Alexis Alexiou Completes Third Feature ‘Sea of Glass,’ Unveils First Look and Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
Greek writer/director Alexis Alexiou has unveiled his third feature and his first since 2015’s award-winning “Wednesday 04.45.”
“Sea of Glass,” now complete, is a country noir road movie following two women in an off-season Greek seaside resort who unexpectedly come together to confront the past, family stereotypes and the closed provincial community. The film has already been acquired by Greek boutique distributor Weird Wave (“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” “I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, “It was Just an Accident”) with a theatrical release scheduled for Greece and Cyprus this fall.
Related Stories
Albert Serra – In Conversation With China’s Bi Gan – and Carla Simón, Nicolás Méndez, Turbo Shorts Capture Spain’s Creative Take-Off at Shanghai
ECAM Forum Wraps Third Edition With ‘Undefined Things II,’ ‘The Indies,’ ‘Snow Country’ Among Winners
Co-written by Afroditi Nikolaidou and Alexiou, the film stars Evangelia Adreadaki (“Arcadia,” “Little England”) and Christiana Matelska Toka in her debut feature role, alongside Michalis Iatropoulos (“Cheap Smokes,” “Digger”), Nikos Georgakis (“Truants”), Thanos Tokakis (“Tokakis or What’s My Name”) and Dimitris Tzoumakis (“Wednesday 04:45”). Simon Sarketzis (“Little England,” “Behind The Haystacks”) served as cinematographer.
Popular on Variety
“Sea of Glass” follows 65-year-old Vangelio, who is a prisoner in her own home, caring for her bedridden husband. Trapped in her routine and cut off from her two sons, she makes do with leafing through her collection of old guidebooks. But the sudden death of her husband encourages her to make a ‘reckless’ decision: to go on holiday. She books a room at a tourist resort a few kilometres outside Chalkida, the capital of Evia. It’s March in the off-season, and there are very few people around. At the fish tavern below the rental property, she meets 23-year-old Vicky, who runs the family business and looks after her difficult alcoholic father, who spends his days drinking with his buddies. One evening, when he turns on his daughter, Vangelio steps in to protect her. Violence rears its ugly head in the small seaside town, and like the waves of the stormy sea, the impact will be devastating.
Inspired by films including “Thelma & Louise” and “The Postman Always Rings Twice,” the film grafts elements from the rural gothic noir tradition and road movies onto the Greek countryside, and is described as a “compelling and poignant story focussing on two women thrown into an unexpected alliance.”
Said Alexiou: “What connects them and poisons both their lives is domestic violence and oppression. But they are also linked by a common goal: the need to break free and find themselves.”
Alexis’ first feature “Tale 52” played in competition at Rotterdam and more than 40 other festivals, including Toronto and Sitges, where it won the best screenplay award. His second film “Wednesday 04:45” screened in competition at Tribeca and at numerous festivals including Karlovy Vary and BFI London. The film received nine awards from the Hellenic Film Academy, including best film and best Director. Both films were voted best Greek Film of the year by the Greek Film Critics Association. In 2022 Alexis directed “Iota Period Omega,” a short sci-fi docufiction entirely shot on 8mm which was presented in competition at Dok Leipzig.
“Sea of Glass” is a Greece-Bulgaria-Cyprus co-production, produced by Tugo Tugo Productions in Greece in co-production with Portokal (Bulgaria) and Bark Like a Cat Films (Cyprus) and in collaboration with Felony Film (Cyprus), Marni Films (Greece), Jungle Films (Greece) and Cinnerent (Serbia). It was made with the support of the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center, ERT, Eurimages, Creative Europe, the Bulgarian National Film Center, Film Center Serbia, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Office in Greece and the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture.
See the trailer to “Sea of Glass” below:
-
Cannes’ Fantastic Pavilion Expands Global Genre Ambitions Amid Growing Attendance, Honors Xavier Gens With Key Award (EXCLUSIVE)
-
‘She Means Justice 2: Breakout’ Launches on FlareFlow, GammaTime as Sequel to Microdrama Hit
-
COL Group Names CMO and Senior International Hires to Drive FlareFlow’s Vertical 2.0 Strategy
-
AI-Created Vintage Adult Film Unveiled at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)
-
AI Dominates Cannes Buzz as Filmmakers Grudgingly Accept It: ‘You Probably Will Be Able to Make Something That Looks Like a Marvel Movie in Your Basement’
-
‘Mask’ and ‘Eraser’ Director Chuck Russell, Higgsfield Team for AI-Driven Sci-Fi Features ‘Hyperia’ and ‘b’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
