THE COMPETITION LINE-UP

Transcription

1 1 CELEBRATING HELLENIC STORYTELLING THE COMPETITION LINE-UP All non-english language films include English subtitles Features PAPADOPOULOS& SONS by Marcus Markou United Kingdom, 2012, 105 min, Chicago Premiere Harry Papadopoulos has got it all: a mansion house, awards and a super rich lifestyle. But when a financial crisis hits, Harry and his family lose everything. Everything, except the dormant and forgotten Three Brothers Fish & Chip Shop, half owned by Harry s larger than life brother Spiros - who's been estranged from the family for years. With no alternative, Harry and his family are forced to pack their bags and reluctantly join `Uncle Spiros to live above the neglected Three Brothers chippie. Together they set about bringing the chip shop back to life under the suspicious gaze of their old rival, Hassan, from the neighboring Turkish kebab shop whose son has his own eyes on Harry s daughter, Katie. As each family member comes to terms with their new life, Harry struggles to regain his lost business empire. But, as the chip shop returns to life, old memories are stirred and Harry discovers that only when you lose everything can you be free to find it all. *Michael Cacoyannis Audience Award at the 53 rd International Thessaloniki Film Festival2012 *Palm Springs Film Festival, Official Selection *Thessaloniki International Film Festival 2012, Official Selection *Washington DC Film Festival, Official Selection *Dinard Film Festival, Official Selection TUNGSTEN by Giorgos Georgopoulos Greece, 2011, 98 min, Chicago Premiere Three stories: a ticket inspector is looking for ways to get out of debt and also to keep his family together. A couple that is one step away from breaking up. Two teenage boys, wander around the city, carrying an old revolver. *Best film, 8 th Romania International Film Festival *Best film, best director, best screenplay, best editing, 6 th Cyprus International Film Festival *Special Mention Award, 18 th International Mediterranean Festival of Tetouan, Morocco

2 2 J.A.C. E. - JUST ANOTHER CONFUSED ELEPHANT by Menelaos Karamaghiolis Greece, 2011, 146 min, Chicago Premiere Twice-orphaned J.a.c.e., a seven-year-old Albanian of Greek origin, witnesses a massacre that wipes out his entire foster family in Argyrokastron, and then falls in the hands of a bunch of ruthless gangsters who "export" children abroad for various profitable reasons (ranging from beggary to organ trade). J.a.c.e. ends up in Athens, Greece, begging at street corners, exploring the secret horrors of brutal institutions for young offenders or, much later, serving obscure patrons, in an underworld where violent loss seems to be his only destiny. The movie follows J.a.c.e.'s inverted Odyssey in a dark universe of abuse, murder and fear, as he desperately (and silently) seeks for a "family" of his own or, at least, for a sense of belonging. *Six Hellenic Film Academy Awards 2013 *Best Actress, Stefania Goulioti, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, 2011 *Tokyo Grand Prix Nomination, Tokyo International Film Festival 2011 *Best Film, Audience Award, San Francisco Greek Film Festival 2013 TIED RED THREAD by Kostas Haralambous Greece 2012, 106 min, Chicago Premiere It is After the signing of the Varkiza Treaty between the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of the Greek Communist Party, armed forces roam the mountainous countryside engaging in intimidation, murder and vulgarity toward leftists who have not declared their allegiance. One of these leftists is Lambros and his wife. The title of the film refers to a familiar phrase from fairy-tales, as well as the line of blood running through human history that joins everyone both friends and enemies. The film focuses on the events that occurred after the end of WWII in Greece and the circumstances that led to the Greek Civil War( ). It is a savage tale at a time when human life had little value.

3 3 Documentaries ONE STEP AHEAD by Dimitris Athiridis Greece, 2012, 126 min, Chicago Premiere Yannis Boutaris - leading winemaker, former alcoholic, prominent member of civil society and an honored environmental activist is, at 68, the unconventional independent mayoral candidate for Thessaloniki, Greece s second largest city. With the country caught in the spiral of the financial crisis, Boutaris struggles against visible and invisible opponents including Bishop of Thessaloniki, Anthimos. The film is an insight in the political and social disintegration in Greece, but also a fascinating portrait of an exceptional personality. *International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2012, Official selection *Thessaloniki Documentary International Film Festival 2013, Official Selection DEMOKRATIA, THE WAY OF THE CROSS by Marco Gastine Greece, 2012, 85 min, Chicago Premiere The May parliamentary election, held in the context of an unprecedented crisis, was an historical moment for Greece. Following the campaign of four candidates, the film explores the political practices in Greece today. *Nominated for the PRIX EUROPA 2013 (European Broadcasting Awards) *DOCSLISBOA2012, Official Selection *Thessaloniki Documentary International Film Festival 2013, Official Selection THE AMORGOS CONSPIRACY by Nikolia Apostolou USA, 2013, 18 min The 'Amorgos Conspiracy' is the true story of the escape of a political prisoner from the colonels dictatorship in late 1960s Greece. A center-left politician George Mylonas was held in detention on the remote Aegean island of Amorgos, and a plot to rescue him was conceived by his son-inlaw, Elias Kulukundis, a young Greek-American writer and ship-owner. The drama unfolds against an idyllic setting of a cruise among the Aegean islands during a heroic period in Greek history, when all Europe was humming the Theodorakis anthem heard in the film score of Costa Gavras' Z, and ordinary Europeans volunteered their services to aid the cause of Greek liberty.

4 4 THE LEGACY OF ANDREI SAKHAROV by Kostas Argyros Greece, 2012, 52 min The Sakharov Prize in memory of the Russian fighter for the freedom of thought and speech, Andrei Sakharov,confirms that the European Parliament constitutes a guardian for the respect of human rights and democratic freedoms both within and outside Europe. Last year, two Iranian fighters for democracy have been honored with the Sakharov Prize. Lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, activist for human rights, and filmmaker (writer/director) Jafar Panahi, who has been honored in international film festivals. None of these two people were allowed by the Tehran government to travel to Strasbourg to receive their prize in person on December 12, Among those, who represented the winners was director Costa Gavras, who expresses, in the documentary, his opinion on modern democracy. BY-STANDING AND STANDING-BY by Fofo Terzidou Greece, 2012, 73 min A look into the Shoah of Europe's most ancient Jewish community, that of Thessaloniki and the unknown story of rescue- only 60 km south of Thessaloniki - of the Katerini Jews, Greece's smallest Jewish community at the time. The documentary discusses historic memory, collective trauma and silence in Greek society. It also analyses the ways the official version of events has been constructed and deconstructs the stereotypes and prejudices that still survive. *27 th Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Official Selection *Council of Europe,Thessaloniki, October 2012 *International Convention on Holocaust in Thessaloniki WILD AND PRECIOUS by Bill Mousoulis Italy/Australia/Greece, 2012, 87min An Italian cinematographer finds himself in the midst of the Greek sociopolitical crisis. He returns home to Milano to his ex-wife and daughter, only to be drawn back to Athens, where an Australian TV producer hires his services to film right in the middle of the riots. *Nostimon Imar Award,Best Film by a Diaspora Greek, Cyprus International Film Festival *Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival, Official Selection *Athens International Film Festival, Official Selection *Australian Greek Film Festival, Official Selection *Cine B Film Festival,Chile, Official Selection

5 5 CHORTIATIS: THE CHRONICLE OF AN EXTERMINATION Greece, 2013, 92 min. Directors: Chryssa Tzelepi, Akis Kersanidis Chortiatis is one of the numerous Greek villages massacred during the WWII German occupation. The documentary attempts a reenactment of Chortiatis holocaust through firsthand testimony of eye-witnesses, putting forward the significance of historical memory preservation and shading new light on these historical events. THE GROCER by Dimitris Koutsiabasakos Greece, 2013, 82 min, USA Premiere Nikos Anastasiou, a traveling grocer, has been making the same journey with his wife Sophia since Once a week, all year long, starting from Trikala city they visit the nearly abandoned villages of the SW Pindus Mountains in Thessaly, a 75 kilometers drive. It is a road-movie documentary about Pindus Mountains and their struggling residents. *Audience Award, Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival 2013 *Sarajevo Film Festival 2013, Official Selection *Mediterranean Film Festival, Rome, Italy, Official Selection *Greek Documentary Film Festival of Halkis, Official Selection FORTUNATE SON by Tony Asimakopoulos Canada, 2011, 78 min A documentary by a first generation Greek Canadian, examining his complicated relationship with his immigrant parents as he prepares for marriage. An intimate look at a family s recovery from their son s addiction and their struggle to find love and positivity when life takes harsh and tragic turns. *International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2011, Official selection *Festival du Nouveau Cinema 2001, Montreal, Official Selection *Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2013, Best Documentary Award HEROES OF THE FLICKS by Panagiotis Kountouras Greece, 2012, 65 min, US Premiere Thessaloniki's film projectionists are the unseen heroes of Greek movie theaters. The camera enters the walls of their film projection cabins revealing a profession that is fading away. At the same time, presents their stories, their secrets, their loneliness and their viewpoints about cinema, about the audience through time, discovering the cinematic value of a city intimately connected with Greece s International Film Festival.

6 6 RUNNING DRY by Dimitra Nikolopoulou Greece, 2012, 10 min Shorts The power has been cut off at Athina s home. Athina, unemployed for some time now, takes her 64 Euros and heads towards the electricity company, hoping to make some sort of settlement. A journey into contemporary Athens, a sometimes harsh city, with an unexpected ending CHELSEA - BARCELONA by Alexandros Chantzis Greece, 2012, 17 min Wednesday 6 May Athens. 35 year old Andreas works as a bank teller and is in debt. He and his colleague, Marios, will watch the football match for the Champions League semi-final, "Chelsea-Barcelona" together on TV. Who will finally win? *SilverDionysus-2nd Prize for Fiction Film, 35th Greek Short Film Festival in Drama *Best Screenplay Honorary Distinction and Honorary Distinction for Leading Actor Makis Papadimitriou, 35th Greek Short Film Festival in Drama *Cinematic Achievement Award, 6th Thessaloniki International Short Film Festival BOB GOES TO THE PARTHENON by Stella Kyriakopoulos USA/Greece, 2013, 10 min Starting from a small town in Illinois, the film playfully follows Bob's growing interest in all things Greek as well as his coming to grips with his blindness. The trajectories of these two stories intersect in an uncanny and charming way. The film centers on Interviews with Greeks who helped this man along the way by showing a genuine positive picture of Greek values, especially that of "filotimo." *1 st Jury prize at Greek Film and Foto Week, Toronto, Canada 2013 HEAVEN ON LINE by Agnes Sklavos & Stelios Tatakis Greece, 2012, 13 min In the near future, in a world where regulations will determine the course of our physical existence, technology will give us a chance to keep in touch with the loved ones that are gone. Is this a blessing or a curse?

7 7 RF by Stavros Liokalos Greece, 2010, 19 min When a man tries to fix his television aerial on a day like any other in a city like yours or mine, a series of unexpected events turns his day upside down in a most magical way. *Best Short Film, Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2011 *Prix Canal+ (Film purchased for broadcasting on Canal+) / 33rd Cinemed *Best Short Film, San Francisco Greek Film Festival 2012 *Special Mention /3rd Balkans Beyond Borders, Tirana TRAFFIC by Leonardo Cariglino Netherlands, 2012, 20 min In Thessaloniki, Greece, Maria a young woman is rushing to attend a meeting for work. She encounters many obstacles in her everyday life, from relationship issues to family conflicts. Ultimately, she will make a terrible discovery under the unbeatable Greek sun. The film refers to the shift of Hellenic values, the appreciation of the past, the parents and the neglect of the present and future, a baby. THE FEAR Greece, 2013, 10 min Writer/Director: George Angeludis Producer: Sarantis Panagiotidis Cast: Angeliki Kroustaloudi Based on a true story of a young girl that overcame the physical obstacles of a bone disease to become a world champion in martial arts. The film is based on true events and describes her life. COUNTING HAPPINESS by Venetia Evripiotou India, 2013, 13 min This is the story of 5-year-old Hasan who lives alone on the streets of Delhi selling clockwork chickens. Driven by a firm belief that some mysterious secret lies hidden awaiting discovery, he playfully seeks it out and finally finds it in the sequence of five the number of letters in his name. Hasan s faith in the attainability of happiness presents him with a gift: the key to one of life s greatest secrets. And the secret is, in the words of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, that Happiness depends upon ourselves. *Grand Prize Award, International Film Festival of Canada *Most popular Film, International Film Festival Manhattan

8 8 SOMETHING WILL TURN UP by Thanos Psychogios Greece, 2012, 13 min Based on the book that won the 2011 Greek State Award for short story by writer Christos Economou, the film is about Nicky, a woman living in modern-day Greece, who despite facing a financial impasse, struggles to remain hopeful and maintain her dignity. * 2012 Montpellier Mediterranean Film festival, Official Selection *2013 Trieste Film Festival, Official Selection *2013 Aubagne International Film Festival, Official Selection *Drama International Film Festival, Official Selection *2012 Athens International Film Festival, Official Selection *2012 Adana Golden Boll International Film Festival, Official Selection KM by Christos Nikou Greece, 2012, 10 min A car crash as a metaphor for a relationship s ending *Rotterdam International Film Festival, Official Selection *Stockholm International Film Festival, Int l Competition 2012 All non-english language films include English subtitles