July 11, 2012 — The FilmHellenes Honor Greek American Filmmaker Alexander Payne

The FilmHellenes Honor Greek American Filmmaker Alexander Payne, 2012 Chicago Greek Film Fest Announces Festival Line-Up

CHICAGO, IL (July 11, 2012) — On Saturday, June 23, 2012, the FilmHellenes hosted their festival kick-off event with their proud partner the National Hellenic Museum in the Museum’s Dr. Mary Dochios-Kamberos Special Events Hall. The event began with a warm welcome from FilmHellenes President and Co-Founder, Niko Franghias who addressed the audience as “FilmHellenes,” explain that “A FilmHellene is someone who has passion for Greek cinema and has passion for filmmakers of Hellenic ancestry worldwide. Passion is that little craziness that makes us go out and DO things. Passion is action! So, WELCOME FILMHELLENES.”

FilmHellenes Board Member Dino Vlahakis then announced the festival dates: October 4-8, 2012 at the following venues: Gene Siskel Film Center, National Hellenic Museum, and Pickwick Theatre. Vlahakis also premiered the preliminary line-up includes the following feature films and documentaries:

• · FISH N’ CHIPS by Ilias Dimitriou
• · WELCOME TO ALL SAINTS by Sotiris Goritsas
• · UNFAIR WORLD by Filippos Tsitos
• · KISSES TO THE CHILDREN by Vassilis Loules
• · THE OTHER TOWN by NefinDinc
• · NOSTOS by Nicolas Panoutsopoulos

The highlight of the event was a meet and greet with Greek-American Academy Award® winner Alexander Payne. FilmHellenes presented Payne with an honorary FilmHellene Award that was inspired by a prop used in the opening and closing scenes in his film Sideways. The award design is modeled after the Cycladic statuette from the Museum of Cycladic Art by Panos Fiorentinos. Payne charmed the guests during a question and answer before mingling with the crowd.

“We could have not asked for a better person, than Alexander Payne to kick off the Greek Film Fest Chicago’s 2012 schedule,” stated Zoe Iltsopoulos Borys, Vice President of the FilmHellenes. “Alexander was genuine, sincere, and shared his passion and experiences with the crowd that made it authentic of what it is to be a celebrated filmmaker.”

“The National Hellenic Museum and its beautiful new building are proof and testament of the commitment of the Chicago Greek American community to Greek culture. At the Museum, it is our mission to not only celebrate Greek culture, but to introduce Greek culture to the wider community, and by partnering with FilmHellenes, to not only host their kick-off event, but to help them showcase and screen Greek films we are able to do just that,” said Connie Mourtoupalas, National Hellenic Museum Director.

For 2012 Chicago Greek Film Festival film information, to buy tickets and an updated film line-up, please visit http://www.greekfilmfestchicago.org/.

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The National Hellenic Museum is the first and only major museum dedicated to recording, documenting and presenting a piece of American history, the path of Greek immigrants towards becoming American, and their contributions to the American landscape. Through events like Kouzina, exhibits, and public programs on ancient and Modern Greek culture and traditions, the Museum works to enrich their immediate neighborhood, the City of Chicago and the Nation, as they engage with a broad range of communities that make up the American mosaic.

Now through September 2, meet Greek gods and climb into a 12-foot Trojan horse when you experience the family-friendly exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals: Discover Ancient Greece. Museum hours are Tuesdays – Sundays. For more information, visit www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org or call 312-655-1234.