In this profile series, Revry is highlighting authentic contributors to the LGBTQ media and entertainment community. We ask questions to find out who they are and where they are going in the future. The questions remain the same but the answers tell their unique story. It’s time to explore and celebrate true representation beyond the limits of Hollywood. 

Director, editor and writer Yannis Zafeiriou (he/him/his) was born and raised in Athens, Greece. Yannis (call him Yanni, it's complicated) went to film school in the UK, and after completing his Hellenic military service, he spent the next decade working on every level of the Greek TV and Film industry for outlets such as the Greek Ministry of Education, the 2004 Olympics and Paralympics, National Geographic Channel, History Channel, BBC1/2, Channel 4, TBS, and Constantin Entertainment, among others. Eventually Yannis rose through the ranks to direct several episodes of Greek Prime-Time TV, before finally immigrating to Los Angeles and becoming a US citizen.

He and his husband, Actor/Writer Josh Allen Goldman (he/him/his), have formed a creative team that focuses on crafting emotionally striking stories within inclusive, queer, and underrepresented narratives. Often utilizing unconventional storytelling, new and emerging technologies, as well as a bold visual language, their work aims to spark conversation and intellectually engage audiences, not merely entertain them. True to their production company's name (Flying Penguin Productions), they absolutely love underdogs, black sheep, rebels, and lovable losers.

Their fictional characters –as well as their creative collaborators– are diverse, socially-vocal individuals who push audiences to examine their own privilege and inspire them to make a difference in the world. Their storytelling embraces social commentary within various genres –Science Fiction, Horror, Absurdist Comedy, and the Supernatural– while their prominent LGBTQ+ and minority characters proudly traverse the margins of society or bravely carve out their own space at the centre of the mainstream. Also, Yannis has a thing for penguins, but it's strictly platonic. Promise.

What are you best known for?

Inside my home country of Greece, I'm best known for a music video I wrote, directed, produced and edited for EMI Greece and singer Timi Yuro (for a modern remix of her classic song "As long as there is you"). The black and white, film-noir video features 23 kids aged 3-10, and is set in an imaginary world where there exists a prohibition on sugar, and all the kids (dressed in full period costume) are in an underground "sugar speakeasy" where they get to have sweets and candy, and role-play away from the intruding eyes of adults. The video was a national smash hit and went on to become Best Music Video of the year, garnering over a million views online, while also being on constant rotation on Greek broadcast TV. I wouldn't exactly call it autobiographical, but if chocolate was suddenly deemed illegal today, I would absolutely start an underground club like it.

Outside of Greece, I'm probably best known for my comedic/dramatic short film "DICHOTOMY" about a butch lesbian coming to terms with her masculine identity. Written/produced by and starring Noelle Messier, it's the first film I directed that I didn't personally write so it holds a special place in my heart. "DICHOTOMY" played at several festivals (including NewFest and Cinema Diverse), won an award for best LGBTQ short at HRIFF, and eventually found distribution on REVRY. Oh, and The Los Angeles Times interviewed us about it. Look mom, I "made it"!'

What is the first thing you directed?

I’m very much into Magical Realism, Science Fiction, Horror, Absurdist Comedy, Queer Narratives, and the Supernatural. So naturally, the very first film I directed right after film school, was "HERMES", a Magical Realism short that followed a young man and his literal dream to fly. Can you say "on the nose much?" It was made before DSLR cameras were even a thing, and included some pretty ambitious CGI for the time, which took me years to pay off (I had to take out a bank loan to finance it). Whenever I randomly watch this film now, I cringe at the multitude of things that suck about it, but I also have a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, thinking about the origin of the idea and the loving (though arduous) process it took to make it, in the pre-DSLR & pre-iPhone era. And no, I don't show that film to anyone anymore, hahaha!

What are you working on that no one knows about yet?

I'm currently writing a couple of feature-length sci-fi/horror screenplays that have queer, mythological themes, but the project I'm mostly working on at the moment is my first feature film "NAMAS DEI: THE TUCKER J. JAMES STORY", a comedic faux-vlog that follows the life of a privileged, East Coast, quasi-New-Age dreamer who moves to Los Angeles in search of spiritual enlightenment. And fame. Everybody knows about it because we've been working on it for years, but nobody knows what it's going to look like when it's finally finished, including me. Wish us luck!