SAN FRANCISCO, CA – The 23rd Annual San Francisco Greek Film Festival (SFGFF) kicks off with an opening-night celebration on Saturday, March 14, beginning at 6 PM at Delancey Screening Room, 600 The Embarcadero in San Francisco. The evening will feature a film program, special guests, and a reception.
The program begins with remarks from festival organizers, followed by the short film ΝΙΚΗ (or The Impossible Hope of Trying) and the feature film Broken Vein. Actress Anastasia Chatziathanasiou, who appears in Broken Vein, is scheduled to attend and participate in a Q&A following the screening.
The film program will be followed by a festive reception in Delancey’s adjacent event space, where guests can enjoy bites and drinks while mingling with special guests. In addition to Broken Vein actress Chatziathanasiou, expected guests include Consul General of Greece in San Francisco Grigorios Tassiopoulos, Modern Greek Studies Foundation President Peter Lagarias, Princeton University Senior Lecturer Nikolaos Panou, and UC Berkeley Professor Christine Philliou. Festival directors and organizers Kleon Skourtis, Maria Nicolacakis, Katerina Mavroudi-Steck, Tatiana Drakaki, and Angela Karantzas will also be in attendance.
Two Premiere Sponsors will offer tastings during the reception. Eleven Eleven Winery, a boutique Napa Valley estate, will pour wines inspired by the Greek concept of ‘parea’—the spirit of friends gathering to share life’s experiences. Guests will also sample Kleos, a premium spirit crafted from the rare mastiha resin of Chios, capturing the essence of Greece in every sip. Kleos CEO & Founder Effie Panagopoulos will be on hand to introduce the spirit to guests.
The 23rd San Francisco Greek Film Festival (SFGFF) will take place March 14-21. Photo: SFGFF
SFGFF also acknowledges and thanks the following Premiere Sponsors: Elios Charitable Foundation, Greek National Tourism Organization, Hellenic Republic Ministry of Greeks Abroad, John’s Grill, and Kokkari.
Directed by Yannis Economides, Broken Vein runs 127 minutes and follows Thomas Alexopoulos, a businessman drowning in debt as the walls close in around him. Cornered by a threatening loan shark and with only a few days left to save his home, he sets a seemingly flawless plan in motion.
View the trailer on YouTube: https://shorturl.at/CHlap.
The opening night short film, directed by Savvas Stavrou, ΝΙΚΗ (or The Impossible Hope of Trying) runs 15 minutes. On the eve of the biggest show of her career, a young pop singer struggles with control over both her art and her mind— but fate has other plans. Watch the trailer on YouTube: https://shorturl.at/tgjmN.
More information about the SFGFF is available online: https://grfilm.com/.