Mikis Theodorakis, a name synonymous with Greek culture and political engagement, left behind an immense musical legacy, a significant part of which is his profound contribution to film scores. As we mark the 100th anniversary of his birth in 2025, we remember how the internationally acclaimed Greek composer left his indelible mark on cinema. Beyond his symphonies, oratorios, and popular songs, Theodorakis's film music earned him international acclaim, making him one the most famous Greek composers of the 20th century. His cinematic melodies, often composed under challenging circumstances like imprisonment or exile, became iconic, gracing Oscar-winning films and earning him nominations and awards from prestigious organizations such as the Golden Globes, Grammys, and BAFTAs.

Theodorakis's journey into film composition began in 1953 with the Greek-American director Greg Tallas's "Barefoot Battalion". His international breakthrough, however, came a few years later with Michael Powell's 1959 film "Honeymoon" (Luna de Miel). The film featured his recurring musical theme, the "Honeymoon Song," which later became widely known in Greece as "Αν θυμηθείς τ' ονειρό μου" (If You Remember My Dream). Such was its popularity that the Beatles even covered it in 1964.

During a prolific period for Greek cinema, Theodorakis continued to make his mark. He composed for Alekos Alexandrakis's "Συνοικία το Ονειρο" (A Neighbourhood Called 'Τhe Dream') in 1961, a landmark film for Greek cinema known for its melancholic atmosphere and the orchestral "Ο Χορός του Ρίκο". The film's standout song, "Βρέχει στη Φτωχογειτονιά" (It's Raining in the Poor Neighborhood), with lyrics by Tasos Leivaditis, was first performed by Grigoris Bithikotsis in a classic scene and became widely covered.

Theodorakis also forged significant collaborations with renowned directors. He scored Jules Dassin's "Phaedra" (1961/1962), starring Melina Mercouri and Anthony Perkins. For this film, he showcased his versatility by adopting a more jazz-oriented style, with Mercouri herself performing two notable songs: "Σε Πότισα Ροδόσταμο" and "Love Theme from Phaedra" (known as "Αστέρι μου Φεγγάρι μου"). His enduring partnership with Greek director Michael Cacoyannis began with "Electra" (1962), an adaptation of Euripides' tragedy, for which Theodorakis received a music award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. His score for "Electra" was innovative, using elementary musical instruments to create a ritualistic rhythm and incorporating natural sounds.

In 1962, French actor and director Raymond Rouleau filmed “Les Amants de Teruel,” with Mikis Theodorakis participating in the soundtrack. The film's theme, actually the melody of his song “Ομορφη πόλη" (Beautiful City) would later acquire French lyrics and be sung by none other than Edith Piaf!

The zenith of his cinematic career arrived in 1964 with Michael Cacoyannis's "Zorba the Greek". The film, which earned three Oscars, featured Theodorakis's complete soundtrack and etched his name into global consciousness. The iconic "Zorba's Dance" (Sirtaki), performed by Anthony Quinn, remains one of the most powerful and recognizable images in cinema history, heard and danced worldwide even decades later. His work on "Zorba the Greek" earned him nominations for both a Golden Globe and a Grammy.

Theodorakis's music was deeply intertwined with his political activism, a connection evident in his cinema work. While in exile in 1969, he managed to collaborate with Costa-Gavras on the legendary political thriller "Z". Despite being in exile and unable to write music specifically for the film, he granted Gavras permission to use any of his existing pieces, which were then adapted by a French composer. Theodorakis's rich, furious, and detailed palette of sounds perfectly complemented the film, which gained immense international recognition, winning two Oscars. For his powerful score, Theodorakis was awarded a BAFTA for Best Original Music in 1970.

His second collaboration with Costa-Gavras was on "State of Siege" (1972). For this film, Theodorakis incorporated the Chilean group Los Calchakis, expressing his support for the Latin American struggle against imperialism. Although a larger work was intended, Gavras ultimately chose to cut much of the score from the film, as he wanted to avoid an overly epic tone. Later editions released the full intended soundtrack, which blended traditional Andean sounds with the vocals of Los Calchakis.

In 1973, Theodorakis cemented his Hollywood presence with Sidney Lumet's "Serpico", starring Al Pacino. Lumet specifically sought out Theodorakis, who had recently left Greece, valuing his status as a "stalwart leftist" within the European artistic elite. While on a major U.S. tour, Theodorakis provided Lumet with just 14 minutes of music that scored the film. His work on "Serpico" earned him another Grammy nomination and a BAFTA nomination. His name appeared prominently in the film's opening credits, second only to Al Pacino's and before Lumet's, a testament to his global recognition. The score uniquely blended traditional bouzouki sounds with more modern jazz influences.

Theodorakis continued his prolific work, collaborating with Cacoyannis again on "The Trojan Women" (1971) and "Iphigenia" (1977), and with Dassin on "The Rehearsal" (1974), a film about the Polytechnic uprising. In 1980, he composed the music for Nikos Tzimas's classic political film, "The Man with the Carnation," depicting the final days of Nikos Beloyannis.

Mikis Theodorakis's filmography is a testament to his unparalleled talent, featuring scores that are undeniably national and political in character, yet capable of transcending borders. His music for cinema, often penned under the most adverse conditions, traveled the globe, graced classic films from Europe to Hollywood, garnered awards, and remains as emblematic and powerful today as when it was first created.

Honors and Awards Bestowed on Mikis Theodorakis for His Film Scores

1962: Awarded at the Thessaloniki Festival for his music in Michael Cacoyannis’s film Electra.

1965: Wins the Golden Globe from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his music in Zorba the Greek.

BAFTA Awards (the British Academy Film Awards, the UK equivalent of the Oscars):

• 1970: Wins the BAFTA for Best Music for Z.
• 1974: Wins the BAFTA for Best Music for State of Siege.
• 1975: Wins the BAFTA for Best Music for Serpico.

Grammy Awards, presented annually in the U.S. by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to honor outstanding achievements in the music industry:

• 1965: Wins the Grammy for his music in Zorba the Greek.
• 1974: Wins the Grammy for his music in Serpico.

• Awarded the “Erich Wolfgang Korngold” prize for his overall contribution to film music.

2002: Honored with the Erich Wolfgang Korngold award at the International Biennale for Film Music in Bonn, Germany

2007: The World Soundtrack Academy honored Theodorakis with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his entire body of work in film music, in a special ceremony (October 20) at the Ghent International Film Festival in Belgium.

I.L.

The post Mikis Theodorakis: A Cinematic Musical Legacy appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

The Hellenic Film Commission (HFC) has published its summer 2025 edition of All About Filming in Greece, a  comprehensive guide on every aspect of shooting a film or a TV series in Greece. The guidebook aims to be used as a Greek industry guide, providing all the necessary information on the funding opportunities and incentives available, as well as with useful facts and figures about filming in Greece. All About Filming in Greece  presents the country’s advantages in terms of locations, climate, economic incentives (especially the Cash Rebate Greece program), professional staff and infrastructure and is a valuable tool for any international production considering Greece as a potential filming location.

The Hellenic Film Commission (HFC), a directorate of the newly established Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece (HFAC-Creative Greece)  serves as the principal point of contact for international film and audiovisual productions planning to shoot in the country. The HFC's core mission is to promote and develop Greece as a filming hub, offering information, advice, and guidance free of charge. Its main services include connecting foreign producers with the Greek industry, providing guidance on filming permits and financial incentives, locations, crew, and facilities, collaborating with ministries and public bodies, networking with local authorities, and organizing training days for talent development. As a member of the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN), the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), and Green Film, the HFC is integrated into international industry networks.

Greece is increasingly establishing itself as a premier filming destination in South-Eastern Europe, renowned for its diverse locations, favorable climate, competitive incentives, and skilled local professionals. The country offers filmmakers the "friendliest light in the world" and a Mediterranean climate conducive to shooting year-round. With a rich tapestry of landscapes, from unique islands in the Aegean and Ionian Seas to ancient monuments, medieval towns, picturesque villages, forests, snow-capped mountains, lakes, hot springs, rivers, canyons, and even volcanoes with film-friendly craters, Greece provides a vast range of backdrops and architectural styles. The camera lens can capture more shades of blue here than perhaps anywhere else.

Greece has also been recognized internationally for its stunning filming locations. These awards highlight the diverse appeal of Greek locations, from islands to mainland areas.

Adding to its appeal, and a major draw for international productions is a compelling 40% cash rebate program. Administered by the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center – Creative Greece, the Cash Rebate Greece – Film and TV (CRGR-FTV) scheme supports feature films, documentaries, and television series filmed in Greece, covering principal photography, production development, and/or post-production stages. The rebate is calculated on eligible expenses incurred within Greek territory. Applications can be submitted by Greek partner companies, and the beneficiary can be the Greek producer, co-producer, production services provider, or their foreign partner. Eligible applicants include audiovisual production companies established or with a branch in Greece, foreign producers contracted with a Greek company, or Greek companies contracted with a foreign company for cross-border production. The rebate is paid after the completion of production and post-production in Greece, following an audit of costs.

Another significant initiative supported by the HFC is the Location Scouting Support Program. This program provides subsidies of up to 10,000 euro for foreign feature films (minimum 70 min), documentaries (minimum 70 min), and TV drama or documentary series interested in conducting preliminary location scouting in Greece. To be eligible, fiction feature films and TV drama series must have a minimum of fifteen shooting days in Greece, while documentaries and TV documentaries require at least seven shooting days. Additionally, the minimum estimated expenses to be incurred in Greece must be 50,000 euro if the project is produced in the country. Applications for this program are open year-round and can be submitted by Greek co-producers or Greek production companies contracted with the foreign production company.

The Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece provides other funding opportunities through programs like the Minority Coproduction Program, supporting projects originating outside Greece with Greek participation, and new programs through the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience "Greece 2.0". These new programs support various projects, including international co-productions and episodic work, with funding for the development of new technologies like 3D, VR, and AR.

Greece is also committed to promoting sustainable filming practices. The Hellenic Film Commission and Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center have joined Green Film, a label certifying environmental sustainability for audiovisual productions. They assist producers in adopting environmentally responsible practices and have organized workshops to discuss green protocols and evaluation systems.

The All About Filming in Greece guidebook also features testimonials from productions that have filmed in Greece, highlighting positive experiences with locations, crews, and the support of local production companies. The Greek film industry is described as vibrant, with experienced and engaged crews. Local professionals, many of whom speak excellent English, are available for various roles including cinematography, art direction, costume design, makeup, production management, sound, visual effects, stunts, camera, and electrical departments. The guidebook provides an extensive guide to the Greek industry, listing numerous companies specializing all aspects of production.

Directors and producers who have filmed in Greece have praised the local crews’ commitment, creative passion, conscientious work ethic, and high standards, as well as the support of the Hellenic Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center as well significant benefit of the cash rebate.

• Jon Gunn appreciated the economic incentive, energy, and commitment to developing the TV/film market in Greece for "House of David."
• Ruben Östlund found the crew experienced and engaged, locals friendly, and locations unique for "Triangle of Sadness."
• David Cronenberg felt Athens perfectly suited "Crimes of the Future."
• Molly Manning Walker had a great time in Crete for "How to Have Sex," praising the community and Greek crew. (p. 32)
• Michael Winterbottom highlighted the accommodation, pragmatism, and flexibility of people on Mykonos for "The Trip to Greece."
• Bettina Brokemper described shooting "Mediterráneo" in Amorgos as like shooting in paradise.
• Alexander Skarsgård noted that Greece, as the birthplace of Western drama, offers a canvas of unique resonance for "The Little Drummer Girl."
• The producers of "The Durrells" were impressed by the willingness, hard work, and skill of the Greek crew.
• Aashish Singh from "Tiger Zinda Hai" anticipated that Greece would benefit from word-of-mouth in India due to a successful shoot in Naxos.

A selection of notable films and series filmed in Greece is provided, including The Odyssey, Triangle of Sadness, Crimes of the Future, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, The Lost Daughter, Jack Ryan (Season 3), and The Durrells (Season 4).

Read the full 55-page guidebook All About Filming in Greece here : https://filmcommission.gr/publications/

I.L.

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Mighty Afrin: in the Time of Floods is a coming-of-age story unfolding against the backdrop of climate change. In this emotionally powerful film, a 13-year-old girl is forced to leave her home on a remote islet because of the catastrophic floods and find her way to the metropolis of Dhaka in search of a new life.

Director Angelos Rallis, challenging the barriers between documentary and fiction, in this immersive film, focuses on the violent uprooting of climate refugees through the story of resilient Afrin, an orphan girl who struggles to survive in unthinkable circumstances, as the Brahmaputra River wipes out her home. Winner of several awards worldwide, Mighty Afrin: in the Time of Floods is now screening in Athens and next month in Thessaloniki.

Angelos Rallis spoke to Greek News Agenda* about shooting in Bangladesh, climate change, and his future plans.

Mighty Afrin: In the Time of Floods was shot in Bangladesh? How come?

All my films have been shot in distant countries. A Place for All was shot in Rwanda, Where Are You Singal was shot in Iraq and Turkey. Mighty Afrin: in the Time of Floods was shot in Bangladesh.

My father used to work for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His assignments in Greek embassies brought us into contact with different places and cultures around the world. I was born in Sweden, as were my siblings Katerina and George, where we lived the first years of our lives. We also spent a long time in Asia and Europe and we embarked on endless round trips to distant countries that were hard to discover at the time.

Gradually I became acquainted with the locals and their stories, stories about 'others' that we don't often see in the media. My mother Eva had encouraged me from a young age to take photos as she had noticed an inclination. She also worked as a teacher in orphanages. Influenced by my father’s work and my mother’s humanism, I began to be interested in the distant, the unknown.

I studied sociology and cinema in Greece, Sweden and England. I started working as a photojournalist for news agencies in England (Eaglepress), Belgium (reporters) and the newspaper Ethnos. I belong to the artists who use their lens to discover a story, to get in touch and connect with characters. It is the experience that interests me. I don't just want to tell a story but to live the experience and bring it to the audience through the big screen.

Could you share with us more about the young protagonist, the culture of the locals you interacted with, and the difficulties you faced while shooting the movie?

Social norms make women more vulnerable to flooding. Natural disasters magnify existing gender inequalities and widen the gap between rich and poor.

Afrin's struggle against the floods is becoming a symbol of survival representing millions of children and young people in the same situation. When she begins her risky journey across the country, Afrin is one of the many displaced children and climate refugees who make a living as waste-pickers in Dhaka. Afrin was a child living in the wilderness who had found a way to survive on an island of mud without basic commodities. Being an orphan gave her the freedom to decide for herself. Afrin is young and impetuous, full of dreams and desires. When her house is destroyed by floods, Afrin is displaced on her raft to Dhaka.

The difficulties of filming were enormous. On the island, I worked almost alone with my assistant and occasionally with a sound engineer for months without electricity, forced to film in the muddy water. I quickly had to adapt to an inhospitable environment where we were all at the mercy of nature. Every now and then I would stop filming to carry people to the shore in a small boat. The humidity was unbearable. Plus, it’s not just people seeking shelter but also animals like pythons and jackals. It was important for me to experience the dangers, bad weather and floods so that I could film them. 

The protagonists of the film have to deal with unthinkable situations. How do they cope with these adversities?

During the monsoon period, thousands of tiny islands, scattered along the Brahmaputra, move or even disappear. Millions of people are forced to move from one islet to another or abandon their homes. Their resilience and adaptation to new circumstances is what helps them survive.  These communities have learned to adapt because extreme poverty gives them no choice.

Is your film considered fiction or documentary?

Just like my previous works, it falls right between these two categories. The first part, on the island, is observational because it can better capture the violence of nature, while in the second part, I choose to get closer to the protagonist, Afrin, with close-ups and controlled shooting. This is right when Afrin begins to transform from a teenager into a woman. The film reaches its climax in a mystical situation where Afrin's dreams merge with reality. For me, there are no rules and boundaries that I have to follow. In Afrin I chose to use fictional elements (VFX, music, flashbacks) to bring out the theme of the film, not the form. It is also important to remember that even a documentary can never be truly objective. 

Do you think that art in general and cinema in particular could be an effective means of raising awareness of social and environmental issues?

Audiovisual works can and do have the potential not only to entertain but also to stimulate the public to focus on important issues in our everyday lives.  We can already see the devastating consequences of the climate crisis.  A film like Mighty Afrin: in the Time of Floods highlights this issue. It is something that concerns all of us and I hope we can public awareness.

 Do you believe that the art world should take a stand on big or controversial issues?

The art world over time can and should be an educational tool and should take a stand on big or controversial issues such as human rights, LGTB+ inequality, war, violence, the climate crisis, and the refugee crisis. If we don't use films as a means of educating society, I am afraid that the whole edifice will fall apart and we will be crushed.

How do you see the future of Greek cinema, both within and outside our borders?

Greek cinema has indeed shown an outward-looking trend over the last decade and several Greek films have made remarkable progress. In just 7 months of distribution, Afrin in the Time of the Flood has screened at 40 international festivals and won 14 international awards (Giffoni, Thessaloniki, Jihlava). It has also screened in cinemas in Italy and Greece and on television in France (ARTE), Germany (ZDF), ERT and by Al Jazeera in the Middle East. This practically means that millions of people have had access to and watched a Greek film. 

But ministries in charge should also support this effort of extroversion of artists in our country. Although the regulation and the funds have increased, unfortunately, they are still far below the average of other European countries. There is also the phenomenon that although the new funding regulation provides for specific amounts of financial support, these amounts are not able to cover the production and promotion of the film to be able to compete in the global markets.

Tell us about your next plans.

There are several projects such as a film about climate crisis in Greece and another science fiction film. Shooting a film in Greece interests me but is not an end in itself. It depends on the story and how I connect with it.

*Interview by Dora Trogadi

Read also via Greek News Agenda: Spiros Jacovides on his movie “Black Stone”; Asimina Proedrou on her film “Behind the Haystacks”; Thanasis Neofotistos on his film “Air Ηostess-737”

The post Angelos Rallis on his film “Mighty Afrin: in the Time of Floods” appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Greek films, feature length as well as shorts, will been making waves in the international film festival circuit this summer, claiming audience attention and distinctions at the festivals of Locarno, Sarajevo and Venice. These three international events will provide an essential platform for Greek filmmakers to gain recognition, secure distribution deals for their films and strengthen the ties with the European audience and international cinema professionals.

According to a statement by the Greek Film Centre (EKK) “the selection of seven Greek films -three feature length and four short- in the competition section of three international film festivals, is indicative of the extroversion of modern Greek film production – which is one of the fundamental aims here at the Greek Film Centre – and of the confidence international stakeholders have in Greek cinematography. As far as Greek participation at the Locarno and Sarajevo festivals is concerned, we should note that it is thanks to participation Greek producers participate in three international co-productions”.

Greek films' presence at international film festivals is a testament to the creativity and talent of Greek filmmakers. With each new generation of filmmakers pushing the boundaries of Greek cinema, the future looks bright for this vibrant and growing industry.

76th Locarno Film Festival (2-12.8.2023)

Animal: Sofia Exarchou's much anticipated second feature film world premieres at the Locarno Film Festival, opening the festival’s international competition program. “Animal” takes place under the scorching Greek sun as a group of entertainers at an all-inclusive island resort prepares for the busy tourist season; as the summer intensifies and the pressure builds, the sultry Mediterranean nights turn violent. The film has been financed by the Greek Film Centre and produced by Maria Drandaki and Maria Kontogianni (Homemade Films).

My Mother Is A Saint: Syllas Tzoumerkas' short film world premieres in the international competition program Pardi di Domani - Cordi d'autore, which selects works by established directors from around the world. In the film the meeting of a son with his mother at her hometown, takes an unexpected turn. “My Mother Is A Saint” was commissioned and produced by “2023 Elefsis Cultural Capital of Europe” in collaboration with Thessaloniki Film Festival.

Scorched Earth: Markela Kontaratou’s student film, with which she graduated from the London Film School, participates in the Pardi di Domani international competition program. In “Scorched Earth” it's summer in Greece and Stela escapes the Athenian heat to her summer house. Procrastinating while writing her thesis she spies on her neighbour and his girlfriend - and soon she gets suspicious that he has committed an atrocious murder.

The Invisible Fight: The feature film by Estonian director Rainert Sarnet, a kung-fu comedy set in an Orthodox Monastery in 1970s Soviet Union, is in the running for an award in the festival's international competition program. The film is co-produced by Amanda Livanou (Neda Film).

29nth Sarajevo Film Festival (11-18 8.2023)

Medium: The second feature film by Christina Ioakeimidis world premieres in the international competition program of the Festival and is in the running for a prize. “Medium”, based on a novel by Giorgos Sibardis, follows 16-year-old Eleftheria, who escapes suffocating reality of countryside to visit her pregnant sister in Athens where she embarks on a journey to discover ferocity of love. The film has been financed by the Greek Film Centre and is produced by Ch. Iokeimidis, Louizos Aslanidis and Giorgos Nousias (EKSO Productions).

Animal: Sarajevo is the second festival stop for Sofia Exarchou's film.

Pigeons Are Dying, When the City Is on Fire: The short film by Stavros Markoulakis is in the running for an award at the Festival. The film is produced by Heraklis Mavroides and Nikos Sbiliris (Blacktree Productions) and co-produced by the Greek Film Centre.

Ready: Directed by Erini Vianelli, and in the running for a prize at the Festival, ‘Ready’ is a stop-motion animated short film offering a peek into the unseen world inside the grand Greek Parliament building and the people who work there, finding the comedy in mundane, bizarre, hilarious every day, and throwaway, moments. Production is by Danai Spathara (Heretic) and the Greek Film Centre is a co-producer.

My Mother Is A Saint: Sarajevo is the second festival stop for Sylla Tzoumerka's film, also claiming an award here.

Day of the Tiger: The feature film by the Romanian director Andrei Tanase, which has been included in the Minority Co-production Program of the Greek Film Centre, is in the running for a prize in the competition program of the Festival. It is a co-production of Romania, France and Greece (Graal). In “Day of the Tiger”, 31-year-old Vera is a vet in a small-town zoo veterinarian in Transylvania, who after losing her new-born baby, becomes obsessed with giving him the proper Eastern Orthodox burial ritual.

Requiem to the Hot Days of Summer: The documentary by the Georgian director Giorgi Parkosadze participates in the corresponding competition program of the Festival. The film portrays the innate unbreakable bond between mother and son, defined by the invisible burden of care, silence and solitude in an isolated mountainous gorge in Georgia. The film is a co-production between Georgia and Greece (Angelos Tsaousis, Filmografik).

80th Venice International Film festival - 20th Giornate Degli Autori (30.8 – 9.9.2023)

The Summer with Carmen: The feature film by Zacharias Mavroidis world premieres in the parallel competition program Giornate Degli Autori, as part of the 80th Venice Film Festival. While having a day-long swim at Athens' queer beach, best friends Demos and Nikitas recall the events of a recent summer in the prospect of turning them into a screenplay for Nikitas' feature debut. The film is produced by Ioanna Bolomytis (Atalante Productions) and co-produced by the Greek Film Centre.

 I.L. with infromation from Athens-Macedonian News Agency

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A documentary about the life and work of George Bizos - the four-decade-long human rights advocate in South Africa, lawyer, and close friend of Nelson Mandela - will be screened as part of the events taking place on the island of Kastellorizo within the framework of the 7th "Beyond Borders" Documentary Festival. From the edges of Europe and the frontier island of Kastellorizo, Greece honors, with the special screening of the "George Bizos Icon" documentary, the idea of Human Rights and the values of Democracy, as stated in the respective press release issued by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"With this initiative, we chose to not only honor the emblematic activity of George Bizos, but to also send a message full of symbolism and universal dimensions: to underline, from the cradle of democracy and the frontier island of Kastellorizo, the timeless value of human rights, as one of the most important pillars of democracy. In an era when, not far from us and Europe itself, the concept of democracy and its fundamental values are being undermined, disputed, relativized, or redefined by way of new walls of authoritarianism, nationalism, historical revisionism, and intolerance. In this endeavor, Greece - for historical and symbolic reasons – holds considerable weight, and the life of a Greek, George Bizos, can inspire and mobilize," said the Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prof. John Chrysoulakis.

The screening of the documentary, with a running time of 90 minutes, will take place at a special event on the evening of August 27, with a welcoming address by John Chrysoulakis. The Ambassador of South Africa in Greece (daughter of Walter Sisulu, a fellow activist of Nelson Mandela and leading figure of the African National Congress who was also legally represented by George Bizos) Beryl Rose Sisulu, the executive director of the Nelson Mandela Foundation Sello Hatang, producer Jane Lipman, who together with Peter Goldsmid directed the documentary, as well as members of George Bizos’ family will also attend the event.

The biographical documentary is screened for the first time in Greece and at an international festival of audiovisual works, as noted in the press release. It tells the story of Giorgos Bizos (1927-2020), a young Greek refugee from Vasilitsi, Messinia, who fled in 1941 to South Africa amid the hardships of World War II. There, he became a major defender of human rights, boldly opposing the tyranny of apartheid despite many personal and family difficulties and sacrifices, defending the iconic political figure and activity of Nelson Mandela.

“The screening of the documentary film ‘George Bizos Icon’ at the established and prestigious International Documentary Festival of Kastellorizo, not only honors the legacy of this little known Greek expatriate in Greece, his political activity and distinguished and consistent contribution to society, but it is also expected to inform the Greek and international public about the work and contribution of the Greek diaspora, as well as to promote awareness concerning the defense of Human Rights”, the press release notes.

At the same time, it captures the will of the Festival and supporting bodies to highlight, through quality audiovisual works, events, ideas and personalities that have inspired, shaped and forged the world and the societies we live in today. Moreover, the choice of the documentary and its screening at the borderland of today's Europe, in the frontier island of Kastellorizo, constitutes a reminder of the timeless and universal value of Democracy and Human Rights and the political liberties that accompany it, in the midst of increasing schemes and threats that seek to undermine, restrict or redefine these values".

The initiative to screen the documentary in Kastellorizo was initially discussed and planned in the course of John Chrysoulakis’ visit to South Africa last April, where he met with government officials, representatives of the Greek diaspora and with the leadership of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the press release further notes.

It is further announced that the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, as well as Greek diaspora organizations, is planning a series of similar actions, with the aim of highlighting the importance of defending and promoting Human Rights internationally and the special responsibility and role of Greece, as the cradle of Democracy.

The organization of the Festival "Beyond Borders" by the Hellenic History Foundation (HHF) is supported by the General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In fact, at the closing ceremony of the Festival, on August 28, the government will be represented by the Secretary-General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy.

The Athens News Agency - Macedonian Press Agency (ANA-MPA) is a media sponsor of the International Documentary Festival of Kastellorizo "Beyond Borders", which takes place every year in the last week of August on the frontier island. This year, the Festival opened its doors on Sunday evening, August 21, with an inspiring ceremony commemorating the centenary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, live streamed by ANA-MPA.

Read ANA-MPA’s report in Greek here

More info about the Festival’s program: visit the Beyond Borders official website

Read also on GNA:
From Kastellorizo, elected MPs and Senators of the Greek Diaspora, members of WHIA, send a powerful message on the Law of the Sea and the Greek positions to the 28 states from which they come
Kastellorizo: Greece's remotest island
5th International Documentary Festival of Kastellorizo Island. The Aegean Island where Documentaries meet History & Culture
Filming Greece | “BEYOND BORDERS” International Documentary Festival, Kastellorizo: From the edge of the Aegean to the world

The post Greece honors anti-apartheid icon & renowned human rights advocate G. Bizos at the Kastellorizo Intl Doc Festival | MFA Sec Gen for Greeks Abroad and PD, J. Chrysoulakis’ message appeared first on Greek News Agenda.

Τhe Asia Minor Catastrophe constitutes a milestone in modern Greek History, leaving its indelible mark not only on the nation’s collective consciousness but also on its artistic, literary and cinematic depiction. Based on the book The Number 31328 by Ilias Venezis, the film 1922 by Nikos Koundouros is set in and around Smyrna at the time the Turkish army entered the city in 1922 and unfolds through the personal tragedies of three characters, the wife of a merchant.

The city is encircled by the enemy, whose presence can be pervasively felt, though not seen. Fear slinks through the streets, creeps into the backyards, worms its way into the houses. Loukia, the wife of a prosperous merchant, tries to secure a passage on the last ship to leave the harbour, but it is already too late. The enemy slips into the city silently, without fanfare or flourish. There are secret, isolated killings in some neighborhoods, but nobody is prepared to believe that the tragedy is about to begin - has already begun.

Antigone, a young teacher, is giving Elias his last lesson. He is a seventeen-year old boy, the future author of the book on which the film is based. In a short while, Elias, Antigone, Loukia will be reduced to nameless, numbered figures in a long, trudging column of prisoners. Very few of them will survive the forced march across the mountains and the white salt desert of Anatolia. Antigone is killed by a Turk, like most of her anonymous companions. The beautiful Loukia goes out of her mind. Elias lives to see the end of the journey and takes part in the charming ceremony that awaits him there: officers, diplomats and ladies from the Red Cross welcome with music and warm applause the straggling, dusky wraiths who were once human beings.

Koundouros's "1922" is a profound and a psychologically very jarring work, with the director successfully depicting an atmosphere of gloom and despair, with atrocities committed under the scorching sun and people fighting against their inescapable fate.Τhrough his unique cinematic lens, the movie succeeds in conveying the general feeling of the Asia Minor Catastrophe, with events unfolding so real that you feel like you are standing nearby and watching. The exquisite acting of the films’ protagonists – Αntigoni Amanitou, Zaharias Rohas, Eleonora Stathopoulou, Nikos Kapios, among others – certainly played a major part in its high quality result. For both diplomatic and political reasons film screening was prohibited until 1982.

A.R.

Read also: Reading Greece: The Asia Minor Catastrophe in Modern Greek Literature; Arts in Greece l The Asia Minor Catastrophe through the eyes of contemporary Greek artists; Exhibition: 1922-2022, Remembrance and Art Stories

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Eleni Karaindrou, globally renowned film, television and theatre composer was honoured at the World Soundtrack Awards with the Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding achievements in film music. The Lifetime Achievement Award, the most important award for a film composer, was awarded to Karaindrou at the World Soundtrack Awards Ceremony and Concert, held this October 2021 at Ghent Opera House. The Greek composer has written music for over 40 films, documentaries and TV series and is mostly known in the wider public for her numerous collaborations with legendary Greek director Theo Angelopoulos.

Karaindrou was one of the central guests at the WSA Ceremony & Concert and accompanied the Brussels Philharmonic on piano. The Greek composer said about her award: “I am deeply honoured by the decision of the World Soundtrack Academy to award me the most significant prize for a composer of film music, the World Soundtrack Lifetime Achievement Award. With enormous pleasure and gratitude, I accept this great honour. I would like to express my thanks to the Academy and share this award with all directors I worked with. But especially Theo Angelopoulos with whom I worked on eight films. I also want to thank my producer and director of ECM Records, Manfred Eicher, for our joint creative journey of more than thirty years now.”

The Greek composer's bio for ECM records reads: Eleni Karaindrou, '“Greece’s most eloquent living composer” in the words of Time magazine, was born in Teichio, a mountain village in central Greece. She still retains vivid memories of the sound world of her childhood: "the music of the wind, rain on the slate roof, running water. The nightingale's singing. And then the silence of the snow." Sometimes the mountains would echo to the sound of flutes and clarinets played at village festivals. “I still have a strong memory of the Byzantine melodies I heard in church and the continuous voices of the men accompanying the chanter," she has said. Resonances of this sound world, imbued with the history and suffering of her native land, have found their way into the many scores she has composed for film, TV and theatre in the past four decades.

Karaindrou studied piano and theory at the Hellenikon Odion in Athens, but remains essentially an instinctive, self-taught composer. When Greece’s military junta compelled her to leave her country in 1967, she moved to Paris, where she went on to explore ethnomusicology and deepened her understanding of the musical culture of her childhood. On her return to Greece, she founded the Laboratory for Traditional Instruments at the ORA Cultural Centre. She remains an active campaigner on behalf of her country’s musical traditions. 

Karaindrou has also been fascinated by film from childhood, when she watched an open-air cinema from her bedroom window on summer nights. By the 1970s she was writing film and theatre scores, and her artistic development reached a turning point in 1979 with her music for Christoforos Christofis’s Periplanissi (Wandering) when she discovered a new freedom to respond to the movement of the camera and the luminosity of the film rather than merely the content of the screenplay.

Karaindrou had a highly productive collaboration with the Greek film director Theo Angelopoulos (1935-2012), a long-running partnership charted in a sequence of albums released by ECM: The Suspended Step of the Stork (1991), Ulysses’ Gaze (1994), Eternity and a Day (1998), The Weeping Meadow (2003), and Dust of Time (2008). Her music for theatre was highlighted in Concert in Athens, an exceptional live recording from November 2010, featuring longtime collaborator, oboist Vangelis Christopoulos, US violist Kim Kashkashian, Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek and the composer herself. Reviewers highlighted the evocative, haunting quality of the music that is Karaindrou’s hallmark, music which paradoxically seems so well suited to the images it accompanies, yet speaks so eloquently in its own right. 

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Recognizing the significant contribution of the audiovisual sector to a country’s economy Greece introduced in the recent years an investment mechanism in order to support audiovisual and film productions. Through a “cash rebate” system providing investment incentives for audiovisual productions (film /TV/documentary/animation/digital games) for expenses incurred in Greece, the aim is to attract foreign filmmakers and audiovisual producers supporting also domestic production companies.

Greece has attracted many foreign film productions throughout the years. From Zorba the Greek that was filmed in Crete in the 1060’s to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin that was shot in Kefalonia or Lara Croft in Santorini and Mamma Mia in Skopelos in later years, without neglecting high-end TV productions like The Durrells filmed in Corfu in 2017, Greece has been the natural stage set for many foreign movies due to its unique locations. It is said that Greece is a natural studio with a film-friendly light in its DNA providing at the same time a vast range of breathtaking landscapes from picturesque traditional villages to unique islands, forests and volcanos along with a versatile architecture comprising ancient Greek, Roman, Medieval, Byzantine and modern elements. Through the “cash rebate” system Greece aims to attract more foreign productions to the country.

New incentives for attracting international audiovisual productions

Recently, a number of amendments were decided in order to improve the existing support scheme and make Greece more competitive within the international audiovisual market along with other measures such as tax returns, reducing red tape etc. According to these amendments, the amount of cash rebate increased from 35% to 40% of eligible costs incurred in Greece in conjunction with a drop in specific minimum spending, adapted to the different audiovisual products. For example, minimum eligible costs were diminished to 60,000 euros, when it comes to film / TV documentaries or animation (from a general threshold of 100,000 euros), while eligible costs for digital games were reduced to 30,000 euros (instead of 60,000 euros). This adaptation to the needs of different production categories was necessary in order to widen the scope of support to lower budget productions.

At the same time, “Above The Line” eligible costs -meaning the part of the budget that goes to the payments of the starring actors, the scriptwriter, the director and the producer- have been risen as percentage (to 35% from 25%) to allow the rebate to cover a larger part of the expenditure, which is usually very high in big productions. A 30% tax return for those that invest in productions in Greece is also foreseen, acting in combination with the cashback incentive. Regarding application process, the new amendments significantly reduce necessary paperwork and documentation simplifying submission and payment procedures, shortening also application deadline to just ten days, instead of two months, before the start of the filming in Greece.

The ITV and PBS mini TV series “The Durrells” was filmed in Corfu island, which was crowned best European Film Location in 2018 by EUFCN and CINEUROPA

This reinforced investment scheme aims to position Greece among the most competitive countries regarding film making incentives along with Malta that offers 40% cash rebate, Belgium and Romania with a 45% and Singapore that offers 50% cash rebate to foreign film makers who choose these countries for the production or post-production stage of their audiovisual products. In addition, the recent legal provisions extent the scope of the support scheme to the Greek Public Broadcaster ERT with a view to enhancing the creation of an audiovisual production ecosystem at the example of the Danish public service broadcaster DR that has become a player in the international market for television content.

According to a study by the Greek Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE) concerning the impact of the film industry in the Greek economy, it is estimated that a big foreign production with €25 million expenditure in Greece could increase GDP by €39 million while in terms of employment, a single big foreign production could sustain more than 755 jobs during the shooting, of which 223 positions would be in sectors directly involved in the film production. Foreign film productions also contribute to the strengthening of the domestic film industry through the employment of technical and artistic resources, knowledge transfer or the development of technological infrastructure.

Last but not least, attracting foreign movies can be an alternative marketing and promotional tool as the promotion of a region through a film is usually more effective than advertising. According to the IOBE study, it has been shown that a significant number of people visit a region or a city, attracted by the beauty of the landscapes and cultures captured in a film. It has also been pointed that the domestic film industry experienced a boom in areas where foreign productions were made.

Progress so far…

According to the National Center of Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME) which is responsible for the “cash rebate” scheme, from April 2018, when the scheme launched, until July 2020, 89 projects have been supported, almost half of which are international projects. The total budget expected to be invested in the Greek audiovisual industry by those projects is estimated at  €86 million, with the respective cash rebates reaching €29 million. That translates into 26,500 job openings in more than 100 shooting locations across Greece.

Greece became one of the first European countries to resume filming international projects, after the gradual lifting of lockdown measures in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, under new guidelines and safety rules set by the Ministry of Culture. Agreements concerning the setup of a big studio in Thessaloniki, as a branch of Bulgaria’s Nu Boyana Studios announced last year, further promoting Greece as a filming destination, as well as plans concerning the operation of film offices across Greece, charged with facilitating the filming process in any given region, are also expected to resume.

Read also via Greek News Agenda: EKOME President Panos Kouanis explains why Greece is your next filming destination (and yes, it has to do with money) | One more reason to film in Greece: A new legal framework of economic incentives | 10 Reasons to film in Greece

Photos: iStock / Getty Images Plus

I.E.  

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“Death does not scare me. Not being loved does.” | Melina Mercouri (1920-1994)

The Greek Ministry of Culture has declared 2020 as the “Year of Melina Mercouri”, featuring a series of events to mark the 100-year anniversary since the birth of internationally-acclaimed Greek actress, activist and much-loved former Minister of Culture, Melina Mercouri. The program kicked off last week (29/1) at the Acropolis Museum, with a presentation of the “Proceedings of the International Workshop for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures” and the screening of a video of Melina Mercouri’s work, with a special focus on her efforts towards the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. This event was chosen to be the inaugural one for the year "because of the efforts Melina made to fulfill a dream we all believe will one day come true, the unification of the Parthenon sculptures on the Parthenon," Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni said.

“I hope to see the Marbles back in Athens before I die. But if they come back later, I shall be reborn” | M. Mercouri on the Parthenon Marbles issue

As it has been announced by the Melina Mercouri Foundation – an Institution founded by Mercouri’s husband and film director Jules Dassin with the aim to keep Melina’s ideas alive and promote Greek culture in Greece and abroad - a series of commemorative events will follow, such as the Peloponnesian Folklore Foundation’s exhibition titled “Our own Melina” (26/2), two photo shows at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris (end of March); one that focuses on the efforts for the return of the Parthenon sculptures from Britain and another on antiquities smuggling. In June, singer Alkistis Protopsalti will perform songs associated with Mercouri at Epidaurus' Little Theater.

A large exhibition is also scheduled for July and will run through September at Technopolis cultural venue of the City of Athens, showcasing photos, posters, costumes, Melina’s dressing room and her correspondence with celebrities of her time. Moreover, National Theater Director, Dimitris Lignadis, announced that the Rex National Theater will host the Melina Mercouri’s theatrical awards ceremony at an event dedicated to educating the youth. Last but not least, on the day of Mercouri’s birthday, October 18, a special event titled “Piraeus Celebrates Melina” will take place at the Piraeus Municipal Theater. On the same day, the Melina Mercouri Foundaton and the Ministry of Culture will hold a one-day meeting on Mercouri's initiatives as Minister of Culture, and on her activism, since "Melina was an activist in everything she did" as it was pointed out by Lina Mendoni.

Melina Mercouri was indeed one of the most influential women of Greece in the 20th century, bringing a fire and passion to everything she did; from gracing stage and screen in the early part of her life, to fighting the fascist junta that took control of Greece in 1967 and campaigning for the protection and promotion of culture as a politician. Even though she was born into a prominent Athenian family of politicians, it took over four decades before she became actively involved in politics.

She graduated from Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece in 1944 and a year later, she played Electra in the National Theatre of Greece’s production of Eugene O’ Neill’s “Mourning Becomes Electra”, but her breakthrough performance was as Blanche Dubois in the 1949 production of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Mercouri’s film career took off in the late 1950s and she found international acclaim in the role of Ilia in the Oscar nominated “Never on Sunday”, winning the Best Actress award at Cannes in 1960.

She reprised the role in the 1967 stage version on Broadway. It was during this theatre run in New York, on April 21, that a group of right-wing army officers, led by Brigadier General Stylianos Pattakos and Colonels George Papadopoulos and Nikolaos Makarezos, seized power in Greece in a coup d’état. When informed of developments in Greece, Mercouri pleaded through American media, “Please don’t go to my country”; as a result, she was deprived of her Greek citizenship, passport and had her property confiscated; butwith her temperament, she embodied the Greek ideal of freedom making the historic statement:

“I was born Greek and I will die Greek. Pattakos was born a fascist and will die a fascist”.

After the fall of the dictatorship and the restoration of democracy in July 1974, Melina Mercouri settled in Greece where she continued her political activity with the Panhellenic Socialist Movement to which she was a founding member, whilst actively involved in the women’s movement, without of course abandoning her career as an actress. In 1981, she became the first woman to head the Greek Ministry of Culture (1981-1989).

Among others, she established the institution of the Cultural Capitals of Europe (with Athens as the first Capital in 1985) and became the spearhead of the Parthenon Marbles return to Greece. Her name became synonymous with this cause so much so that, shortly after her death, UNESCO established the ‘Melina Mercouri International Prize for the Safeguarding and Management of Cultural Landscapes (UNESCO-Greece)' which rewards outstanding examples of action to safeguard and enhance the world's major cultural landscapes

Melina Mercouri was able to combine the magic of the performing arts with the realism of politics. But more important to Melina Mercouri was that the love she had for Greek people was returned to her and that her memory is revered and cherished by all.

See also: Remembering Melina- 25 years after

E.S.

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The beloved summer cinephile appointment, the Athens Open Air Film Festival co-organized by the City of Athens Cultural, Sport and Youth Organization, is back for its 7th edition, with more than 20 screenings, from June to September. Special spots in town, archaeological sites, parks, squares, beaches and few of the prettiest museums and places in Athens, turn into «open-air cinemas» with free entrance for everyone. The primary goal is to draw attention towards the centre of Athens and its suburbs, so that the residents and the visitors are reacquainted with the city.

This year, the 7th Athens Open Air Film Festival, in collaboration with the British Council, picks out and presents, for the first time in our country, a series of films – heritage of the British gothic horror. British Gothic cinema, synonymous with horror and phantasmagoria, was inspired by the Gothic fiction genre which flourished in the 19th century through the pages of classic novels such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, as well as through the dark tales of Edgar Allan Poe and Sheridan Le Fanu. The films included in the Tribute «British Gothic», masterpieces of the genre, will be screened in digitally restored copies, offering the audience the chance to enjoy them in their full cinematic magnificence! 

Even more, acclaimed dramas and award-winning masterpieces from all over the world, everlasting cult movies, Greek films worth watching and unexplored treasures of cinema accompanied by live music all constitute this year’s 7th Athens Open Air Film Festival program!

This year, many screening will take place in some of the most prominent museums of the city; at the National Museum of Contemporary Art ("The Wretches Are Still Singing”, 22/7"), the Byzantine and Christian Museum ("The year of living dangerously” by Peter Wuer, 28/6), the Numismatic Museum ("El Sur" by Victor Erithe 26/6), the French Archaeological School ("L’homme de Rio" by Philip de Broska, 18/7) and the National Archaeological Museum ("A Passage to India" by David Lin, 23/8).

The Athens Open Air Film Festival was first launched in the summer of 2011, and has since been organizing outdoor film screenings and other cultural events, in the most distinctive monuments in Attica and unexpected places, which reveal the urban landscape such squares, parks and Pedestrian Precinct, as well as in some of the «historical» open air cinemas in town. The festival in numbers: more than 60.000 viewers have attended the festival’s events, more than 200 films have been screened, more than 40 spaces have been transformed in open air cinemas.

A.R.

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