Festival Launches Spyros P. Skouras Lifetime Achievement Award, Presented to Paramount CEO
San Francisco, Calif. — The San Francisco Greek Film Festivalcelebrates its 15th year presenting 24 feature-length films and shorts by Greek and Cypriot filmmakers from around the world. From October 12-20, 2018, screenings run nightly at 7 p.m. at venues around San Francisco. All movies will have English subtitles. Manoussos Manoussakis, one of Greece’s preeminent filmmakers, will serve as this year’s artist-in-residence, facilitating Q&As, giving lectures, and providing context for the films throughout the week. The San Francisco Greek Film Festival is the longest-running film festival in the United States to feature contemporary Greek and Cypriot cinema.
On closing night on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Dolby Cinema, the festival is pleased to present the first-ever Spyros P. Skouras Lifetime Achievement Awardto Paramount CEO Jim Gianopulos. The award was created and sponsored by Tom Skouras, festival Advisory Board member and nephew of the late Skouras, to honor outstanding film industry professionals of Greek descent. The award’s namesake, Spyros Skouras, was a giant in the movie industry, an international cultural ambassador, and a humanitarian. At the helm of Twentieth Century Fox (1942-1962), he introduced widescreen movies with the CinemaScope lens, reinvigorating the movie-going experience in the advent of television. He also led the Greek War Relief Association during WWII, lifting a British naval blockade so that food and medicine could make it to a starving, war-torn nation. Skouras is considered one of the most prominent Americans of Greek descent.
Opening night will take placeat Lucasfilm’s Premier Theater at the Letterman Digital Arts Center in the Presidio on Friday, Oct. 12. Greek film master Pantelis Voulgariswill present his latest film, The Last Note, about the execution of Greek resistance fighters during the Nazi occupation of WWII. The festival will present Voulgaris with an award to honor his tremendous legacy in Greek cinema. Writer Ioanna Karystiani and producer Yiannis Iakovidis are also expected to attend this screening.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS
Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. // Premier Theater, Lucasfilm, Letterman Digital Arts Center, Presidio // 1 Letterman Drive, San Francisco // Opening night and screening of The Last Note. Director Pantelis Voulgaris is scheduled to be present to conduct a Q&A after the screening.
Oct. 13-19 at 7 p.m. // Delancey Street Screening Room // 600 Embarcadero Street, San Francisco // Nightly film screenings by Greek and Cypriot directors. Each evening features two shorts and one feature-length film. Special guests will include filmmakers, cast and crew from several of the films. Full schedule below.
Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5:30 p.m. // Dolby Cinema at 1275 Market // Dolby Laboratories, 1275 Market Street, San Francisco // Closing night reception in the atrium. The Spyros P. Skouras Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Jim Gianopulos. Screening of Polyxeni, to follow at 7 p.m. with director Dora Masklavanou expected to be in attendance to conduct a Q&A.
BONUS: Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. // Delancey Street Screening Room// 600 Embarcadero Street, San Francisco // Back by popular demand, the festival presents a special screening of Cloudy Sunday, a tale of two star-crossed lovers against the backdrop of German-occupied Thessaloniki. Director Manoussos Manoussakis is expected to attend this screening.
Tickets go on sale on Sept. 12and will be available at grfilm.comand at the door. Tickets are $15-40; weekly passes $150; $10 student tickets available on select nights with valid ID.
The San Francisco Greek Film Festival is a program of the Modern Greek Studies Foundation and proceeds benefit the educational initiatives and cultural presentations of the Foundation. The SFGFF is the longest-running film festival in the U.S. showcasing contemporary Greek and Cypriot films. The festival’s Advisory Board includes a roster of leading film industry pros including: Mario Diaz, Sid Ganis, Christina Kounelias, Peter Poulos, Tom Skouras and Todd Traina.
Screeners of all films can be made available upon request. Film festival directors and artist-in-residence Manoussos Manoussakis are available for interview. To attend a screening or to request an interview or screener, please contact Ellie Falaris Ganelin at 415-610-4717 or [email protected]. Press packet can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ei52y894ann7fxd/AABE-96TYQ6HipTVXoeKvZEua?dl=0