LAGFF TO FETE HBO’s KARY ANTHOLIS And “HERCULE’S” SCRIBE EVAN SPILIOTOPOULOS FESTIVAL WELCOMES THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDING NICK CASSAVETES TO THEIR ADVISORY BOARD

Los Angeles Greek Film Festival June 3-7, Egyptian Theatre Hollywood
(Los Angeles- May 14, 2015) – The Ninth Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival (LAGFF/ lagff.org) is pleased to announce that Kary Antholis, president, HBO Miniseries and Cinemax Programming, for Home Box Office and “Hercules” scribe Evan Spiliotopoulos are this year’s recipients of the Festival’s top honor – the prestigious Honorary Orpheus Award. The Awards will be given out at the red carpet Closing Night Gala on Sunday, June 7 at the Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood following the screening of Panos Koutras’ XENIA.
“LAGFF could not be more proud of this year’s Honorary Orpheus Award Winners. 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 Co-Founder Ersi Danou. “As a writer, Evan Spiliotopoulos has established a very successful career in Hollywood and abroad. His ability to write for several genres shows an uncanny dexterity and talent. We are honoring him for his current successes and also for an even brighter future ahead. ” Ms. Danou added. LAGFF is also pleased to add three new members to its already impressive roster of Industry Advisors. The 2015 additions to the LAGFF Advisory Board are Writer/Director/Actor Nick Cassavetes, Starz Executive Vice President of Worldwide Distribution Gene George, and Fullscreen Chief Executive Officer and Founder George Strompolos.
Named for the mythical Greek poet, the Orpheus Award is the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival’s annual prize intended to honor the best in Greek and Greek-inspired cinema. Since the Festival’s inception in 2006 the awards night has become an integral event serving to highlight the art and artists who are changing the way we think about film.
The award itself was designed and sculpted by Greek artist Miltos Papastergiou. Papastergiou, who studied under Yannis Pappas, attended the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Paris and has regularly presented his work in both Athens and Larissa. Past Orpheus Award winners have included many prestigious industry professionals including: Anthony Katagas (Producer), Steve Nicolaides(Producer) , Phedon Papamichael (Cinematographer), Olympia Dukakis (Actress).
www.lagff.org

2015 ORPHEUS AWARD HONOREES 
KARY ANTHOLIS 
President, HBO Miniseries and Cinemax Programming 
Kary Antholis is president, HBO Miniseries and Cinemax Programming, for Home Box Office, responsible for overseeing the development and production of HBO miniseries and Cinemax original programming. He was named to the Miniseries position in October 2008 and added the Cinemax Programming responsibilities in 2011.
Most recently Antholis was program executive on the four-part miniseries Olive Kitteridge, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Elizabeth Strout; as well as the Cinemax original series The Knick, from director Steven Soderbergh and starring Clive Owen. He also oversaw the Golden Globe® and multiple Emmy®-winning miniseries Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet; the multiple Emmy®-winning miniseries John Adams and Generation Kill; the epic 10-part event The Pacific; and Strike Back, now entering its fourth season, and Banshee from executive producer Alan Ball, now entering its third season, both for Cinemax.
Antholis first joined HBO in 1992 as director, Documentary Programming, where he oversaw the development and production of HBO documentaries and acted as program executive on award-winning documentaries such as Educating Peter, The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter and Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock. He left HBO in 1994 to produce and direct the documentary One Survivor Remembers, which debuted on HBO and won an Oscar® and a Primetime Emmy® in 1995.
In 2012, One Survivor Remembers was one of 25 titles added by the Librarian of Congress to the National Film Registry, an honor given to “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant American films. He also created and was executive producer of The Cape, a one-hour drama syndicated during the 1996-97 television season.
Antholis rejoined HBO in April 1997 as a consultant on the Emmy®-winning miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. He was promoted to vice president, Original Programming, Drama Events, in 1998, responsible for overseeing the development and production of drama programming for HBO, and worked as a program executive on the miniseries The Corner during that time. In 1999, Antholis was made vice president, HBO Films, supervising such projects as
EVAN SPILIOTOPOULOS 
Born in Greece, Evan Spiliotopoulos moved to the United States after high school. Shortly after graduating American University in Washington DC, Evan began pursuing his career as a writer. While employed at Disney, Evan wrote numerous animated films including: Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure, The Little Mermaid III, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie and The Three Musketeers which earned him a DVDX nomination for Best Screenplay. Outside of Disney, Evan also wrote The Nutty Professor for the Weinstein Company, starring Jerry Lewis and the Ottawa International Film Festival Grand Prize winner Battle for Terra.
After his stint in the animated world, Evan made the transition into live-action. Among projects for Fox, Paramount and Sony, Evan wrote the Snow White and the Huntsman draft that got the project green lit and attached star Chris Hemsworth. Subsequently, Evan wrote Hercules for MGM, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Dwayne Johnson as well as Universal’s The Huntsman, currently filming in the UK and starring Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt and Jessica Chastain.
Evan’s future projects include Beauty and the Beast for Disney, starring Emma Watson and directed by Bill Condon; Young Sherlock Holmes for Paramount produced by Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus; Seven Wonders for Fox, produced by Brett Ratner and Beau Flynn; and The Dishonourables for Sony, produced by Joe Roth and Palak Patel.

ABOUT LAGFF 
The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival showcases new films from Greek filmmakers worldwide. Our foremost goal is to promote Greek cinema and cultural exchange while bridging the gap between Greek filmmakers and Hollywood. Orpheus Awards are given to the most outstanding new films in the dramatic, documentary and short film categories.
THE ORPHEUS AWARDS 
LAGFF SPONSORS 
The 2015 Los Angeles Greek Film Festival is grateful for the support of numerous key sponsors.
LAGFF is proud to receive the support of Greek National Tourism Organization.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organization, where you’ll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more! (Link: http://www.visitgreece.gr/)
Grants are received from the Elios Charitable Foundation and ELMA
Platinum Patron 

Hostess Brands and the Metropoulos Family
We are very proud to once again welcome Hostess Brands and the Metropoulos Family Platinum Patrons of Los Angeles Greek Film Festival 2015.
Today, Hostess Brands, LLC, continues to delight snack fans everywhere with a variety of new and classic treats like Ding Dongs®, Ho Hos®, Donettes® and Fruit Pies.
They make the original creme-filled cakes that so many consider an irreplaceable part of American life. Silver Patrons Earth Friendly Products is the leader in the development and production of environmentally friendly cleaning supplies for household and commercial use, with over 150 products manufactured, distributed, and sold in the USA, Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. All Earth Friendly Products are created with only replenish able and sustainable plant based ingredients that are safe for people, pets, and the planet.
The Company proudly adheres to its strict “Freedom Code”, avoiding a list of harmful and toxic ingredients that are not found in any its products.
Earth Friendly Products has proudly received the 2010 GEELA Award for Sustainable Business Practices, 2009 Green PatriotTM Green 100TM Designation and the Champion level recognition from the US EPA, through the Design for the Environment (DfE) Program’s Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative.
The company’s solar division, Progressive Power Group, is just another example of how Earth Friendly Products is a sustainable business leader.
The G.P. Kolovos & Associates 
With a history of success in the real estate world and philanthropy, the Kolovos Family have been with LAGFF since its inception, and have been instrumental in its growth.
Bronze Patrons: Aris Anagnos, Cinemax, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, West Coast Investors and Puritan Bakery.
Media Sponsors include: KPFK Radio, Greek Reporter, The Immigrant Magazine,The Tolucan Times