The curtain came down on Sunday for the Hellenic Film Society’s New York Greek Film Expo 2024, wrapping up 11 days of screenings that featured nine of the latest standout films from Greece.
With 13 showings in total, the festival concluded with the Audience Award going to The Promotion, directed by Periklis Choursoglou, a drama focusing on the evolving relationship between a father and son. Kostas Koronaios won Best Performance in a Feature Film for his role in The Last Taxi Driver, which tells the story of a cabbie whose life takes a dramatic turn after witnessing a customer’s suicide.
Screenings took place at notable venues, including the Village East Cinema in Manhattan, the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ, and the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens. Three screenings were completely sold out. The event brought filmmakers from Greece to New York, giving them the chance to engage with audiences in post-screening discussions.
The Expo, designed to bring Greek cinema to all New Yorkers, was hosted by Thanos Tokakis, one of Greece’s leading character actors, and was sponsored by Axia Spirit. On opening night, October 3, the Hellenic Film Society honored veteran actress Vangelio Andreadaki with its Lifetime Achievement Award. The Consulate General of Greece hosted an interview and reception with Tokakis on October 7.
“This year has been outstanding for Greek cinema, and we were thrilled with the response to the Expo,” said Maria C. Miles, president of the Hellenic Film Society. “New Yorkers are showing great enthusiasm for Greek films, and the visiting filmmakers were touched by their warm reception.”
The New York Greek Film Expo 2024 was made possible with support from a variety of sponsors, including the Kallinikeion Foundation, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, Microsoft, and the Greek National Tourism Organization, among others.
The event was also funded in part by the New York City Tourism Foundation and supported through grants from the New York State Council on the Arts and Flushing Town Hall.
About the Hellenic Film Society USA
The Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Astoria, NY, is dedicated to integrating Greek cinema into the American cultural scene. It promotes Greek and Cypriot films, as well as works that highlight these cultures.
HFS organizes an annual film festival and collaborates with the Museum of the Moving Image for the Always on Sunday series, a monthly showcase of Greek films. The organization also partners with other Greek film festivals across the U.S., including events in Chicago, South Florida, and Atlanta.
