SARASOTA, FL – The new family-centric drama, Epiphany, shot locally in Tarpon Springs, FL, will debut at the Sarasota Film Festival on April 6. Epiphany follows the story of teenage Luka, who is desperate to connect with her negligent father in a Greek sponge diving town in Florida.
Epiphany, from indie production company Meritage Pictures (20 Weeks, Take Me Home, Not Since You), was co-written and co-directed by sisters Koula Sossiadis Kazista and Katina Sossiadis, who were raised within the Greek community and inspired by the culture, history, and struggles that are little-told authentically in cinema. The film stars Caitlin Carmichael (Dwight in Shining Armor) as Luka, Alex Dimitriades (Ghost Ship, The Slap) as her father Theo, Hollywood legend Burt Young (Rocky), Scottie Thompson (12 Monkeys), and George Georgiou (Collateral).
“We wanted to create a deeply moving, character-driven story about a young girl and her familial relationships that beautifully and heartbreakingly illuminate Greek culture in a non-stereotypical fashion,” said Koula Sossiadis Kazista.
“Having spent our summers as children in Tarpon Springs, we saw how our own first-generation immigrant father felt at home in this special community and how the people still held traditions, like the Epiphany Greek Orthodox ceremony, so close to their hearts. It was the perfect setting for our story,” added Katina Sossiadis.
In “Epiphany,” a young girl (Luka) struggles to create a relationship with her father after the death of her aunt who raised her. The film explores the changing dynamics of multi-generational families dealing with the loss of loved ones, harsh economic realities, addiction and responsibility set against the backdrop of a family mystery that takes place during a brutal history tragedy held close to many Hellenic descendents.
When asked about the family’s roots, Koula Sossiadis Kazista told TNH that both sides of the family were from Smyrna, Asia Minor, now Izmir, Turkey, and her “father’s family was forced to settle in Piraeus.”
From Meritage Pictures, “Epiphany” is directed and written by Koula Sossiadis Kazista and Katina Sossiadis. Jane Kelly Kosek, Koula Sossiadis Kazista, and Penny Edmiston produced the film and Chelsey Neders co-produced.
Tickets for the premiere which will feature cast, directors, and producers in attendance, are available through sarasotafilmfestival.com.
More information about the film is available online: epiphanythemovie.com