The annual New York Greek Film Expo, a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, runs October 2-12 at theaters in the New York Metro area.
New York Greek Film Expo 2025
The 2025 New York Greek Film Expo, presented by the Hellenic Film Society (HFS) opens this week. The annual film festival showcases the latest films from Greece. It’s one of the many ways that HFS upholds its mission, to share the richness of Greek films with a wider American audience, to showcase Greek movies, and to preserve the film heritage of Greece.
See seven of the latest Greek films and a retrospective of the work of master filmmaker Pantelis Voulgaris. Movies will be shown October 2-5 in Manhattan before moving to the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ, October 7-8. The Expo concludes with the Voulgaris retrospective at the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, October 10-12. Filmmakers from Greece will be on hand to discuss their films and engage in conversations with the audience, and there will be a few surprises too.
All films are in Greek with English subtitles.
Keep reading for your guide to this year’s Expo.
Opening Night
New York Greek Film Expo opens on Thursday, October 2 at Directors Guild Theater, one of New York’s premier theaters.
5:00 pm Reception (sold out)
7:00 pm MURPHY’S LAW (2024) | 129 mins | US Premiere
Followed by an audience Q&A with award-winning actors Katia Goulioni and Andreas Konstantinou and director by Angelos Frantzis
Director: Angelos Frantzis
Screenplay: Katerina Bei, Angelos Frantzis, Kostis Samara
Cast: Katia Goulioni, Andreas Konstantinou, Victoria Elizabeth Bitouni, Thanos Tokakis, Constantine Makroulakis, Vangelio Andreadaki, Daphne Alexander, Nikos Kouros
After an accident, a failed actress in search of big roles is thrust into a reality that forces her to rethink choices she has made in the past.
Opening Weekend
On October 3-5, the Expo moves to the Village East Cinema in Manhattan.
OCTOBER 3
7:00 pm MEAT (2024) | 99 mins | NY Premiere
Followed by an audience Q&A with director Dimitris Nakos
Director & writer: Dimitris Nakos
Cast: Akyllas Karazisis, Kostas Nikouli, Pavlos Iordanopoulos, Maria Kallimani, Yorgos Symeonidis, Natalia Swift, Dimitris Xanthopoulos, Yiannis Anastasakis
When a young man commits murder, his father goes to extremes to shield him from prosecution and conviction. Mature audiences only – nudity, adult situations
WINNER Hellenic Film Academy Award 2025: Best Actor (Kostas Nikouli)
WINNER Thessaloniki International Film Festival: Greek Critics Award
WINNER Berlin Greek Film Festival: Best Feature Film
OCTOBER 4
6:00 pm UTOPOLIS (2024) | 78 mins | US Premiere
Followed by audience Q&A with actor Andreas Konstantinou and director Vladimir Subotic
Director: Vladimir Subotic
Screenplay: Vladimir Subotic, Maja Todorovic
Cast: Andreas Konstantinou, Makis Papadimitriou, Goran Bogdan, Katerina Mavrogiorgi, Panos Koronis
Prejudice against migrants leads to a brutal confrontation over the course of one night.
A short film will be presented prior to the screening of UTOPOLIS.
AGAPI (2025) | 10 mins
Director: Julia D. Speropoulos
This hand-drawn animated film follows 13-year-old Agapi and her family on a death march in 1921 that was meant to exterminate Pontian Greeks.
8:30 pm ARCADIA (2024) | 99 mins | NY Premiere
Followed by audience Q&A with lead actress Angeliki Papoulia and director Yorgos Zois
Director: Yorgos Zois
Screenplay: Konstantina Kotzamani, Yorgos Zois
Cast: Vangelis Mourikis, Angeliki Papoulia, Nikolas Papagiannis, Elena Topalidou, Vangelis Evangelinos, Vangelio Andreadaki, Asterios Rimagmos Rigas, Antonis Tsiotsiopoulos, Elena Mavridou, Flomaria Papadaki, Giorgos Biniaris
The body of a car accident victim awaits identification in the morgue of a remote seaside resort. Unraveling the events leading to the accident makes for a tale of love, loss, acceptance, and letting go. Mature audiences only – nudity, adult situations.
WINNER Hellenic Film Academy Awards 2025: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay
Greece’s submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the Oscars) for Best International Feature Film.
OCTOBER 5
1:30 pm TAKIS. (2025) | 62 mins | NY Premiere
Followed by audience Q&A with members of the production team
Director: Michael Roubis
Screenplay: Anna Podara
Documentary about a man who devotes his life to rescuing stray animals in Crete, transforming local attitudes and inspiring global support
A short film will be presented prior to the screening of TAKIS.
GREENHOUSE (2023) | 18 mins
Director & writer: Giorgos Georgakopoulos
A hardworking young Albanian immigrant must overcome a series of hurdles to make his dream of a career in professional soccer come true.
3:30 pm WISHBONE (2024) | 123 mins | NY Premiere
Followed by audience Q&A with director Penny Panayotopoulou
Director: Penny Panayotopoulou
Screenplay: Penny Panayotopoulou, Kallia Papadaki
Cast: Giannis Karampampas, Konstadinos Avarikiotis, Alexandra Sakellaropoulou, Garoufalina Kontozou, Eleni Mavridou, Thalia Papacosta, Mirto Alikaki, Nikolas Papagiannis
A financially strapped hospital security guard becomes involved in a medical scam to make ends meet.
WINNER Thessaloniki Film Festival 2024 Audience Award
Co-presented with NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television
6:30 pm KYUKA: BEFORE SUMMER’S END (2024) | 105 mins
Director & writer: Kostis Charamountanis
Cast: Simeon Tsakiris, Elsa Lekakou, Konstantinos Georgopoulos, Elena Topalidou, Afroditi Kapokaki, Stathis Apostolou
A father takes his adult children on a sailboat vacation, secretly planning for them to meet their birth mother.
WINNER Hellenic Film Academy Awards 2025: Best Actress (Elsa Lekakou), Best First-time Director (Kostis Charamountanis)
Official selection of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival ACID section
Official selection in New Directors/New Films program presented by The Museum of Modern Art and Film at Lincoln Center in April 2025
New York Greek Film Expo in New Jersey
The Expo moves to the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, New Jersey on October 7-8.
OCTOBER 7
7:30 pm LITTLE ENGLAND (2013) | 132 mins
Followed by an audience Q&A with actor Andreas Konstantinou
Director: Pantelis Voulgaris
Screenplay: Ioanna Karystiani based on her acclaimed novel, The Jasmine Isle
Cast: Penelope Tsilika, Sofia Kokkali, Aneza Papadopoulou, Andreas Konstantinou, Maximos Moumouris, Vasilis Vasilakis, Christos Kalavrouzos, Vangelio Andreadaki
On the island of Andros, two sisters are divided by their love for the same man.
WINNER Hellenic Film Academy Award for Best Picture
Co-presented with NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television
OCTOBER 8
7:00 pm MEAT (2024) | 99 mins
Pantelis Voulgaris Retrospective
Finally, New York Greek Film Expo moves to the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, NY on October 10-12 for a special retrospective of Pantelis Voulgaris, one of Greece's most prominent directors.
See the master filmmaker’s first film, THE ENGAGEMENT OF ANNA (1972), as well as his most recent, THE LAST NOTE (2017). From his mid-career, HFS will present BRIDES (2004) starring Damian Lewis; and LITTLE ENGLAND (2013). The films retain their relevance and freshness and are sure to resonate with today’s audiences.
The retrospective also pays tribute to his wife and long-time partner, award-winning novelist and scriptwriter Ioanna Karystiani. “Their collaboration bears witness to enlightened creativity and has set a standard of excellence for generations of filmmakers who follow in their footsteps,” said Maria C. Miles, HFS president.
For his impressive career spanning more than 50 years and his contributions to the film world, Voulgaris will be presented with the Hellenic Film Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
OCTOBER 10
8:00 pm LITTLE ENGLAND (2013) | 132 mins
Followed by an audience Q&A with actor Andreas Konstantinou
Co-presented with NYWIFT, New York Women in Film & Television
OCTOBER 11
6:30 pm BRIDES (2004) | 128 mins
Director: Pantelis Voulgaris
Screenplay: Ioanna Karystiani
Cast: Victoria Haralabidou, Damian Lewis, Andrea Ferreol, Evi Saoulidou, Dimitris Katalifos, Vangelio Andreadaki (Niki’s Godmother)
A seamstress, one of 700 mail-order brides sailing to New York and waiting husbands-to-be, has a shipboard romance with an American photographer.
WINNER 2004 Thesssaloniki Film Festival awards for Best Fiction Film, Best Actress (Victoria Haralabidou) and Best Supporting Actress (Evi Saoulidou)
OCTOBER 12
3:00 pm THE ENGAGEMENT OF ANNA (1972) | 87 mins
Director: Pantelis Voulgaris
Screenplay: Menis Koumantareas, Pantelis Voulgaris
Cast: Anna Vagena, Smaro Veaki, Kostas Rigopoulos, Stavros Kalaroglou, Aliki Zografou, Maria Martika
When the family she has served for ten years arranges a marriage for her, Anna must decide between her future happiness and the needs of those she cares for.
WINNER coveted FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival
WINNER 1972 Thessaloniki International Film Festival awards for Best New Director, Best Art Film, Best Actress (Anna Vagena), Best Supporting Actor (Kostas Rigopoulos), Best Supporting Actress (Smaro Veaki)
5:30 pm THE LAST NOTE (2017) | 117 mins
Followed by audience Q&A with actor Andreas Konstantinou
Director: Pantelis Voulgaris
Screenplay: Pantelis Voulgaris, Ioanna Karystiani
Cast: Andreas Konstantinou, Andre Hennicke, Melia Kreiling, Tasos Dimas
In May 1944, 200 Greek resistance fighters are sentenced to death in Kaisariani, in reprisal for an ambush attack against the occupying Nazi forces.
WINNER Hellenic Film Academy Award 2018: Best Actor (Andreas Konstantinou)
About the Hellenic Film Society
The Hellenic Film Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Greek cinema and sharing the richness of Greek films with American audiences. Based in Astoria, NY, HFS presents an array of feature films, documentaries, and shorts by Greek filmmakers and those of Greek descent, as well as works that highlight the cultures of Greece and Cyprus.
In addition to its annual New York Greek Film Expo, a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, the Society is known for its ongoing Always on Sunday monthly film series, presented in collaboration with the prestigious Museum of the Moving Image. Additionally, the organization partners with other prominent film festivals across the United States, including the Chicago Greek Film Expo, the South Florida Greek Film Festival, and the Atlanta Greek Film Expo.
The Kallinikeion Foundation and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) are the lead supporters of the Hellenic Film Society. Additional support is provided by Microsoft, Greek National Tourism Organization, New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Council, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and Antenna Satellite TV.
For more information, to volunteer, or to support our mission, visit www.hellenicfilmsociety.org.
Get ready!
Don’t miss your chance to view the films and meet the actors and filmmakers who brough them to life. The Expo runs October 2-12 in four theaters in the New York metro area.
Watch all the film trailers here. Please note that substitution of films and guest speakers may be made without notice. Click here for tickets and more info.
See you at the movies!
Read more:
Actress Angeliki Papoulia Talks ‘Arcadia’ and New York Greek Film Expo
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