Experiencing Interruptions?

My Ioannina Odyssey

When a mysterious box arrives on my doorstep, its century-old ship manifests, family photos and crumbling documents launch an odyssey to Ioannina – a medieval walled city in the mountains of northern Greece. Home to the Romaniotes, an ancient Greek Jewish people, Ioannina is where history and myth merge in my family lore. There, with my wife and daughter, we uncover a story of miracles and murder, love and loss, and prophecies that come true.

  • Gary Glassman
    Director
    2023, NATIVE AMERICA SEASON 2, DOCUMENTARY, 4X60 2018, NATIVE AMERICA SEASON 1, DOCUMENTARY, 4X60 2015, HAGIA SOPHIA ISTANBUL’S SEISMIC SECRET, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2015, PETRA LOST CITY OF STONE, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2015, THE COLOSSEUM ROMAN DEATHTRAP, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2012, FORENSICS ON TRIAL, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2010, BUILDING THE GREAT CATHEDRALS, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2010, RIDDLES OF THE SPHINX, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2008, THE BIBLE’S BURIED SECRETS, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2008, SECRETS OF THE PARTHENON, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2004, THE TRUE STORY OF TROY, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2004, THE TRIAL OF JESUS, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2003, SECRET OF PHOTO 51, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2002, THE REAL SCORPION KING, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2001, LOST KING OF THE MAYA, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2001, WOMEN PHARAOHS, DOCUMENTARY, 60 2000, LOST MUMMY OF IMHOTEP, DOCUMENTARY, 60
  • Manya Branham Glassman
    Director
    2025, How I Learned to Die, narrative short, 20 2023, Remember to Remember, art film, 2:16 2022, Acquiescence, narrative short, 2022, Sofia’s Tapestry, narrative short, 8:22 2021, Taking a Minute, art film, 2:48
  • Gary Glassman
    Writer
    see directing credits
  • Gary Glassman
    Producer
    see directing credits
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    magical realism documentary
  • Runtime:
    33 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Greece, United States
  • Language:
    English, Greek (Modern)
  • Shooting Format:
    digital 4K 23.976p, Leica Q3
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:90:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Gary Glassman, Manya Branham Glassman

Gary Glassman is a seasoned veteran of the entertainment industry with nearly four decades of experience. His films have won and been honored with nominations for the industry’s most prestigious awards including seven Emmys and two Writers Guild Awards. Glassman follows an inclusive storytelling approach that is born of his unique entry point into the film industry – through the world of street and circus performing. His experience connecting with people while clowning, fire-eating, and stilt walking inspired an ongoing dedication to both subjects and audiences. This quest for connection inspired him to explore the accessibility of VHS as a medium to democratize storytelling and produce participatory media projects with prisoners, hospitalized children, and developmentally challenged adults. His films from this era include Prisoners, his first documentary, now in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Pompidou in Paris. Inspired by the connective and personal power of television, Glassman founded Providence Pictures in 1996. Under the Providence Pictures banner, he has made over 60 films for the world’s leading broadcasters.

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Director Statement

My Ioannina Odyssey represents a return to my roots. In content it's an exploration of my ancestral history and family mythology. In production it's a visceral, direct approach in filming, editing, and story telling. It was all shot hand held with a Leica Q3 compact digital camera. It was also significant as this was a collaboration with my daughter, Manya Glassman, a rising filmmaking talent.