Record-Breaking New York Greek Film Expo 2025 Closes

Hellenic Film Society celebrates the Expo’s growth, announces awards

The New York Greek Film Expo, presented by Hellenic Film Society (HFS), wrapped its 2025 festival with overwhelming response from filmgoers. The 11-day event featured screenings of 13 films in Manhattan; Fort Lee, NJ; and Astoria. The program included the presentation of seven of the latest films from Greece, many of which were screened in the US or New York for the first time, plus a retrospective of the work of master filmmaker Pantelis Voulgaris. This year’s Expo set attendance records. “We are overwhelmed by the audience response to this year’s Expo, which saw its largest audience to date,” said Maria C. Miles, HFS president. “And we’re thrilled that, for many, it was their first time attending a Greek film.”

During the final weekend of New York Greek Expo 2025, Hellenic Film Society presented a retrospective of the work of Master Filmmaker Pantelis Voulgaris. The director was awarded the HFS Lifetime Achievement Award. IMAGE COURTESY PANTELIS VOULGARIS

Opening night

The Expo opened at the Directors Guild Theater in Manhattan, with a sold-out reception, featuring filmmakers and actors from Greece, followed by the US premiere of MURPHY’S LAW. The film, called a “psychoanalytic screwball comedy,” was directed by Angelos Frantzis and stars Katia Goulioni and Andreas Konstantinou. The three participated in an audience Q&A at the conclusion of the film. Goulioni won the Best Performance Award for her “tour de force performance”.

Opening weekend

The following evening, the Expo moved to the Village East Cinema in Manhattan for a weekend of screenings. It featured the New York premiere of MEAT, directed by Dimitris Nakos, who participated in an audience Q&A following the film. It’s the story of a young Albanian man who may take the fall for a murder he did not commit. The film, which has garnered multiple awards including Hellenic Film Academy: Best Actor (Kostas Nikouli), received the festival’s Audience Award. Moviegoers voted on their picks following each screening.

(L-to-R) Greek stars on the Red Carpet. Director Angelos Frantzis; Actors Katia Goulioni, Andreas Konstantinou (MURPHY’S LAW); Angeliki Papoulia (ARCADIA); and Director Vladimir Subotic (UTOPOLIS) at New York Greek Film Expo 2025 Opening Night. IMAGE COURTESY ANASTASSIOS MENTIS/MENTIS STUDIO

The weekend also included screenings of feature films like UTOPOLIS, directed by Vladimir Subotic, who along with lead actor Andreas Konstantinou participated in an audience Q&A after the film; WISHBONE, directed by Penny Panayotopoulou, who also appeared for an audience Q&A; and the multi-award-winning KYUKA: BEFORE SUMMER’S END, directed by Kostis Charamountanis. Also screened was ARCADIA, directed by Yorgos Zois, which was recently selected as Greece’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Film category. Zois and lead actress Angeliki Papoulia participated in a Q&A following the film.

Two shorts were presented. AGAPI, directed by Julia D. Speropoulos, is a hand-drawn animated film that follows 13-year-old Agapi and her family on a “death march” in 1921 that was meant to exterminate Pontian Greeks. GREENHOUSE, directed by Giorgos Georgakopoulos, is the story of a hardworking young Albanian immigrant who must overcome a series of hurdles to make his dream of a career in professional soccer come true.

Hellenic Film Society President Maria C. Miles moderates an audience Q&A with Director Dimitris Nakos following the screening of MEAT. IMAGE COURTESY ANASTASSIOS MENTIS/MENTIS STUDIO

TAKIS, a documentary film directed by Michael Roubis, about a man who devotes his life to rescuing stray animals in Crete, transforming local attitudes and inspiring global support, received rave reviews from the audience. For this, the film received an honorable mention for Excellence in Social Impact. Members of the film’s production team took part in an audience Q&A following the film.

Actors on Actors

The Consulate General of Greece in New York hosted a special, invite-only discussion and reception. In an Actors on Actors discussion, two-time Obie award-winning, Greek-American actor Dennis Boutsikaris and Andreas Konstantinou, one of Greece’s top actors, teamed up for a fascinating discussion on acting and the art of filmmaking.

NY Greek Film Expo in New Jersey

The Expo moved to the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee, NJ for two screenings. LITTLE ENGLAND, directed by Pantelis Voulgaris, was shown on Tuesday, followed by an audience Q&A with lead actor Konstantinou. MEAT was presented on October 8.

Following the screening of LITTLE ENGLAND, Lead Actor Andreas Komstantinou (C), participated in an audience Q&A with Hellenic Film Society President Maria C. Miles (L) and Cynthia Lopez-CEO of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT). The screening was co-presented by NYWIFT. MAGE COURTESY ANASTASSIOS MENTIS/MENTIS STUDIO

Honoring Greece’s master filmmaker

Finally, the Expo moved to the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria for a retrospective of the films of Pantelis Voulgaris. One of Greece’ most prominent directors, Voulgaris received HFS’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

“As master filmmaker Pantelis Voulgaris marks his 85th birthday later this month, the time seems right to present a retrospective of his work, an opportunity to revisit, enjoy and reassess some of his major films,” said Miles.

HFS noted that a retrospective honoring Voulgaris also pays tribute to his wife and long-time partner, acclaimed 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.”

Voulgaris was unable to attend, however he sent his greetings, which Miles read in Greek and English.

Hellenic Film Society President Maria C. Miles (far R) leads a discussion and audience Q&A about the film MURPHY’S LAW, with (L to R) Director Angelos Frantzis and Actors Andreas Konstantinou and Katia Goulioni. IMAGE COURTESY ANASTASSIOS MENTIS/MENTIS STUDIO

“Good evening to New York. Good evening to you all. I feel as if I’m with you in the hall. I’m sitting on the edge of the very last row, watching on the screen images of all the filmmakers I’ve loved. And then, one after another, in close up, all the collaborators with whom I’ve made films. Thank you for this great honor. Thank you for everything.”

Four films were presented. Moviegoers delighted in a rare screening of Voulgaris’ first film: THE ENGAGEMENT OF ANNA (1972), a heartfelt social drama; and THE LAST NOTE (2017), a harrowing, unflinching account of the execution of Greek resistance fighters at Kaisariani during World War II. From his mid-career, BRIDES (2004) starring a young Damian Lewis, is an epic and highly acclaimed story of post-World War I Greek mail-order brides bound for New York; and LITTLE ENGLAND (2013), a visually stunning tragic romance, about two sisters divided by their love for the same man.

Konstantinou discussed LITTLE ENGLAND and working with the team of Voulgaris and Karystiani, in a Q&A with Cynthia Lopez, CEO of New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) and Miles. NYWIFT co-presented the film. Following THE LAST NOTE, Miles moderated an audience Q&A with Konstantinou, where they discussed the weight of history, the horrors of war, and the importance of knowing what happened.

“This year’s slate of films was exceptionally strong, and we were delighted that so many of Greece’s biggest film stars came to share their films and discuss them with our New York audience,” Miles added.

Two-time Obie Award-winning stage, film, & TV Actor Dennis Boutsikaris (L) led an ‘Actors on Actors discussion with Andreas Konstantinos (R), one of Greece’s leading actors. The actors’ conversation was hosted by the Consulate General of Greece. IMAGE COURTESY ANASTASSIOS MENTIS/MENTIS STUDIO

Expo 2026

Work has already begun for next year. The New York Greek Film Expo 2026 will take place October 8-18, 2026.

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.

For more information, to volunteer, or to support their mission, their website is https://hellenicfilmsociety.org/.