Niovi Charalambous Honoured at LA Greek Film Festival for Film “Smaragda”

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Niovi Charalambous has been honoured with the Special Jury Award for Performance at the LA Greek Film Festival 2026 for her leading role in the film Smaragda (I Got Thick Skin and I Can't Jump), directed by Emilios Avraam.

The distinction was announced by the director himself through a social media post, in which he expressed his thanks to the jury and the festival team.

The film Smaragda, written and directed by Emilios Avraam and produced by Tonia Mishiali through Bark Like A Cat Films, tells the story of a woman approaching the age of 40 who finds herself confronting the expectations of others and her own desires, as she searches for a new way to define herself and her life.

This latest distinction adds to the film’s international trajectory, recognising Charalambous’s performance, which lies at the centre of the narrative and carries much of the film’s emotional weight.

The LA Greek Film Festival is considered one of the most important platforms for showcasing Greek and Cypriot cinema in the United States, hosting films each year from Greece, Cyprus and the diaspora.