Film Factory 2020

December 19 & 20 | Michael Cacoyannis Foundation

The Hellenic Film Academy holds this year’s Film Factory at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation on December 19 and 20, complying with all necessary COVID-19 safety and hygiene regulations. The Iris Award-winning creators and artists of the year share their knowledge and experience in a series of specialized workshops for the 9th year in a row. Due to the particular circumstances dictated by the pandemic, the sessions are only offered to a limited number of people this year.

The workshop hosts will choose the participants based on their CVs, with specific criteria listed in the program for each session. Those interested should send their CV to hfa.film.factory@gmail.com by Friday, November 27. Please keep in mind that if the country is still under lock-down on the event dates, the workshops will be altered accordingly, and the selected participants will be contacted in time for the revised information.

Dionysis Samiotis, the producer of Eftyhia, will discuss film development and financing options. Syllas Tzoumerkas, director, and Angeliki Papoulia, actress in The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, will discuss swamp passions and the actor-director collaboration in crafting a role. Meanwhile, Eftyhia actors Katia Goulioni, Pygmalion Dadakaridis, and Thanos Tokakis will draw attention to the dynamics of the body in acting.

Eftyhia‘s producer, Dionysis Samiotis, will discuss film development and financing possibilities. The director Syllas Tzoumerkas and The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea actress Angeliki Papoulia will talk about passions in swamps and the actor-director collaboration in creating a role. At the same time, Eftyhia actors Katia Goulioni, Pygmalion Dadakaridis, and Thanos Tokakis will call attention to the body’s power in acting. Directors Rinio Dragassaki and Konstantina Kotzamani of Cosmic Candy and Electric Swan will look for similarities and differences through their films’ false mirrors. Zacharias Mavroeidis, the director and writer of Apostratos, will use narratology as a tool for screenplay writing. Marianna Economou and George Gousis, the directors of When Wagner Met the Tomatoes and Handpicked, will look for truth and deception in documentary films. Heatwave director, Fokion Xenos, will outline the animation techniques he employed in his film. The Boy, Miss Trichrome, and Nikos Pastras, Winona‘s musicians and editors will investigate the relationship between pictures and music. At the same time, Christina Moumouri, Zizotek’s director of photography, will lend her own light to the gloom. Set designers Michalis Samiotis and Yannis Papadopoulos, costume designer Chrysa Serdari, a partner of the late Ioulia Stavridou, and make-up artist Demetra Yatrakou, co-creators of Eftyhia, will unveil the precious tools of their work.  Nikos Bougioukos, Aris Louziotis, and Kostas Varympopiotis, sound engineers, designers, and mixers of Eftyhia, will lay out the evolution of cinematic sound. Finally, George and Roulis Alachouzos, Yannis Ageladopoulos, and George Foucarakis, special and visual effects artists of Cosmic Candy, will discuss the use of practical and digital effects in films. Finally, George and Roulis Alachouzos, Yannis Ageladopoulos, and George Foucarakis, special and visual effects artists of Cosmic Candy, will discuss the use of practical and digital effects in films.

The 9th Film Factory will be held in partnership with the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, with generous support from Studio Karamanos, the Greek National Centre of Audiovisual Media & Communication, and the Athens Film Office.

Film Factory 2019

December 13, 14 & 15| Michael Cacoyannis Foundation

The Hellenic Film Academy and the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation co-host the 8th Film Factory from December 13 to 15. Three days of in-depth cinema workshops and talks for individuals who work in front of and behind the camera, including students, emerging film-makers, and cinephiles.
The event is free and open to the public.

For the eighth year, Iris Award-nominated and winning directors, producers, actors, screenwriters, directors of photography, editors, sound recordists and designers, make-up artists, set designers, costume designers, composers, and effects specialists gather at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation to discuss their work, struggles, and joys, their great love for cinema, their collaboration without which films would not exist, their fears and momentum, teamwork, passion, and risk.

Directors Angelos Frantzis, Nikos Labôt, and Jacqueline Lentzou will dismantle one, two, or more films. Producers Amanda Livanou and Klaudia Śmieja from Poland will expose the secrets of co-productions via the lens of Babis Makridis’ “Pity”. Directors-screenwriters Yannis Economides, Charis Lagousis, and writer-screenwriter Demosthenes Papamarkos will talk about their script writing journey for Yannis Economides’ Ballad for a Pierced Heart, a film we expect to be released soon. Documentary filmmakers Elena Alexandrakis, Panos Deliyiannis, Dimitris Gotsis, and producers Yuri Averoff and Rhea Apostolidis will break free from the constraints that often confine them. Actors and actresses Aris Servetalis, Yannis Stankoglou, Marisha Triantafyllidou, and Maria Filini will guide us all the way to the finish line.

Editor Giorgos Mavropsaridis and composer Coti K will find rhythm in the chaos. Director of Photography George Karvelas, set designer Kostas Pappas, and costume designers Evelina Darzenda and Daphne Kolyva will use shape, color, and light to paint our picture. Kostas Varybopiotis, Stefanos Efthymiou, Leandros Ntounis, and Christos Gousios, sound recordists, designers, and sound mixers, will lead us through the invisibility of their work. George and Roulis Alachouzos, Antonis Kotzias, and Anthi Tsirouki, along with make-up artist Katerina Varthalitou and the invaluable assistance of actress Romanna Lobac, will fascinate us both physically and digitally.

All these artists invite us to the Film Factory PARTY on Saturday evening to enjoy some Fisher beer and dance to music selected by Loo (Marilena Orfanou).

Also, four new titles have been added to the current list of films following their technical processing, with all films containing special subtitles for the hard of hearing. They will be shown on Saturday, December 14, and Sunday, December 15, in the Greek Film Archive’s cinema theater, which is open and entirely accessible to all persons.

You are all invited to a cinematic experience accessible to all, to (re)watch Nikos Perakis’ iconic comedy Loafing and Camouflage, Christos Georgiou’s tender comedy Small Crime, Evangelia Kraniotis’ sensuous documentary Exotica, erotica, etc., and Lefteris Charitos’ documentary based on the life of diver Jacques Mayol, Dolphin Man.

The screenings are held by the Hellenic Film Academy, with the support of the Onassis Cultural Centre of the Onassis Foundation and in collaboration with the Greek Disabled Artists Movement.

Entrance is free.

The focus of this year’s Film Factory is Creativity through Collaboration. As a result, it is with great joy and honor that we are partnering with the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, are supported by the Onassis Cultural Centre and the Greek Film Archive, and are generously sponsored by Fisher Brewing Company.

Athens Film Factory 2018

This year, the Hellenic Film Academy and the Athens Conservatoire jointly co-organize the
seventh Film Factory from 14th to the 17th of December at the premises of Athens Conservatoire.
Film Factory is the central educational activity of the Hellenic Film Academy. Moreover, it is
a scene of cooperation with educational, cultural and other bodies, aiming at an ongoing
upgrade of content in terms of quality.

Film Factory always focuses on the Awarded Directors of the year, who are invited to give
seminars and workshops, pro bono, each one at their field of expertise, building bridges for
knowledge and experience with the new generation of colleagues.

The first day of the Film Factory will be devoted to the students of the Athens Conservatoire.
In particular, a film acting training will be delivered exclusively to the students of Athens
Conservatoire drama school. An interactional seminar by prominent Casting Directors
will also take place, with the participation of the Conservatoire students. The seminar
will be open to the public.

This year’s special guest is Tomer Heyman. The multi-awarded director will deliver a masterclass
titled “How to build a relationship with a documentary character?”. The masterclass
shall be held in cooperation with Cine Doc.

The parallel events of the Film Factory include a photography exhibition titled Hollywood
Greek Fire by well-known photographer Sakis Lalas. It is about a series of portraits with
Greek-origin film professionals that flourish in Hollywood. From producer Jim Gianopulos
and Irene Papas to recently Oscar awarded Alexandre Desplat.

We sincerely thank the Athens Conservatoire for its warm hospitality, the Onassis Foundation for its substantial support, Cine Doc for its flawless cooperation, the production company Prosenghisi for the technical support and mostly the awarded filmmakers of 2018, who truly honor us with their participation in Film Factory, ready to share their valuable experience with their future colleagues.

Full Programme

Athens FILM FACTORY 2017

This year, the Hellenic Film Academy came together with the Goethe Institute Athen, to organize the 6th Film Factory, which this year is to be hosted in the Goethe Institute premises from 4 to 11 December 2017.

Stars of the Film Factory are always the Awarded Filmmakers of the year who are called to teach in seminars and workshops for free, each one in his field of expertise, building bridges of knowledge and experience with the new generation of colleagues.

The main programme includes seminars and workshops held by:

Giorgos & Roulis Alahouzos / Best Special Effects / “Eteros Ego”

Sophia Exarchou / Best Newcomer / “Park”

Elli Triggou / Best Supporting Actress / “Suntan”

Themis Panou / Best Supporting Actor / “Mythopathy”

Antonis Doussias / Best Animation Film / “Aenigma”

Aris Fatouros / Best Animation Film / “Aenigma”

Marios Aristopoulos / Sound Designer / “Aenigma”

Yannis Sakaridis / Best Film Editor / “Amerika Square”

Argyris Papadimitropoulos / Best Film Director / “Suntan”

Christos Karamanis / Best Cinematography / “Suntan”

Giorgos Frentzos / Director of Photography

Lambis Haralambidis / Film Editor

Sofia Kokkali / Best Actress / “Nima”

Phaedra Vokali / Best Feature Film / “Suntan”

Makis Papadimitriou / Best Actor / “Suntan”

Yioula Zoiopoulou / Best Costume Design / “Rosa of Smyrni”

Antonis Kotzias / Best Special Effects / “Eteros Ego”

Stella Theodorakis / Best Documentary / “L’ Ultima Spiaggia”

Spyros Laskaris / Best Production Design / “Mythopathy”

Stefanos Efthimiou / Best Sound / “Park”

Persefoni Miliou / Best Sound / “Park”

drog_A_tek /Best Original Music Score / “Spring Awakenings”

Official guest of the event is Andreas Dresen, awarded, German Film Director. A tribute to his work includes the screening of eight films, followed by a masterclass on Saturday 9 December.

The parallel events run by this year’s Film Factory include a seminar addressed to high school teachers on how to guide their students through creating low budget short films and a concert held by the drog_A_tek (Monday, Deceber 11th).

At the same time, the short film sponsorship competition held by the Academy and COSMOTE TV goes through its second phase, where 12 elected projects shall be presented by their creators to the selection panel.

Film Factory is the core educational activity of the Hellenic Film Academy. It is also a field of cooperation among educational, cultural and other bodies, aiming at a continuous qualitative upgrade of its content.

This year’s organization is supported by COSMOTE TV, great sponsor of the Hellenic Film Academy, also contributed by the Onassis Cultural Centre Athens and organized in collaboration with the Goethe Institut Athen.

TIMETABLE

FULL PROGRAMME

Athens Film Factory 2016

For the 5^th year in a row, the Hellenic Film Academy organizes the Film Factory, which this year is to be hosted by the Greek Film Archive Foundation on the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th of December 2016.

Stars of the Film Factory are always the Awarded Cinematographers of the year who are called to teach in seminars and workshops for free, each one in his field of expertise, building bridges of knowledge and experience with the new generation of colleagues.

The parallel events run by the Film Factory include screenings of movies and a special presentation titled “Buildings in Films”. There will be also an event for teachers on films made by pupils.

Official guests of the event are: Phaedon Papamichael, director and cinematographer, living and working in the USA and Ely Dagher, Lebanese director, awarded with the Palm d’ Or in the Cannes Film Festival for his short film Waves 98.

At the same time, the short film sponsorship competition held by the Academy and Cosmote TV goes through its second phase, where 12 elected projects shall be presented by their creators to the selection panel.

Film Factory is the core educational activity of the Hellenic Film Academy. It is also a field of cooperation among educational, cultural and other bodies, aiming at a continuous qualitative upgrade of its content.

This year’s organization is supported by COSMOTE TV, great sponsor of the Hellenic Film Academy, also contributed by the Onassis Cultural Centre Athens and the Greek Film Archive Foundation, the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation, the City of Athens Culture, Sports and Youth Organization, the Educational Radio-Television, the Festival of Olympia and Neaniko Plano non-profit organization.

PROGRAMME

Athens FILM FACTORY 2015

The Hellenic Film Academy and OTE TV, with the support of the Onassis Cultural Centre & Foundation and the collaboration of the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Goethe Institute and the Greek Film Archive, present the 4^th edition of the Film Factory at the Athens School of Fine Arts, December 12-14, 2015. The 3-day workshop, screening and lecture extravaganza, delivered by the winners of the last Hellenic Film Academy Awards, has seen the addition of an array of sidebar events and presentations of international interest.

The main program includes workshops and lectures by:

Roulis & Giorgos Alahouzos (Best Special Effects and Cinematic Innovation: “Norway”)

Rea Apostolidi & Yuri Averov (Best Documentary: “A Family Affair”)

Kostas Gikas (Best Cinematography: “Forever”)

Panagiotis Evagellidis (Best Screenplay: “Xenia”)

Maria Kallimani (Best Actress: “Sto spiti”)

Best Special Effects and Cinematic Innovation

Ionas Katrakazos (Best Special Effects and Cinematic Innovation: “Norway”)

Eleni Kossyfidou (Best Film: “Xenia”)

Panos H. Koutras (Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director: “Xenia”)

Stella Kyriakopoulos & Despina Pavlaki (Best Short Film: “Volta”)

Vangelis Mourikis (Best Actor: “Stratos”)

Alexandra Boussiou (Best Film: “Xenia”)

Dora Nazou (Best Make-up: “Norway”)

Aggelos Papadimitriou (Best Supporting Actor: “Xenia”)

Babis Papadopoulos (Best Music: “Stratos”)

Kostas Fylaktidis (Best Sound: “Stratos”)

All lectures and workshops will be open to the public.

Within the context of this year’s collaboration with the Goethe Institute, student Oscar winner Ilker Çatak, a German filmmaker of Turkish descent, will lead a workshop on “film studies, dual identities and film Gods”, complemented by a screening of his award-winning film “Sadakat”.

The Film Factory will also host a Tribute to Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning German Shorts, including:

– BALANCE, by Christoph and Wolfgang Lauenstein, 1989

– BLACK RIDER, by Pepe Danquart, 1992

– GREGOR’S GREATEST INVENTION, by Johannes Kiefer, 2001
– RABBIT À LA BERLIN, by Bartek Konopka, 2009

The Tribute is slated to include Filippos Tsitos’ award-winning student film PARLEZ- MOI D’AMOUR.

The Film Factory sidebar events for 2015 include a movie poster exhibition at the Athens School of Fine arts, curated by well-known film critic Panagiotis Timogiannakis (courtesy of the Fotis Tsaktsis collection), as well as a specialty masterclass on color grading by Al. Kapidakis (Authorwave) at the Greek Film Archive on December 13, 1–4pm (first come, first served)

Last but not least, the Hellenic Film Academy, in collaboration with the Directorate of Educational Radio-television of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs and the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute, presents a teacher’s training course on how to make films with your students. Lecturers include Giorgos Koumouros (head of educational technologies at the Cyprus Pedagogical Institute & filmmaker), Christos Georgiou (filmmaker) and Giorgos Frentzos (cinematographer).

The deadline for submission deadline for the Film Factory Short Film Fund, an open competition jointly organized by the Hellenic Film Academy and OTE TV, was up at midnight on November 22nd. Submitted films almost hit the 200 mark and the evaluation process is already underway.

During the Film Factory, the competition will enter phase 2, where the jury will grant participants one-on-one interviews in order to gain a better understanding of the 12 most popular projects.

The six finalists will be announced on Monday December 14, at 8:30 at the foyer of the Athens School of Fine Arts theater. A 3-month mentorship will offer front runners the opportunity to iron out any glitches before submitting their projects for final scrutiny March 2016.

The two winners, whose short films will be funded by the Hellenic Film Academy and OTE TV, will be revealed during the HFA Awards Ceremony on March 28, 2016, at the Onassis Cultural Center.