Coming of Age -- LAGFF at 8

Official 2014 LAGFF Trailer from LA Greek Film Festival on Vimeo.

“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;!” 
― Rudyard Kipling, If: A Father's Advice to His Son 

Ramsey Seikaly

Los Angeles -- It has been eight years since that balmy Friday evening I took a seat at the Saban Theatre on the tony section of Wilshire Blvd., a stones throw within the municipal boundary of the city of Beverly Hills, to watch the US premiere of OPA, a romance set against the backdrop of archaeological political intrigue, on the Greek island of Patmos, where John, Jesus's youngest disciple lived in exile while encountering God, resulting in his authoring the last book of the bible, REVELATIONS, right smack dab in the middle of the Agean sea.

Well the revelation I had was not from God but you might say a Godly inspiration; that this is going to be the start of a very creative era of opportunity for Hellenes as well as other ethnic groups as the film industry continues to find new sources of revenue beyond their back lot. 

And I am not speaking of the film offices of neighboring states, cannibalizing the industry with their seductive tax incentives and hefty subsidies to either use their locals and/or move their business operation to their more favorable business environment. 

That's over and done with since every state is not only on the bandwagon but has completely over saturated the industry with this free for all jockeying to lure production companies to their version of Hollywood and a peace of the nirvana AKA the windfall of hard cash revenue that usually occurs when a movie company comes to town.   It's like winning the power-ball.  

Ethnic and cultural film festivals have not as of yet reached that level of fierce rivalry that municipalities are currently engaged in, since they remain committed foremost to not only showcasing their ethnic pride and cultural contributions favorably but also to provide opportunities for up and comers from their respective communities to showcase their craft, talent and artistry, leading to a coveted signed distribution deal or a pick up arrangement with a first look development agreement.  

This years slate of pics look very promising and are a reflection of the seasoning of the LAGFF staff and their professional maturity in bridging the gap between what the public demands and what the filmmakers demand.  An emphasis or a better word consensus toward placing a premium on strong story telling skills as a visual essay rather than a literal one which movies convey and should communicate anyway by their very nature.

It is the coming of age for this film festival especially when you were around at its birth that balmy Friday afternoon with June gloom hanging around a bit too long into the mid afternoon, trying to keep your head together in the midst of the neophytes losing theirs in the anticipation, the excitement and anxiety of launching a new festival in the heartland of film entertainment.  

In spite of the doubts and the doubting Thomas we encounter and are encountered by you rise to a new level of awareness when as Rudyard Kipling said "You make allowances for their doubts too."

And that is when you know you that you are growing and are coming of age.  

We will see in the next 4 days, culminating Sunday June 8 with the award ceremony.  So sit back, relax, pass the popcorn and enjoy the Eighth Annual Los Angeles Greek Film Festival when the Greeks came to Hollywood and Hollywood became Greek.

Ola kala kai kali tixhi!

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