January 12
The glittering waters of a sponge-diving town in Florida form the backdrop for the story of a young girl struggling to connect with a negligent father. Crafted with great love by a Lehigh Valley sister duo, Epiphany screens this month at ArtsQuest's cinema.
Koula Sossiadis Kazista had spent many years in the film business pestered by a persistent inspiration. It was formed as a teenager visiting Tarpon Springs in Florida with her family, a waterfront town rich with Greek culture. “They have this magical ceremony where the town's archbishop throws a blessed cross into the water, and all the boys jump in after it,” Kazista says. “The one that comes back out is said to be blessed.” Even as a young person, she saw the cinematic promise in front of her and never forgot it. The Greek spirit running through this universal story paints a unique picture of a dysfunctional family as it uncovers its past for the main character, teenaged Luka.
While Kazista's a journalist, her sister Katina Sossiadis is well-versed in visual arts, and brought ideas of color, dream sequences and imagery to the script when Kazista asked her to collaborate. To film, their whole families set up camp far from home in Florida, including the kids. “When we were on set,” Kazista says, “I knew my daughter was proud of me. We've been wanting to make this for 30 years. Do not give up on your dreams, that's the moral of the story.”
The Sossiadis sisters are already at work on their next script, based in the Lehigh Valley and drawing on family history again, this time forged in the foundries of Bethlehem Steel. For now, check out Epiphany at ArtsQuest, or later this month at the Roxy Theatre in Northampton.
$10; Students & seniors: $8; ArtsQuest members: $7.50 | 7 p.m. | Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas | ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks | 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem | 610.297.7100 | steelstacks.org
