YANNIS
a short film by james elazzi
Yannis has been rejected by his family and now lives under a bridge, working the local beats as a sex-worker.
Written, directed and produced by James Elazzi.
Yannis, a first-generation Greek/ Lebanese Australian older teenager has been rejected by his family for being gay and now lives under a bridge, working the local beats as a sex-worker. Omar, his best friend, once in the same situation as Yannis, is now determined to better his life and begins to pull away. A portrait of culture, sexuality and isolation asks; Where do we find refuge when the world seems to have forgotten us?
Starring Will Bartolo, Edward O'leary, Simon El-rahi, Joshua Shediak and Antony Makhlouf.
OFFICIAL SELECTION FESTIVALS
Pride Film Festival 2023
Flickerfest Film Festival 2023
Lebanese Film Festival 2022
Canberra Short Film Festival 2022
Melbourne Queer Film Festival
Lift Off Global Network First-Time Filmmakers Sessions Pinewood Studios 2022
LGBTQIA+ Los Angeles Film Festival 2022
Black Cat Award International Film Festival 2022
Made In The West Film Festival Official Selection
Lift Off Sydney Official Selection
Omovie Film Festival Napoli 2022
SydFest Independent Film Festival
Flickerfest 2023 Official Selection
Pride Queer Film Festival 2023
Melbourne CINEVERSE Film Festival
Lebanese Independent Film Festival 2023
Awards
Won Best Performance LGBTQ+Los Angeles Film Festival
Made Out West Film Festival: Nominated for Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Cinematographer, Best Editor
Won Best Film Runner Up in Made in The West Film Festival
Won Best Lead Actor in Made in The West Film Festival
Cast and Creatives
Omar- Edward O’Leary
Yannis- Will Bartolo
Abdul- Simon Elrahi
Outdoor Gentlemen- Antony Makhlouf
Dawn- Deborah Galanos
Yannis Brother- Joshua Shediak
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Written, Directed and Produced James Elazzi
Cinematographer Nicolas Nalbandian
1st assistant camera Tom Yi Zheng Xiao, James Bartlett, Owen Yang
2nd assistant camera Helen Lee
Gaffer Kachlan Clarke, Genevieve Bernadette
Sound Recordist Dante Florez
Editor Alex Dona
Production Designer Amanda Torrisi
Props standby Ally Vyner
Costume design Tess Torrisi
Costume standby Amy Jackson
Sound designer Sam Strachan
Original score by Paul Nicolaou
Colourist Nicolas Nalbandian
Stills Photographer Teniola Komolafe
Special thanks to Anjelica Murdaca
All photography by Teniola Komolafe




