Participation of Greek Film in the Lighthouse International Film Festival of New Jersey (LIFT)

The Lighthouse International Film Festival (LIFT) opened its doors for this year's 25th edition (June 7-11, 2023) in Long Beach Island, New Jersey, screening at the premiere the Greek film "Listen" by Greek director Maria Douza.

The Greek participation took place under the support and auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in New York. Before the screening of the film (June 8), there was a short presentation of the Greek director and her workand a video message by the Consul General of New York, Mr. Dinos Konstantinou, was shown.

Mr. Constantinou welcomed the wonderful initiative, which is a brilliant opportunity for independent filmmakers to share not only their artistic perspective, but also their diverse cultural backgrounds. LIFF promotes inclusion, diversity, and equity in the film industry. Focusing on bringing together critics, producers, and distributors, it aims at further enhancing new filmmakers’ exposure, noted Mr. Konstantinou.

«This year we are so proud to be participating in the Lighthouse Film Festival with a truly remarkable movie. Greece is being represented by Ms Douza in LIFF with her film “Listen”, which touches upon a wide array of social issues such as discrimination, isolation, xenophobia, racism, loneliness. Through the eyes of a young deaf girl, we witness the struggle to survive in a society that is full of prejudices and intolerance. ‘Deafness’ is being approached not only as a physical human condition, but also as a metaphor, emphasizing our need to be heard, to be understood as well as our own reluctance to connect with what appears to be distant and different», underlined the Consul General.

He also congratulated the Greek director, pointing out her continuous participation in international film festivals as well as the fact that Netflix has bought her film “A Place Called Home” are indeed very promising accomplishments.

The screening of the film was attended by the Head of the of Public Diplomacy Office of Greece in New York, Mrs. Mary Vaxevanidou, who in her own message, emphasised that Greece is not only a paradise for tourists, but also a paradise for filmmakers, as well as Hollywood and international film companies prefer Greece for its exceptional landscapes, but also for the incentives it provides for film productions.


She also pointed out that during the economic crisis, there was a huge wave of new directors in Greece, such as Ms. Douza, with participation in international festivals and international awards.
In the end,she likened Ms. Duza's film “LISTEN” to the allegory of the sophist Prodicus with Virtue and Vice and the choice of Hercules, noting that it is up to us to make the right choice, in order to make our world a better place.

The Director, Ms. Douza, for her part, presented the purpose of her film, which provides a deep social message, and thanked the Consulate General of Greece in New York for its support.

It is noted that the film was watched by a significant American audience and some viewers, particularly moved, and deeply sensitised by the film, asked a lot of questions to the Director after the screening.

Before the screening of the film, the LIFT had organized a working breakfast with all the directors and producers participating in this year's Festival, in order to get them together and to exchange ideas.

It is underlined that the Greek participation received a particularly warm welcome, both from the audience and from the organizers, which is due to the artistic director of the Festival, Mr. Amir Bogen, who loves Greece and visits it very often.

Information on the Greek participation is given in the following link:
https://lighthouseff.eventive.org/films/645a978af4dfcf00c34cb97e