We will contact you shortly after the presentation of his Best Actress award. Lena PapaliguraV Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France. Previously, it stood out in American sundance Film Festival, for her role in his film Thanasis Neofotystos “Stewardess – 737“.

The director’s joy (Prayer, Prospekt Patishn, Trassa-3, Sparkling Candles) from the international recognition of his film is indescribable, because in addition to the awards, he was very touched by the comments. and public love.

“It’s great, that’s the only way I can describe it,” he tells K, and explains, “Fully aware of how competitive our venue has been since the beginning of my career—when I was still making my student films—I knew that we all had significant chances to change course. From now until the moment when the films I make are recognized, shown and awarded at the most important festivals in the world, I can only say thank you.”

The story of “Stewardess 737” follows Vanina (Papaligura), a 39-year-old flight attendant who flies from Athens to Kavala in a Boeing 737. plot plan. On the occasion of this event, Vanina will be called to confront her mother, who has always been absent from her life and now her body is in the hold of the aircraft.

Dream

The inspiration for Neophotistos for the script came from a dream that influenced him. But why should this particular dream become a movie and not another? What is its significance for the director? “It was such an impulse and an emotional impact (I woke up sobbing) that I didn’t even think about it,” he emphasizes. Regarding the message he wanted to convey to viewers through the project, he states that “I think we wanted to talk about the value of reconciling a wounded person“.

The camera does a lot of close-ups of Lena Papaligura’s face, as it masterfully captures every emotion, from a pretentious smile in front of passengers, to emotional “turbulences”. “Lena was an instinctive choice. Shortly before we made the final decision, I said let’s do a test – since I thought about her from the very beginning – and as soon as I saw her in the role, she was blocked.

At world festivals

The film has already charted an interesting course abroad, receiving nominations and awards at international film festivals. It began with a premiere at the 75th Locarno Festival, followed by an Honorable Mention at the 47th Toronto Film Festival and a nomination for the European Prize 2023. In addition, it has competed in more than 30 international competitions with important distinctions. And this journey will become even more exciting as new shows appear.

So what did the process of creating this enterprise look like? The neophotist replies that she was industrious, but very creative. “With little money, we had to use all our creativity. Fortunately, I had excellent partners, most of whom we have worked with before. Everyone put a lot of love, faith and even more work into the film.” The surprise here was the participation of the great performer Haris Alexiou, who voiced the lullaby of Vanya’s mother. “When the film was taking its final form, it was a very charged moment, because at the same time it deeply moved me and I could hardly watch it, but I think I also understood its dynamics.”

This time, Vanina and the Boeing 737 “landed” in Greek cinemas and are shown in select cinemas before her feature film. Silver President“Behind the haystacks“. After Clermont-Ferrand and Sundance, Neofotostos, who is also preparing the feature film The Boy with Blue Eyes, says the 737 Stewardess “will make her trips to various festivals and I will be proud of them from a distance (hopefully) now.”

Odds

Directed by: Thanasis Neofotistos
Producers: Ioanna Bolomitis, Dimitris Tsakaleas
Executive Producer: Panos Papachatzis
Cast: Lena Papaligura, Constantina Koutsonassiou and Haris Alexiou (mother’s voice)
Screenplay: Thanasis Neofothistos, Grigoris Skarakis
Director of Photography: Yannis Fotou GSC
Editing: Panos Angelopoulos
Production Designer: Eva Gaitanidu
Sound Design: Stelios Koupettoris
Sound engineer: Alexis Koukias – Pantelis
Original music: Lefteris Samson
Makeup and hair: Olga Kobogianni
Directed by: Yoli Anjulatu
Director assistant: Anastasia Flokatula
Participants: Yiannis Moustakas, Eleni Molfeta, Thodoris Vournas, Julis Pezopoulou