NICK EFTERIADES (Writer/Director)
ASTORIA marks the feature directorial debut of Nick Efteriades. Born and raised in Boston, Efteriades is a graduate of Dartmouth College with a BA in Film Studies. He moved to New York in 1989 to enroll in Columbia University's Masters Program in Film from which he holds an MFA. At Columbia Efteriades studied under renowned filmmakers such as 2-time Cannes Palme d'Or winner Emir Kusturica, acclaimed director/editor Ralph Rosenblum, and Cannes Best Director Winner Vojtech Jasny. His Thesis Film, Fat Tuesday, was a prizewinner at the 1994 South Beach Miami Film Festival for Best Fiction Short and was also awarded the prestigious Columbia Faculty Completion Grant. It has since played in numerous festivals and short-film series around the world. His other works include November 17, Hit Men, and the documentary, The Greek-Americans of Boston. Efteriades is the author of three feature screenplays and is currently at work on his latest one.

ATHENA EFTER (Producer)

A native of Boston, Efter is a graduate of Boston College where she majored in English and Philosophy. Efter's career in film began in 1994 at Arnold Communications, one of the country's largest ad agencies where she rose to the position of Associate Producer in the Broadcast Production department. At Arnold she was a key member of the team that oversaw the production of major commercials for clients such as McDonalds, Volkswagen, Fleet, Inc., and the United Way among others. Efter parlayed her hands-on production experience and her passion for narrative cinema to join forces with her brother, Nick, in forming Marevan Pictures, an independent production company. ASTORIA is both Marevan's and Efter's inaugural feature.

JAMIE DAKOYANNIS (Producer)

Completing the triumvirate of Bostonians, Jamie Dakoyannis holds BA in Mass Communication and an MA in Film from Boston University. She also holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard's JFK School of Government. In the mid-80s Dakoyannis served as the European Project Manager for the MIT's Daedalus Project a pioneering research effort in human-powered flight that established four world records. As the media relations director on the project Dakoyannis was awarded a Public Relations Award from the Greek government. In 1989 Jamie co-produced the award-wining documentary, My Sweet Village, which went on to receive the award for Best Social Documentary at the Florida Film Festival and awards at the New York Film Festival. Most recently Dakoyannis has worked on the PBS series Frontline as a field producer for the Boston segment of School, a four-part special to air in 1999.

PAUL S. MEZEY (Executive Producer)

Paul Mezey is one of the rising young producers in the New York indie scene. A graduate of Yale University and New York University's Masters Program in Film, Mezey was Post-Production Supervisor and oversaw the delivery of Sundance award-winner Hurricane Streets. He has since gone on to produce David Riker's La Cuidad which became a hit at the 1998 Toronto, the 1999 Sundance, and 1999 SXSW Film Festivals and was released theatrically in the fall of 1999. Mezey co-produced The Uninvited starring Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, and Joely Richardson. He was a producer, along with Gil Holland, Girlstown helmer Jim McKay, and R.E.M's Michael Stipe on Tom Gilroy's Spring Forward, an IFC production starring Ned Beatty, Liev Schreiber, Campbell Scott, and Lili Taylor which premiered at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival. Most recently, Mezey produced Our Song, directed by Jim McKay, which was selected for competition in the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. For his work on La Cuidad, Mezey was nominated for the Producer of the Year Award for the 2000 Independent Spirit Awards. He won that distinction for his work on Spring Forward at the 2001 Awards.

MARISA NICOLE STEFATOS (Executive Producer)

Marisa studied and individualized major at New York University's Gallatin School receiving a B.A. in Theatre, Dramatic Writing and French called "Paradigms of Life: The Human Condition." Her private studies and work with Yefgenios Lanskoy of the Stella Adler Conservatory and development of his theory "Practical Acting Structure" strongly enhanced her interest in the creative process. Her interest in film began while working at Hit & Run Productions where she assisted Executive Producer Hilary Shor and Stephan Elliot (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Eye of the Beholder). She also co-produced and served as Dramaturge for John Carrol's theatrical production of Twelfth Night at the Sanford Meisner Theater in 1999. Her writing credits include Co-Writer of the screenplay Madalena, currently in pre-production as well as Women on the Verge and Beyond the Door two performance pieces that have been shown at New York University. Marisa has won first and second place in Hoftsra University's National French Poetry Contest. Her recent acting credits include Egle in Marivaux's La Dispute; La Grange in Moliere's Les Precieuses Ridicules; Solange in Jean Genet's Les Bonnes; and Antigone in Jean Anouilh's Antigone - all at the French Institute's Florence Gould Auditorium.

ELSA TSARTSIDOU (Co-Executive Producer)

A native of Greece, Tsartsidou is a graduate of the City University of New York. She has worked over the past ten years as a fund-raiser, special-events coordinator, and a cultural/arts liaison for the Greek-American community of the Greater New York area. Tsartsidou is the Film Coordinator and the Associate Artistic Director of the Greek Cultural Center of New York, a non-profit organization funded by the New York State Council for the Arts. The GCC is dedicated to the promotion of Modern Greek arts through theater, ongoing film series (of which she is the programmer), muscial performances, and lectures. Also an actor, Tsartsidou has worked in film and television. Her credits include the upcoming feature The LaMastas and The Hangout, a TV drama for Greek television produced in New York.

DAVID MARCELLINO (Co-Producer)

David Marcellino has worked in the film and television industry for several years. Among his credits as a Line Producer include Dead Broke (starring Paul Sorvino, Tony Roberts, and Jill Hennessy), Lifebreath (starring Luke Perry and Gia Carides), and 1998 Sundance Film Festival short Up on the Roof produced by Good Machine. Marcellino was Production Coordinator on MGM's film version of The Fantasticks, directed by Michael Ritchie. His credits also include 1st AD on The Usual Suspects and 2nd AD on Wayne Wang's Smoke. In addition Marcellino has line produced and production managed over sixty commercials including national spots for Nike, Toyota, NYNEX, Revlon, TCI Cable, and Dunkin' Donuts.

ELIA LYSSY (Director of Photography)

A native a Switzerland, Elia Lyssy is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His numerous credits as a cinematographer cover feature films, documentaries, commercials, and works in television. In addition to Astoria, Lyssy served as director of photography on the features The Money Shot (Winner of the Best Cinematography Award at the 1999 New York/Avignon Film Festival), Not Even the Trees, The LaMastas, The Definite Maybe, and Puzzles of Blue. Lyssy also shot Phish - The Movie, a documentary about the rock group of the same name, the MTV series pilot 24/7, the award-winning documentary Silk Dreams, and "Shooting In the Line of Fire" about the Wolfgang Petersen film. His commercial work includes national spots for Miller Beer and Wella Hair Care Products. His TV credits include work for Court-TV, Fox News, RAI (Italy), NBC, ABC, and MTV.

NIKOS PAPAZOGLOU (Composer)

For nearly 20 years now the Thessaloniki-based singer, composer, and arranger Nikos Papazoglou has firmly established himself as one of Greece's most popular and innovative musical artists. His mastery of the "Neo-Rebetiko (Greek Blues)" form has led many to call him Greece's answer to Bruce Springsteen. Papazoglou's unique sound blends Greek musical traditions with folk rock, modern rock, and jazz - a sound that has broadened his popularity throughout Europe where his tours have been consistently sold-out. Among his many songs and compositions, "Avgoustos (August)" and "Kaneis Etho Then Tragouda (No One Sings Here)" remain two of Greece's best-selling and most widely loved ballads of all-time. With Astoria Papazoglou makes his first venture into feature-film scoring and it is with great enthusiasm the makers welcome his extraordinary talent.

STUART EMANUEL (Editor)

Stuart Emanuel has worked in film as an editor and sound editor for nearly twenty years. His editing credits include the Redeemable Features production Way Past Cool, directed by Adam Davidson, produced by Ira Deutchman, and executive produced by Milos Forman and Norman Lear. Emmanuel served as editor for the award-winning HBO series Cops: Behind the Badge; two other HBO series: Consumer Reports Presents and Braingames; and the short Los Pollos. Emmanuel was the consulting editor for Adam Davidson's The Lunch Date, winner of the 1991 Academy Award for Best Live-Action Short and the 1991 winner for Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival. His work as sound editor includes The People vs. Larry Flynt, Marvin's Room, Flirting With Disaster, Beautiful Girls, Regarding Henry, and Postcards From the Edge.

JODY ASNES (Production Designer)

Jody Asnes recently had the distinction of being production designer on two feature films in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival Competition: Trick, directed by Jim Fall and produced by Good Machine, and Getting to Know You, directed by Lisanne Skyler and produced by Shadowcatcher Entertainment. Trick will be hitting theatres in 1999 from Fine Line Features. Asnes has also served as production designer on numerous short films including Homeland, Before All That Happens, John Scott's Back Story - winner of the Milos Forman Production Award, Stepanka's Version (of the Blue Balloon), and Heart & Souls. Asnes has also worked as art director on Chris Munch's Backward Looks, Far Corners. In addition she has worked as an assistant art director, set decorator, set dresser, and scenic painter on numerous features, shorts, and commercials.

EDEN S. MILLER (Costume Designer)

Eden Miller's work as Costume designer has spanned the fields of film, television and theatre. Miller was costume designer on the features The Cut Runs Deep and Nice Guys Finish Last. She has worked on the shorts Escape Velocity and Box of Nails. Her theatre work includes productions of The Epringham Camp, the Hungry Girls, The Great God Brown, and Mr. Pim Passes By. As Assistant Costume Designer, Miller has worked on the soap As the World Turns, the feature Harvest, the TV pilot Prince Street, and the Broadway production of Footloose - The Musical, Henry VIII, and Hello, Dolly! Starring Carol Channing. Miller has also worked in the costume department for the films Bullets Over Broadway, Sabrina, It Could Happen to You, Mighty Aphrodite, The Birdcage, and The Age of Innocence.

JUDY HENDERSON (Casting Director)

For over twenty years now, Judy Henderson has established herself as one of the most respected New York-based casting directors. Her work spans film, theatre, and television. She has cast some of the major Broadway and Off-Broadway productions over the years, as well as numerous network TV series including Beverly Hills 90210. Her film work includes Before Sunrise, Dazed and Confused, Suburbia, and The Pompatus of Love.

ROBERT J. ANDREWS (Iconographer)

Boston area-based artist Robert J. Andrews has established himself as a master of Byzantine art. His work in the area of mosaic iconography is widely acclaimed as the finest collection in the Western Hemisphere. His work can be seen in numerous churches throughout the world from London to San Francisco. His work for the Greek Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior in Lowell, Massachusetts - a project almost thirty years in the making - is widely regarded as a crowning achievement of an extraordinary career. It is with great appreciation the filmmakers welcome his contributions to Astoria.

Sound Designer TOM LINO
Associate Producer JOEL BLANCO
Line Producer DAVID MARCELLINO
Unit Production Manager JOEL BANCO
1st Assistant Director THOMAS FATONE
2nd Assistant Director MALIAKA LANGA
Set Decorator BRIAN ELWELL
On-Set Dresser MIMI LIEN
Leadman JOSHUA KANTER
Property Master SHIRA KRONZON
Scenic Artist LUNA HIRAI
Iconographer ROBERT J. ANDREWS
Script Supervisor MICHELLE JELLEY
Production Coordinator KAREN GONZALEZ
Production Associate JANE PSYHOGIOS
Location Manager ERIN VISLAILLI
Sound Mixer FREDERIC EDWARDS
Boom Operator NIKOLAS MAZET
1st Assistant Camera BRAD RAPPA
2nd Assistant Camera GREG FINKEL
Camera Intern ANDREW OTTO
Still Photographers MARGO SILVER
MARIA TOLIOU
Gaffer MICHEAL GREEN
Best Boy Electric MARK OLIVER
Key Grip CHUCK McENTEE
Best Boy Grip CHRIS LALLY
Additional Best Boy Grip DOUG KENNEDY
Swing Grip/Electric Driver NEIL HINKLE
Swing Electric MARC LABBATE
Additional Swing Grip/Electric FRANK BARRERA
Additional Swing Electric ANDREW FEDDERMAN
Additional Swing Grips RICHARD BARBADILLO, JR.
VINCENT MANGANO
RYAN COOKE
Key Hair and Make-Up CASSADNRA LEE
Additional Hair & Make-Up HECTOR FERRER
Wardrobe Supervisor CHRYSOULA ARTEMIS
Wardrobe Intern SVARK DICUPE
Production Accountant CARA KEALY
Additional Accountant ANSELM KING
Office Production Assistant IRENE YUNG
Office Interns SLOAN HELLER
ANTHONY ESCOBAR
Key Set Production Assistant JEFFREY THOMPSON
Production Assistants CLAY CARMOUCHE
ERIC SORENSON
MARGO SILVER
TRACY SHAM
SAVARK
DICUPE
DEAN MENDELSON
Add’l Production Assistants PATRICK RAMOS
SCOTT MARSHALL
MATTHEW SMITH
Craft Services NICK DAGAN BEST
Additional Craft Services RANDY GLADDING
Caterer MY BELIZEAN GOURMET
Additional Caterer ANTON AIR FOOD
Casting Associates ZANNY DAVIS
NICOLE LERARIO
Dialect Coach for Ms. Turco STEPHEN GABIS
Choreographer for Mr. Stear ELSA TSARTSIDOU
Museum Statuary provided by: KONSTANTINOS ARACHOVITIS &
SONS/IONIC CASTING
Assistant Editor DAVID BRIGGS
2nd Assistant Editor JODI GIBSON
2nd Assistant Editor LIZZIE DONOHUE
Editing Facilities EAST COAST POST
Sound Editor TOM LINO
Music Editor STUART EMANUEL
Foley Engineer MATT FLEECE
Foley Artist NANCY CABRERA
ADR Mixer/Editor TOM LINO
Post-Sound Services DIGITAL ARTS
Re-recording Mixer TONY VOLANTE
Negative Matching N & D FILM & VIDEO, LTD.
Titles & Opticals HEAVY LIGHT, INC.
Additional Opticals THE EFFECTS HOUSE
Film Laboratory & Prints DUART
Color Timer KENT McGREW
Film Stock KODAK
Camera Equipment provided by CSC
Grip & Lighting Equipment JUPITER LIGHTING
Add’l Grip & Lighting Equipment AVAILABLE LIGHT, INC.
Payroll Services provided by MEDIA SERVICES
Production Insurance ACORDIA MINNESOTA
Legal Services provided by EMERSON E. BRUNS, ESQ.
Company Accountant JERRY MAKRIS, CPA