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF) wrapped up on June 1, 2025, with a star-studded Closing Night and the prestigious Orpheus Awards Ceremony held at a sold-out Harmony Gold Theatre in Los Angeles. The evening was a culmination of five days celebrating cinematic brilliance, cultural exchange, and artistic achievement from Greece and beyond.
A Triumphant Closing Night
The festival closed with a screening of the gripping mystery-drama Arcadia by Yorgos Zois, followed by a thoughtful Q&A with the director and LAGFF Festival Director Aristotle Katopodis. The Orpheus Awards Ceremony was then launched by beloved comedian Angelo Tsarouchas, while KNX Radio's Vivianne Linou hosted the evening with poise and charm.
Costa-Gavras Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
One of the most moving highlights of the festival was the Lifetime Achievement Orpheus Award presented to legendary filmmaker Costa-Gavras. The tribute was made even more memorable by the presence of John Landis and Professor Deborah Nadoolman Landis, who honored Costa-Gavras for his enduring contributions to global cinema. The week also featured an intimate conversation between Oliver Stone and Costa-Gavras, co-hosted by UCLA’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for the Study of Hellenic Culture.
2025 Orpheus Award Winners
The awards honored exceptional talent across several categories:
Best Film: Giannis in the Cities by Eleni Alexandrakis
Best Director: Wishbone by Penny Panayiotopoulou
Best Performance: Eva Samioti in Riviera (Dir. Orfeas Peretzis)
Best Documentary: Panellinion by Spyros Mantazavinos & Kostas Antarachas
Best Animation: The Three Sisters by Timur Kognov
Best Short Film: 11:01 by Jimi Drosinos
The Audience Awards added extra excitement:
Giannis in the Cities (Feature Film)
Super Paradise by Steve Krikris (Documentary)
Ultimately Cleansed by Andrew Tippie (Short Film)
Discovery Days 2025: Spotlight on Emerging Filmmakers
The 11th annual Discovery Days spotlighted emerging voices and creative projects. The top prize went to Anchored by Katerina Mavrogeorgi, praised for its poetic exploration of grief set against the backdrop of the Greek island of Ikaria. An Honorable Mention was awarded to The Son by Yorgos Athanasiou and George Zafeiropoulos, recognized for its unique rural sci-fi vision.
Jury members included industry leaders like Gareth Ellis-Unwin, Alesia Weston, and Danielle Wolff, who commended all participating filmmakers for their bold creativity and storytelling.
Celebrating Community and Culture
From the red carpet glamour of Opening Night at the Egyptian Theatre to the celebratory reception supported by The Kolovos Family, Petros Restaurant, AVRA, Kastra Elion, and more, the festival proved to be a dazzling fusion of film, culture, and hospitality.
Supported by Visionaries
LAGFF 2025 was made possible thanks to the generous support of Aegean Entertainment, G.P. Kolovos & Associates, The Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, ELMA, and a host of sponsors committed to enriching the cultural landscape through film.
As the curtains close on another successful edition of LAGFF, the stories, performances, and friendships formed continue to resonate. The 2025 festival wasn't just an event—it was a celebration of identity, artistry, and the enduring power of storytelling.