June 3, 2015 - 13:27 AMT
“Little England” period drama opens LA Greek Film Fest

Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre goes Greek on June 3 as the ninth annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival takes over the premises and launches its slate with a screening of Pantelis Voulgaris’ period drama-romance “Little England”, Variety reports.

This year’s LAGFF program includes a record 35 features, documentaries and short films – including three world premieres, 14 U.S. preems and 10 L.A. firsts.

Among them: Alexis Alexiou‘s neo-noir crime drama “Wednesday 04:45,” which makes its West Coast premiere on June 6; and Panos H. Koutras’ road trip movie (and this year’s Hellenic Film Academy Award winner for best picture), “Xenia” (picture above), which will screen on closing night.

Alongside Greece, countries represented at this year’s fest include Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, France, Israel, Germany, Qatar, the U.K. and the U.S.

This year’s LAGFF Orpheus Award winners are Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and Cinemax Programming, for Home Box Office, and “Hercules” scribe Evan Spiliotopoulos.

“We selected Kary Antholis to receive this year’s Award for his contributions not only as an executive and filmmaker bringing high quality programming to the world but also for his generosity in mentoring us and upcoming filmmakers,” says LAGFF co-counder Ersi Danou.

“As a writer, Evan Spiliotopoulos has established a very successful career in Hollywood and abroad,” Danou continued. “His ability to write for several genres shows an uncanny dexterity and talent.”

The honors will be given out at the closing night gala on June 7.