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Now in its 12th year, the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival ended its 12th run on Sunday evening with Orpheus Awards handed out in several categories, plus an honorary Orpheus for Greek-American actor George Chakiris, who won the Oscar for best supporting actor Academy Award in 1961’s “West Side Story.” His costar, Rita Moreno, who scored a best supporting actress Oscar for the same film, presented Chakiris with his trophy.

The ceremony was held at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theater, capping a week of screenings, seminars and social events. Stand-up comedian Anthony Steven Kalloniatis, aka Ant, opened the event, and network warm-up host Chuck Dukas served as Mc.

Historical drama “Polyxeni,” directed by Dora Masclavanou, a tale of orphan girl from Istanbul unaware of the devious plan others are weaving behind her back, won the Orpheus Award for best fiction feature film. Katia Goulioni (pictured above in a scene from the...

Director refuses to accept trophies in protest over immigrant issues in Greece.Scroll down for full list of winners

Panos H Koutras’ Xenia swept the sixth Hellenic Film Academy Awards on Monday evening (March 30) including the top prizes for best film, best director and best screenplay.

The film, which played in Un Certain Regard at Cannes 2014, was also awarded best editing, best costumes and best supporting actor for Angelos Papadimitriou.

But in an emotionally charged gesture, the director and his team chose not to accept the awards until the left wing Syriza government passed a bill regarding second-generation, referring to more than 100,000 immigrant children born and raised in Greece who are being denied Greek citizenship.

Xenia centres on two teenage boys who cross the entire country in search of their Greek father, after their Albanian mother passes away. They hope he will identify them as sons and secure their citizenship.

Last year’s...