About

WHAT'S A FILmHELLENE, YOU ASK?

A FilmHellene is someone who has a passion for Greek cinema.

The FilmHellenes is an non-for-profit alliance of media people, filmmakers, educators, businessmen, diplomats and others of different backgrounds dedicated to identifying, promoting and celebrating Greek filmmaking talent from wherever it comes.


MISSION

Read: Hellenic Current: Greek Cinema persists against all odds

Greek filmmakers, building upon one of the most esteemed cinematic traditions in Europe, are currently producing many of the most dynamic, innovative and provocative films in the world.

FilmHellenes is dedicated to bringing these works to our audience—the Greek diaspora community and the wider American public—in order to foster the humanistic ideals of Hellenism and to advance the universal values of freedom of expression and thought. We are also committed to promoting new talent and providing opportunities for the next generation of Greek filmmakers.

Our core event is the annual Greek Film Fest Chicago!, held in the fall, featuring a juried selection of the finest contemporary Greek films. We also sponsor other events throughout the year, including retrospectives, tributes and training workshops, to fulfill our mission of preserving and strengthening our Greek heritage, building bridges to other communities, and advancing Greek cinema in the modern world.

FilmHellenes - Greek Film Fest Chicago! welcomes all filmmakers of Hellenic descent worldwide as well as films about Greece or Hellenism by non-Greek filmmakers.


FILmHELLENES

Founders

  • Niko Franghias
  • Dr. Alex Papadopoulos
  • Kostas Daskalopoulos

Officers

  • Niko Franghias, Chair
    Writer/Director EmberFrames
  • Stacy Katsibaros, Secretary
    Educational Consultant
  • Terry Jacobs, Treasurer
    Retired Hospitality Controller /
    Associate EmberFrames

Board of Directors

  • Art Andros
    Project Manager / City Of Chicago
  • George Garifalis
    CFO Kennedy Manufacturing
  • Constantine Grapsas
    Real Estate Managing Broker
  • Cathy Hareas
    Attorney-at-Law
  • Panos Fiorentinos
    Architectural model-builder / Engravery
  • Jerry Vasilatos,
    Filmmaker

Advisors & Associates

  • Stefanos Katsikas
    Director of the Modern Greek Studies Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Dr. Mimis Cohen
    Plastic Surgeon
  • Amelia Estelle Dellos
    Writer/Producer Corn Bred Films
  • Valerie Gobos
    Producer / Gobos Film & Entertainment
  • Demetra Markopoulos
    Automotive Facilitator & Consultant
  • Vickie Kamberos
    Educator / University of Chicago Laboratory School
  • Dino Vlahakis
    Owner / Pickwick Theatre
  • Zoe Iltsopoulos Borys
    General Manager / Fletcher Camera
  • Dimitris Kostopoulos
    Teacher / Hellenic American Academy Founder / The Greek Bookstore
  • Kyriakos Mellos
    Marketing Director / Co-Founder Daily Frappe

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Attenberg

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Greek Film Fest Chicago teaser trailer

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Without Borders

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Volunteer

Join us for the 2013 Greek Film Fest Chicago! we welcome your help to make it all possible. We look for energetic, creative and enthusiastic individuals to join us in the promotion and execution of the Festival. Assistance is needed in pre-festival general support, operations, box office, special events, concessions, ushering, and audience balloting. If you are a FilmHellene and have an interest in Hellenic culture and would like to meet a group of new and fun people, then come join our team!

Special thanks to our volunteers: Alison Ho, Ioanna Hadjiharalambous, Christina Anastasiou , Maria Makris, Spiro Frentzas, Bill Iskos, Despina Damianides, Sophia Zuganelis , Marika Pappas, Vicky Bamidis, Tana Bamidis, Athena Goehl, Anna Salsman-Xeros, Alexander Facklis, Mary-Tina Vrehas, Patricia Vrehas, Georgia Kiriakakis-Wilkinson, Kostas Vasilopoulos, Joanne Linas Paris, & Angelo Dalageorgas.

Benefits:
Some of the benefits you can receive from joining our team include:

Questions?
Please email your interest to volunteer@greekfilmfestchicago.org. Our Head of Volunteers will be happy to answer your questions.

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WELCOME TO THE 2013 EDITION OF GREEK FILM FEST CHICAGO!

2012 has been joyously put to bed and we are working on our 3rd year. The achievements that were created during the previous Festivals are serving as the drivers to move this year to even greater heights. Please note the Festival date has moved to November 7 - 11, 2013.

We are, truly, striving to be an International Greek Film Festival, meaning a down-to-earth but extrovert attempt to locate and celebrate films from not only Greece but also from Greek descent filmmakers in other lands and our own backyard. Within the first two years, the Festival exhibited the works of 48 filmmakers from Greece and Cyprus, 6 filmmakers of Greek descent from the USA, 4 filmmakers of Greek descent from other countries and 5 non-Greeks. This year we want to discover more Greek-American voices from Chicagoland and beyond. If you are, or know, a Greek-descent filmmaker or about a recent film with a Greek subject/theme – please let the filmmakers and the Festival know at info@greekfilmfestchicago.org

Feature-and short-length entries produced by international filmmakers of Greek and Greek-Cypriot descent are now being accepted for admission. Films about Greece and/or Hellenism by non-Greek filmmakers are also welcome. The Festival’s competitive programs are: Hellenic Current (recent narrative features, short subjects, animation, feature and short length documentaries); Flashes of History (historical documentaries); Young Ambition (student entries). There is also Chrysotheke, a non-competitive category which salutes restored Greek classics, beloved box office hits and Greek films recognized in notable European and International Festivals. The FilmHellene Awards selected by a distinguished panel of Judges are given in the categories: best feature, best short, best documentary, best historical documentary. The audience will vote for the Audience Award. The award statuettes are replicas of a 2,800bc Cycladic figurine, symbol of fertility and rejuvenation.

Get involved

Whether you want to just spread the word, be a volunteer or give a financial gift, we welcome and appreciate your support. It's easy. Just visit the "Sponsor us" and the "Volunteer" tabs at the top. Thank You.

Endorsements

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has given his endorsement to the Greek Film Fest Chicago. Read more.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has also commended FilmHellenes for their commitment to the arts. Read more.

Announcements

CALL FOR ENTRIES

The FREE part of this year's call for entries closes APRIL 30th. If you have a film to submit to the Festival (please read the rules and regulations, first) - DO IT NOW FOR FREE. The final call - FOR $25 - is From May 1st to May 31st. A BIG Thank You to all the Filmmakers who have already submitted their entries and mailed their screeners.

A GREEK JOURNEY IN THE WINDY CITY

FilmHellenes - Greek Film Fest Chicago! and other Greek organizations and vendors enjoyed a vivid Community 'Panigyri', part of the "Neighborhoods of the World" series presented in a City of Chicago partnership with the Consulate General of Greece in Chicago. FilmHellenes also celebrated their 2nd Birthday! To those of you who visited our area: a heartfelt Thank You for contributing to another FilmHellene success! Event Gallery here.

For those of our friends who had their photo taken at the Navy Pier event: the photos are going out shortly. If you haven't received your photo by April 22-23rd, please send an email to info@greekfilmfestchicago.org with the subject line PHOTOS. We may not have been able to read your email address. Thank you.

Venues

Gene Siskel Film Center
Purchase tickets

164 North State St
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 846-2600
Get Directions

National Hellenic Museum

333 S. Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 655-1234
Get Directions

The Film Row Cinema

1104 S. Wabash Avenue, 8th Floor
Chicago, IL 60605
Get Directions