NYWIFT Blog

By Katie Chambers

Maria C. Miles is a well-known presence at NYWIFT gatherings, having served two consecutive terms on the NYWIFT Board of Directors and now as legal counsel for the organization. Mary – as friends and fellow members know her – frequently welcomes new faces to the organization with her warmth, generous spirit, and quick wit.

And now she brings her leadership and expertise to another organization near and dear to her heart. Committed to promoting diversity in the film and television industry, Miles was named President of the Board of the Hellenic Film Society USA in January 2024.

Mary offered us a unique glimpse into what the organization has in store this year, including its partnership with New York Women in Film & Television.

Former NYWIFT Board Member and current Hellenic Film Society USA President Maria C. Miles (image courtesy of Maria C. Miles)

Congratulations on becoming President of the Hellenic Film Society in January! What are you most looking forward to this year?

Thank you, Katie. It’s been a great year of learning, planning and executing. I wanted to take some time to understand more about the general landscape of Greek cinema and how we can engage a broader audience. The Hellenic Film Society continues to offer one Greek film every month at the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria. We are amazed at the success of our YouTube Channel. That’s really taken off. And, we are in the middle of planning our annual film festival, the New York Greek Film Expo, running between October 3^rd to the 13^th, in Manhattan, Fort Lee, and Astoria.   

How did you first get involved with their work?

I was approached by James DeMetro, a good friend and Hellenic Film Society’s founding president (and current president emeritus). He knew of my career as an entertainment attorney and thought that my experience in the industry, as well as being Greek-American and my love for Greek culture and heritage would be a perfect fit. He was right! It merges my passion for my work and who I am into one.

(Image courtesy of the Hellenic Film Society USA)

What are some of the qualities of Greek filmmaking that you are most excited to showcase? What sets them apart from indie films in the U.S.?

I’m particularly proud of the slate of films we are presenting at the New York Greek Film Expo 2024 this October. Generally, the actors are sublime. I almost don’t blink watching them perform. And, the cinematographers are second to none.

As we know, Greece is the birthplace of theater, both drama and comedy. They excel at telling engaging stories. It’s steeped in the culture. There is a real renaissance happening and it is equal parts exciting and dramatic (how could it not be!). The experiences of the Greek people, their stories, their failures and triumphs are universal and yet, uniquely, Greek.    

The society is dedicated to preserving and celebrating Greek film heritage – but it’s not intended solely for Greek audiences. What can wider audiences gain from engaging with the society’s work?

We like to say we offer a festival for ALL New Yorkers. New York, and the U.S. by extension, is a wonderful amalgamation of cultures and languages. We come to the U.S. and make up this wonderful new culture that is distinctly American. Yet, we know we are different. Celebrating these differences is what makes us special. Seeing, hearing, understanding, and empathizing with others enriches our souls, educates our minds and moves our hearts. That’s what audiences gain from Greek film.  

(Image courtesy of Hellenic Film Society)

What is in store for this year’s New York Greek Film Expo?

We are very excited for this year’s New York Greek Film Expo. We will be showing nine of Greece’s most recent and lauded films. Comedies, dramas and a documentary.  All of our films will be represented by leading actors, directors and producers supporting their work for robust Q&As allowing for a great exchange of experience and knowledge. At the end of the day, that’s what every festival should be–a celebration of film and an exchange of knowledge. Our planning continues and we will update NYWIFT. You can find out more about the 2024 Expo slate of films and schedule at www.hellenicfilmusa.org.

Tell us about the film society’s other initiatives – like your Always on Sunday series and other events.

Always on Sunday is a monthly film series (one Sunday a month) that we curate and screen at the prestigious Museum of Moving Image (MoMI) in Astoria, which is the birthplace of film in the US—before Hollywood. Except for summers off, when we’re planning our festival, we hold monthly screenings throughout the year.  It gives us the ability to share some Greek classics, as well as the newest Greek films. In fact, I am very proud that just this year, we offered audiences access to three films (out of 5) before they even premiered in Greece. Our audiences are in the forefront of Greek cinema. I was particularly thrilled to show the first-ever animated feature-length Greek film, Karagiozis, this past weekend. All generations were present and it was a true family event. We managed to engage a new generation of movie-goers and celebrate Greece’s emergence in animation.  

We have an incredible online community with our YouTube page. We went digital because of the pandemic and started bringing interviews and other fantastic material onto that platform because travel was impossible. It has been an incredible success for us–our videos have had more than 2.2 million views. I am partial to our intimate interviews with Greece’s leading actors, directors and filmmakers. And, our spotlight on Greek women celebrating Women’s Month in March each year, I think, is particularly important.

Lastly, we always sprinkle in a special event, panel or screening. I can’t reveal what’s coming yet this winter, but we are hard at work to bring some special events, panels and educational opportunities to our audiences throughout the next year.

Stills from Animal and Fonissa (Courtesy of Hellenic Film Society USA)

NYWIFT is proud as always to partner with the festival to co-present two films by women filmmakers. What can you tell us about this year’s two selections?

The two films NYWIFT has kindly chosen to support this year tell two very distinct female-driven stories. The first, Animal, written and directed by Sofia Exarchou, tells the story of an aging resort performer who must come to terms with her inevitable eclipsing in favor of younger performers. Animal is the runaway hit of the year, garnering awards at multiple international film festivals and sweeping the Hellenic Academy Awards with an impressive 7 awards (out of 14 nominations), including Best Film Director and Best Screenplay for Exarchou and Best Actress for Dimitra Vlagopoulou, the lead in the film.

The second film, Fonissa (Murderess), is an adaptation of a Greek book by Alexandros Papadiamantis, adapted by, starring and directed by women. It follows the story of a village’s midwife and depicts the struggles and oppression of women under the dowry system, leading to abuse, feminicide and infanticide because of women being (and treated as) property.  

OK – fun quick question. What’s the best Greek delicacy to munch on while watching amazing Greek cinema?

This question is not fair all! Baklava, known and loved by all, is too syrupy but wonderful for later. Souvlaki or gyro, your neighbor may not appreciate all the garlic in the tzatziki. I’m going with the little-known pasteli (sesame seed, almond or pistachio brittle) or sunflower seeds (very popular especially in the time-honored Greek tradition of outdoor cinema in the summer).

Learn more about the Hellenic Film Society and check out the full lineup for the NY Greek Film Expo, running October 3-13, 2024, at https://hellenicfilmusa.org

More about Maria C. Miles:

Maria C. Miles is the founder of an entertainment law practice with offices in New York. Maria’s practice focuses on all areas of entertainment and media law, including, film (both documentary and narrative), television (scripted and non-scripted), literary publishing and new media. Her clients consist primarily of independent film producers, directors, writers and talent.  

Prior to starting her own practice, Maria was general counsel for a multi-media digital start-up working on a diverse range of subject-matter areas including a webseries and editorial content, corporate and financing transactions, technology development and licensing, employment and intellectual property (overseeing a large catalogue of trademarks, copyrights and patents) both in the US and abroad. Prior to her role as in-house counsel, Maria was associated with a large law firm where she served as counsel to numerous award-winning actors, writers, producers, television hosts and multi-platinum recording artists, sports teams, and corporations in the fashion and retail industries related to their entertainment and intellectual property matters.

Committed to promoting diversity in the film and television industry, Miles serves as President of the Board of the Hellenic Film Society USA and served on the Board of New York Women in Film & Television (NYWIFT). She continues to serve NYWIFT as legal counsel. Maria is an adjunct professor teaching entertainment law at the School of Visual Arts, Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema and NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Learn more at https://www.mmileslaw.com/