The cinema of Greece has a long and rich history. Though hampered at times by war or political instability, the Greek film industry dominates the domestic market and has experienced international success. Characteristics of Greek cinema include a dynamic plot, strong character development and erotic themes. Two Greek films, ''

Missing Missing or The Missing may refer to: Film * ''Missing'' (1918 film), an American silent drama directed by James Young * ''Missing'' (1982 film), an American historical drama directed by Costa-Gavras * ''Missing'' (2007 film) (''Vermist''), a Bel ...

'' (1982) and '' Eternity and a Day'' (1998), have won the

Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films ...

. Five Greek films have received nominations for the

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film The Academy Award for Best International Feature Film (known as Best Foreign Language Film prior to 2020) is one of the Academy Awards handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). It is given to a ...

. Though Greek cinema took root in the early 1900s, the first mature films weren't produced until the 1920s, after the end of the Greco-Turkish War.Vrasidas Karalis,
History of Greek Cinema
' (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2012), pp. ix-xiii. Films during this period, such as ''Astero'' (1929) by Dimitris Gaziadis and ''Maria Pentagiotissa'' (1929) by Ahilleas Madras, consisted of emotional melodramas with an abundance of folkloristic elements.Ephraim Katz, "Greece," ''The Film Encyclopedia'' (New York: HarperResource, 2001), pp. 554-555. Orestis Laskos's ''

Daphnis and Chloe ''Daphnis and Chloe'' ( el, Δάφνις καὶ Χλόη, ''Daphnis kai Chloē'') is an ancient Greek novel written in the Roman Empire, the only known work of the second-century AD Greek novelist and Hellenistic romance, romance writer Longus ...

'' (1931), one of the first Greek films to be shown abroad, contained the first voyeuristic nude scene in a European film. During the Axis occupation, the Greek film industry struggled as it was forced to relocate overseas. Following the

Greek Civil War The Greek Civil War ( el, ο Eμφύλιος �όλεμος}, ''o Emfýlios'' 'Pólemos'' "the Civil War") took place from 1946 to 1949. It was mainly fought against the established Kingdom of Greece, which was supported by the United Kingdom and ...

, Greek cinema experienced a revival. Inspired by

Italian neorealism Italian neorealism ( it, Neorealismo), also known as the Golden Age, is a national film movement characterized by stories set amongst the poor and the working class. They are filmed on location, frequently with non-professional actors. They pri ...

, directors such as Grigoris Grigoriou and Stelios Tatasopoulos created works during this period shot on location using non-professional actors. During the 1950s and 1960s, Greek cinema experienced a golden age, starting with

Michael Cacoyannis Michael Cacoyannis ( el, Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης, ''Michalis Kakogiannis''; 11 June 1922 – 25 July 2011), sometimes credited as Michael Yannis, was a Greek Cypriot theatre and film director, writer, producer, and actor. ...

's '' Stella'' (1955), which was screened at

Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The ...

. The 1960 film '' Never on Sunday'' was nominated for five Academy Awards, and its lead actress,

Melina Mercouri Maria Amalia "Melina" Mercouri (, 18 October 1920 – 6 March 1994) was a Greek actress, singer, activist, and politician. She came from a political family that was prominent over multiple generations. She received an Academy Award nomination a ...

, won the Best Actress Award at Cannes. Cacoyannis's ''

Zorba the Greek ''Zorba the Greek'' ( el, Βίος και Πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά, , Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas) is a novel written by the Cretan author Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in 1946. It is the tale of a young Greek int ...

'' (1964) won three Academy Awards. Other films released in this era, such as ''

The Counterfeit Coin ''The Counterfeit Coin'' ( el, Ιστορία μιας κάλπικης λίρας, Istoria mias kalpikis liras, Story of a fake pound; also Η κάλπικη λίρα, ''I kalpiki lira'', "the fake pound") is a Greek comedy-drama film, produced ...

'' and ''

The Ogre of Athens ''O Drákos'' ( el, Ο Δράκος; English: ''The Ogre of Athens'' or ''The fiend of Athens''), or simply The Dragon, is a 1956 Greek existential and satirical drama crime film, directed by Nikos Koundouros. It tells the story of Thomas, a mous ...

'' are nowadays considered some of the greatest works of Greek cinema. Censorship policies of the 1967 junta and rising foreign competition led to a decline in Greek cinema. After the restoration of democracy in the mid-1970s, the Greek film industry again flourished, led by director

Theo Angelopoulos Theodoros "Theo" Angelopoulos (; ; 27 April 1935 – 24 January 2012) was a Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer. He dominated the Greek art film industry from 1975 on, and Angelopoulos was one of the most influential and widely re ...

, whose films captured international recognition, making him probably the most acclaimed Greek director to date. Other acclaimed directors of this era include

Nikos Nikolaidis Nikos Georgiou Nikolaidis ( el, Νίκος Γεωργίου Νικολαΐδης; 25 October 1939 – 5 September 2007) was a Greek film director, screenwriter, film producer, writer, theatre director, assistant director, record producer, televi ...

, as well as

Pantelis Voulgaris Pantelis Voulgaris ( el, Παντελής Βούλγαρης; born 23 October 1940) is a Greek film director and screenwriter. His first feature film '' To proxenio tis Annas'' in 1972 won the first prize in Thessaloniki International Film Festi ...

and

Alexis Damianos Alexis Damianos ( el, Αλέξης Δαμιανός; 1921–2006) was a Greek, film/theatre and television director. Biography Damianos was born in Athens on January 21, 1921. He studied at the National Theatre of Greece and the philosophy departm ...

, the director of the landmark film '' Evdokia''. However, this drift toward art-house cinema in the 1980s led to a decline in audiences. In the 1990s, younger Greek filmmakers began experimenting with iconographic motifs. In spite of, or because of, funding issues created by the

financial crisis A financial crisis is any of a broad variety of situations in which some financial assets suddenly lose a large part of their nominal value. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many financial crises were associated with banking panics, and man ...

in the late 2000s, unique Greek films such as

Yorgos Lanthimos Georgios "Yorgos" Lanthimos ( el, Γιώργος Λάνθιμος, Giórgos Lánthimos, ; born 23 September 1973) is a Greek film director, film producer, screenwriter, photographer, theatre director and former professional basketball player. Sin ...

's '' Dogtooth'' (2009), Panos H. Koutras' '' Strella'' (2009) and Athina Rachel Tsangari's ''

Attenberg ''Attenberg'' is a 2010 Greek drama film, written and directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari. The film was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 67th Venice International Film Festival and Ariane Labed won the Coppa Volpi for the Best Actress. It wa ...

'' (2010) received international acclaim, constituting what has been called the "Greek Weird Wave".

History of the Greek cinema

Origins

In the spring of 1897, the Greeks of

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates a ...

watched the first cinematic ventures (short movies in "journal"). In 1906 Greek Cinema was born when the Manakis brothers started recording in Macedonia, and the French filmmaker "Leons" produced the first "Newscast" from the midi-

Olympic games The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a multi ...

of Athens (the unofficial Olympic games of 1906). The first cine-theater of Athens opened about a year later and other special 'projection rooms' begun their activity. In 1910-11 the first short comic movies were produced by director Spiros Dimitrakopoulos (Spyridion), who also starred in most of his movies. In 1911 Kostas Bachatoris presented ''Golfo ()'', a well known traditional love story, considered the first Greek

feature film A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

. In 1912 was founded the first film company (

Athina Film Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of v ...

) and in 1916 the Asty Film. During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, production was limited to documentaries and newscasts only. Directors like George Prokopiou and

Dimitris Gaziadis Dimitris (Δημήτρης) is the Modern Greek form of the older forms Demetrios, Dimitrios (Δημήτριος, usually Latinized as Demetrius) and may refer to: * Dimitris Arvanitis (born 1980), Greek professional football defender who plays for ...

are distinguished for filming scenes from the battlefield and later, during the Greco-Turkish War, of the efforts of the Hellenic Army and finally the

Great Fire of Smyrna The burning of Smyrna ( el, Καταστροφή της Σμύρνης, "Smyrna Catastrophe"; tr, 1922 İzmir Yangını, "1922 Izmir Fire"; hy, Զմիւռնիոյ Մեծ Հրդեհ, ''Zmyuṙno Mets Hrdeh'') destroyed much of the port city of ...

(1922).

The first commercially successful Greek film was ''Villar in the Women's Baths of Faliro'' ('), written, directed by and starring comedian Villar (Nikolaos Sfakianakis) and Nitsa Philosofou. In 1924, Michael Michael (1895–1944), a Greek comedian, presented some

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

comedies.

In 1922, Gaziadis founded Dag Films and tried to produce the first speaking movies. This company presented its first movie, ''Love and Waves'' (''Eros kai kymata''), in 1927, and experienced moderate success in the late 1920s and early 1930s. The company mainly produced historical movies, usually adaptations of novels. In 1930, Dag made an attempt for a speaking movie, ''Apachides of Athens'' (''Oi Apachides ton Athinon''), which was based on a Greek

operetta Operetta is a form of theatre and a genre of light opera. It includes spoken dialogue, songs, and dances. It is lighter than opera in terms of its music, orchestral size, length of the work, and at face value, subject matter. Apart from its ...

Nikos Hatziapostolou Nikos ( el, Νίκος, ''Níkos'') is a Greek given name. It originates from Greek ''Nikolaos'', which means "victory of the people".Liddell & Scott, Abridged Greek Lexicon Although used as a proper first name, Nikos is also a popular nickname of t ...

. Gaziadis also filmed the 1927 Delphic Festival, an idea of

Angelos Sikelianos Angelos Sikelianos ( el, Άγγελος Σικελιανός; 28 March 1884 – 19 June 1951) was a Greek lyric poet and playwright. His themes include Greek history, religious symbolism as well as universal harmony in poems such as ''The Moonstru ...

and Eva Palmer-Sikelianos, as part of his general effort towards the revival of the "Delphic Idea". The event consisted of

Olympic Olympic or Olympics may refer to Sports Competitions * Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896 ** Summer Olympic Games ** Winter Olympic Games * Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece bet ...

contests, an exhibition of

folk art Folk art covers all forms of visual art made in the context of folk culture. Definitions vary, but generally the objects have practical utility of some kind, rather than being exclusively decorative. The makers of folk art are typically tr ...

, and a performance of ''

Prometheus Bound ''Prometheus Bound'' ( grc, Προμηθεὺς Δεσμώτης, ''Promētheús Desmṓtēs'') is an Ancient Greek tragedy traditionally attributed to Aeschylus and thought to have been composed sometime between 479 BC and the terminus ant ...

''. The 1931 film ''Daphnis and Chloe'' (''Δάφνις και Χλόη''), directed by Orestis Laskos (1908–1992), contained the first voyeuristic nude scene in the history of European cinema; it was also the first Greek movie which was played abroad. In 1932

Olympia Films The name Olympia may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film * ''Olympia'' (1938 film), by Leni Riefenstahl, documenting the Berlin-hosted Olympic Games * ''Olympia'' (1998 film), about a Mexican soap opera star who pursues a career as an athlet ...

presented the speaking movie ''The Shepherdess's Lover'' (''Ο αγαπητικός της βοσκοπούλας''), which was based on a play by Dimitris Koromilas. Also influential during this period was director Achilleas Madras, whose work included ''Maria Pentagiotissa'' (1929) and ''Sorcerer of Athens'' (1931). During the late 1930s, a number of Greek filmmakers fled Greece due to the hostility of Metaxas Regime and the material lack of ability for producing speaking movies. The Greek film industry reemerged in

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula ...

, and later in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning the North Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via a land bridg ...

. In spite of German occupation during World War II,

Philopemen Finos Filopimin Finos ( el, Φιλοποίμην Φίνος; 1908 – January 26, 1977) was a Greek film producer of 186 films and the founder of Finos Film, whose first film was in 1939. He built the first sound recording device in Greece, and shot ...

, a film producer who was active in the Greek Resistance, founded

Finos Films Finos Film (Greek: Φίνος Φιλμ) is a film production company that dominated the Greek film industry from 1943 to 1977. It was founded by Filopimin Finos in 1942 during World War II. It was the biggest film production company in Greece a ...

(1942), which would later become one of the most commercially successful Greek studios. One of Finos's earliest productions, ''Voice of the Heart'' (') (1943, directed by Dimitris Ioannopoulos), drew large audiences, to the consternation of the Germans. Another important film during this period, ''Applause'' (') (1944, directed by George Tzavellas), was produced by Finos's rival, Novak Films. In 1944

Katina Paxinou Katina Paxinou ( gr, Κατίνα Παξινού; 17 December 1900– 22 February 1973) was a Greek film and stage actress. She started her stage career in Greece in 1928 and was one of the founding members of the National Theatre of Greece in ...

was honoured with the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as "Pilar" in the

Sam Wood Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as '' A Night at the Opera'', '' A Day at the Races'', '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'', '' ...

film, ''

For Whom the Bell Tolls ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamiter, he is assigne ...

''.

The Golden Age (modern period)

The 1950s and 1960s are considered by many to be the "Golden Age" of Greek cinema. Directors and actors of this era were recognized as important historical figures in Greece and some gained international acclaim:

Alekos Sakellarios Alekos Sakellarios ( el, Αλέκος Σακελλάριος, 13 November 1913 in Athens – 28 August 1991 in Athens) was a Greek writer and a director. He was born in Athens and grew up in Agios Panteleimonas and began to study journali ...

Nikos Tsiforos Nikos Tsiforos ( el, Νίκος Τσιφόρος; 27 August 1912 – 6 August 1970) was a Greek humorist, screenwriter, and film director. He had more than 60 film scripts to his credit between 1948 and 1970. He further directed 17 films be ...

Iakovos Kambanelis Iakovos Kambanellis (Greek: Ιάκωβος Καμπανέλλης; 2 December 1921 – 29 March 2011) was a Greek poet, playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and novelist. Biography Born 2 December 1921 in Hora on the island of Naxos, the sixth of ...

, Nikos Koundouros, Ellie Lambeti, and

Irene Papas Irene Papas or Irene Pappas ( el, Ειρήνη Παππά, Eiríni Pappá, ; born Eirini Lelekou ( el, Ειρήνη Λελέκου, Eiríni Lelékou, link=no); 3 September 1929 – 14 September 2022) was a Greek actress and singer who starred ...

. More than sixty films per year were made, with the majority having film noir elements. Notable films were ''

'' (', 1955 directed by George Tzavellas), ''Bitter Bread'' (', 1951, directed by Grigoris Grigoriou), and ''The Ogre of Athens'' (', 1956, directed by Nikos Koundouros).

Finos Film Finos Film (Greek: Φίνος Φιλμ) is a film production company that dominated the Greek film industry from 1943 to 1977. It was founded by Filopimin Finos in 1942 during World War II. It was the biggest film production company in Greece a ...

and director

collaborated on several films in the late 1950s, namely ''The Hurdy-Gurdy'' (', 1955) and its sequel, ''Laterna, ftoheia kai garyfallo'' (', 1958), as well as '' Aunt from Chicago'' (', 1957) and ''Maiden's Cheek'' (', 1959). The 1955 film '' Stella'', directed by

and written by

, was screened at Cannes, and launched Greek cinema into its "golden age."

, who starred in the film, met American expatriate director

Jules Dassin Julius "Jules" Dassin (December 18, 1911 – March 31, 2008) was an American film and theatre director, producer, writer and actor. A subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, he subsequently moved to France, and later Greece, whe ...

at Cannes while attending the screening, and the two would eventually marry. Dassin directed the 1960 Greek film, '' Never on Sunday'', which starred Mercouri. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Mercouri, and won the

Academy Award for Best Song An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary or tertiary higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membership). The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, ...

for composer Manos Hatzidakis' title track. The couple also collaborated on the 1967 musical stage adaptation, '' Illya Darling'', for which Mercouri received a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

nomination. She went on to star in such films as '' Topkapi'' and ''

Phaedra Phaedra may refer to: Mythology * Phaedra (mythology), Cretan princess, daughter of Minos and Pasiphaë, wife of Theseus Arts and entertainment * ''Phaedra'' (Alexandre Cabanel), an 1880 painting Film * ''Phaedra'' (film), a 1962 film by ...

'', both directed by Dassin, and the 1969 American comedy, ''

Gaily, Gaily ''Gaily, Gaily'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''Chicago, Chicago'') is a 1969 American comedy film directed by Norman Jewison. It is a fictionalized adaptation of a 1963 memoir of the same name by Ben Hecht and stars Beau Bridges, Brian K ...

''. Cacoyannis' 1964 film, ''

'', which starred

Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known professionally as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican-American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental v ...

, was a major commercial success, and was nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film. The movie was based on the novel, ''

'', by author

Nikos Kazantzakis Nikos Kazantzakis ( el, ; 2 March ( OS 18 February) 188326 October 1957) was a Greek writer. Widely considered a giant of modern Greek literature, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in nine different years. Kazantzakis's n ...

. Other important films during this period include ''

Antigone In Greek mythology, Antigone ( ; Ancient Greek: Ἀντιγόνη) is the daughter of Oedipus and either his mother Jocasta or, in another variation of the myth, Euryganeia. She is a sister of Polynices, Eteocles, and Ismene.Roman, L., ...

'' (1961) and ''

Electra Electra (; grc, Ήλέκτρα) is one of the most popular mythological characters in tragedies.Evans (1970), p. 79 She is the main character in two Greek tragedies, '' Electra'' by Sophocles and '' Electra'' by Euripides. She is also the centra ...

'' (1962), both of which starred

, '' The Red Lanterns'' (1963) by director

Vasilis Georgiadis Vasilis Georgiadis ( el, Βασίλης Γεωργιάδης; 12 August 1921 – 30 April 2000) was a Greek film director and actor. His films '' The Red Lanterns'' (1963) and ''Blood on the Land'' (1966) were nominated for the Academy Award f ...

, and '' Battlefield Constantinople'' (1970), which starred the "Greek Brigitte Bardot," Aliki Vougiouklaki. The

Thessaloniki International Film Festival The Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), organized by the cultural institution of the same name under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture, is held every November in Thessaloniki.TIFF features international competition sect ...

was first held in 1960, and would subsequently evolve into the primary showcase for emerging filmmakers from Greece and the Balkans region. The festival showcases both international and Greek films, and awards the "Golden Alexander" for the best feature film. In 1969, the

Costa-Gavras Costa-Gavras (short for Konstantinos Gavras; el, Κωνσταντίνος Γαβράς; born 12 February 1933) is a Greek-French film director, screenwriter, and producer who lives and works in France. He is known for films with political and s ...

film '' Z'' was nominated for the Academy Award for both Best Foreign Language Film and Best Picture.

Postmodern period

Theodoros Angelopoulos Athens 26-4-2009-2

The production of Greek films increased after the fall of the dictatorship in the mid-1970s, though the industry struggled with foreign competition and the rise of television. Michael Cacoyannis' 1977 film, ''

Iphigenia In Greek mythology, Iphigenia (; grc, Ἰφιγένεια, , ) was a daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra, and thus a princess of Mycenae. In the story, Agamemnon offends the goddess Artemis on his way to the Trojan War by hunting ...

'', was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. During the 1970s and 1980s

directed a series of critically acclaimed movies, among them ''

The Travelling Players ''The Travelling Players'' ( el, Ο Θίασος, translit. ''O Thiasos'', "The Troupe") is a 1975 Greek historical drama film written and directed by Theodoros Angelopoulos that traces the history of mid-20th-century Greece from 1939 to 1 ...

'' (1975), '' The Hunters'' (1977), and '' Voyage to Cythera'' (1984). His film '' Eternity and a Day'' won the

and the

Prize of the Ecumenical Jury The Prize of the Ecumenical Jury (french: Prix du Jury Œcuménique) is an independent film award for feature length films shown at major international film festivals since 1973. The award was created by Christian film makers, film critics and ot ...

at the

1998 Cannes Film Festival The 51st Cannes Film Festival was held from 13 to 24 May 1998. American director, producer, screenwriter, and film historian Martin Scorsese was the Jury President. The Palme d'Or went to the Greek film '' Mia aioniotita kai mia mera'' by Theo An ...

. Costa-Gavras's film ''

'' won the Palme d'Or at

1982 Cannes Film Festival The 35th Cannes Film Festival was held from 14 to 26 May 1982. The Palme d'Or was jointly awarded to ''Missing'' by Costa Gavras and '' Yol'' by Şerif Gören and Yılmaz Güney. The festival opened with the 1916 film '' Intolerance'', directed ...

. Director

Costas Ferris Costas Ferris ( el, Κώστας Φέρρης; born 18 April 1935) is a Greek film director, writer, actor, and producer. He wrote the lyrics of Aphrodite's Child's album ''666''. His 1983 film '' Rembetiko'' won the Silver Bear at the 34th Berli ...

's 1983 film, ''

Rembetiko Rebetiko ( el, ρεμπέτικο, ), plural rebetika ( ), occasionally transliterated as rembetiko or rebetico, is a term used today to designate originally disparate kinds of urban Greek music which have come to be grouped together since the s ...

'', won the

Silver Bear The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fes ...

at the

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the fest ...

. When the left-leaning

Panhellenic Socialist Movement The Panhellenic Socialist Movement ( el, Πανελλήνιο Σοσιαλιστικό Κίνημα, Panellínio Sosialistikó Kínima, ), known mostly by its acronym PASOK, (; , ) is a social-democratic political party in Greece. Until 2012, it ...

was elected to power in 1981, actress Melina Mercouri, a member of the party, was appointed

Minister for Culture A culture minister or a heritage minister is a common cabinet position in governments. The culture minister is typically responsible for cultural policy, which often includes arts policy (direct and indirect support to artists and arts organizatio ...

. In this role, she obtained government support for the Greek film industry, and set up networks to promote Greek cinema abroad. The increase in government funding led to a predominance of slow-moving, cerebral

art-house An art film (or arthouse film) is typically an independent film, aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience. It is "intended to be a serious, artistic work, often experimental and not designed for mass appeal", "made primarily f ...

films, which lacked mass appeal. Beginning in the 1990s, younger directors turned to more contemporary-paced films and social satires, which brought moderate commercial success. In 1999, TV series writers Michalis Reppas and Thanasis Papathanasiou, collaborating with contemporary famous actors made the sex taboo comedy ''

Safe Sex Safe sex is sexual activity using methods or contraceptive devices (such as condoms) to reduce the risk of transmitting or acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially HIV. "Safe sex" is also sometimes referred to as safer ...

'', which was the most successful movie of the decade. In 2003, ''

A Touch of Spice ''A Touch of Spice'' ( Greek: ''Πολίτικη Κουζίνα/Politiki Kouzina)'' is a 2003 Greek film directed by Tassos Boulmetis and starring Georges Corraface as the character of the adult Fanis Iakovides. The character of Fanis Iakovides ...

'' (''Politiki kouzina''), a big-budget film by director Tasos Boulmetis, was the most successful film of the year at the Greek

box office A box office or ticket office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a wicket. By extension, the term is fre ...

, making over 12 million euros. 2004 was also a good year for Greek films, with

's ''

Brides A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is newlywed. When marrying, the bride's future spouse, (if male) is usually referred to as the ''bridegroom'' or just ''groom''. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by a maid, bri ...

'' (''Nyfes'') gathering more than a million spectators and over 7 million at the box office. In 2007 the most successful film was ''

El Greco Domḗnikos Theotokópoulos ( el, Δομήνικος Θεοτοκόπουλος ; 1 October 1541 7 April 1614), most widely known as El Greco ("The Greek"), was a Greek painter, sculptor and architect of the Spanish Renaissance. "El ...

'', directed by

Yannis Smaragdis Yannis Smaragdis ( el, Γιάννης Σμαραγδής) is a Greek film director. Biography He was born in Crete in 1946 and studied film in Greece and Paris, France. He appeared in 1972 with his short film ''Two Three Things...'' which receive ...

Yorgos Lanthimos Fantastic Fest 2015-9972 (27404717426)

In 2009, '' Dogtooth'', directed by

, won the Prix Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, and in 2011 was nominated for

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

at the

83rd Academy Awards The 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2010 in the United States and took place on February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles b ...

. The 2010 film ''

'', directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari, won the Coppa Volpi Award for Best Actress (

Ariane Labed Ariane Labed (born 8 May 1984) is a Greek-French actress and film director. She is known for her feature film debut in '' Attenberg'', for which she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and appearing in Helen Edmundson's film ''Mary Magdalene'' i ...

) at the Venice Film Festival. Also, at the same festival that year, ''

Homeland A homeland is a place where a cultural, national, or racial identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethn ...

'', directed by

Syllas Tzoumerkas Syllas Tzoumerkas () is a Greek film director, screenwriter, and actor. Life and early work Syllas Tzoumerkas was born in Thessaloniki. He studied theatre and directing for Film and Television at the L.Stavrakos Film School and the Univers ...

screened at the International Critics' Week, ''Plato's Academy'' by

Filippos Tsitos Filippos Tsitos (born 1966) is a Greek film and television director. He grew up in Exarchia and Chalandri, moving to Berlin, Germany in 1991, where he studied directing at the German Academy of Cinema and Television. He has won the Silver She ...

screened at a special event in Venice Days, and ''Casus Belli'', a short film by director Yorgos Zois, screened at the

Orizzonti '' Orizzonti'' is a section of the Venice Film Festival's official selection. It runs as a parallel section to the main competition for the Golden Lion The Golden Lion ( it, Leone d'oro) is the highest prize given to a film at the Venice Film ...

section, prompting Nick Vivarelli of

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

to write about "the country's biggest showing in decades". In 2011 ''

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

'' won the Osella Award for Best Screenplay (

and Efthimiοs Filippou) at the 68th Venice Film Festival. ''Dogtooth'', ''Attenberg'' and ''Alps'' are part of what some film critics, including Steve Rose of ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers '' The Observer'' and '' The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the ...

'', have termed the "Greek Weird Wave," which involves movies with haunting cinematography, alienated protagonists and absurdist dialogue. Other films mentioned as part of this "wave" include Panos H. Koutras's '' Strella'' (2009) and Yannis Economides's ''

Knifer ''Knifer'' ( el, Μαχαιροβγάλτης ''Macherovgaltis'') is a 2010 Greek-Cypriot drama film directed by Yannis Economides. After his father's death, Nikos moves from Ptolemaida to Athens. His uncle offers him food and shelter while he ...

'' (2010). In 2011, the 46th

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival ( cs, Mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary) is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has becom ...

presented a tribute to Young Greek Cinema with seven feature films: ''

,'' '' Dogtooth,'' ''Homeland'', '' Strella'', ''Tale 52'' (directed by Alexis Alexiou) and ''Wasted Youth'' (directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Jan Vogel). The "wave" of Greek cinema continued its course through the decade, producing several titles that were festival and critical sensations and were distributed in many countries. Many tributes to this generation of Greek filmmakers were held by festivals worldwide, most notably by the New Horizons Film Festival in Wrocław, Poland, and the Jeonju International Film Festival in Korea. Recent studies called the Greek Weird Wave, a cinema "that reflects on how systems of power manage groups of people (from a family to a population) and the bodies of individuals", and "a cinema equally sensitive to forms of response, to noise, unease, and subversion". In 2011, just twenty feature-films were produced. ''Wasted Youth'', directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Jan Vogel was the opening film of the 40th

Rotterdam International Film Festival The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1972, it has maintained a focus on independent and experimental fi ...

, ''

,'' directed by

won the Best Screenplay Award at the Venice International Film Festival and ''

Unfair World ''Unfair World'' ( el, Άδικος Κόσμος, Transliteration, translit. Adikos kosmos) is a 2011 Greek drama film directed by Filippos Tsitos. Tsitos won the award for Best Director and Antonis Kafetzopoulos won the award for Best Ac ...

,'' directed by

won the Best Actor Award for

Antonis Kafetzopoulos Antonis Kafetzopoulos ( el, Αντώνης Καφετζόπουλος; born 13 October 1951) is a Greek actor. He appeared in more than fifty films since 1980. He has won two Hellenic Film Academy Awards for his roles in the films ''Plato's Academ ...

at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. In 2012, '' L'' by Babis Makridis premiered in competition at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, and ''

Boy Eating the Bird's Food ''Boy Eating the Bird's Food'' ( el, Το Αγόρι Τρώει το Φαγητό του Πουλιού, translit=To agori troei to fagito tou pouliou) is a 2012 Greek drama film written and directed by Ektoras Lygizos (in his feature directori ...

'', directed by Ektoras Lygizos, premiered in competition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, winning a Special Mention for actor Yannis Papadopoulos. In 2013, ''

Miss Violence ''Miss Violence'' is a 2013 Greek psychological thriller film directed by Alexandros Avranas. The film was nominated upon its release for 8 Hellenic Film Academy Awards, winning 2: for Best Actor (Themis Panou) and Best Supporting Actress (Renni ...

'', directed by

Alexandros Avranas Alexandros Avranas (born 1977) is a Greek film director best known for such films as '' Miss Violence'' and ''Dark Crimes'' starring Jim Carrey. At the 2013 Venice Film Festival Avranas won the Silver Lion The Silver Lion ( it, Leone d'argen ...

won

Silver Lion The Silver Lion ( it, Leone d'argento, also known as Silver Lion for Best Direction) is an annual award presented for best directing achievements in a feature film at official competition section of the Venice Film Festival since 1998. The pri ...

for best director at the 70th Venice International Film Festival.

Peter Bradshaw Peter Bradshaw (born 19 June 1962) is a British writer and film critic. He has been chief film critic at ''The Guardian'' since 1999, and is a contributing editor at ''Esquire''. Early life and education Bradshaw was educated at Haberdasher ...

of ''

'', compared the film to the previously mentioned, saying that "It (self-evidently) does not have the humour of those movies by

and Athina Rachel Tsangari and by that token, less of their richness and inventiveness. But its force can't be doubted." In 2014, ''Stratos'', directed by Yannis Economidis premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, ''Xenia'', directed by Panos H. Koutras, premiered at the Un Certain Régard section of the Cannes Film Festival, and ''

A Blast ''A Blast'' ( el, Η έκρηξη), is a 2014 film directed by Syllas Tzoumerkas about a woman's disillusionment and revolt in the frame of the Greek financial crisis. The film stars Angeliki Papoulia, Vassilis Doganis, Maria Filini, Themis Baza ...

,'' directed by

, premiered in competition at the Locarno International Film Festival. In 2015, ''Wednesday 04:45'' by Alexis Alexiou premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival, ''Chevalier'', directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari premiered in competition at the Locarno International Film Festival and won the Best Film Award at the BFI - London International Film Festival, and ''Interruption'' by Yorgos Zois premiered at the Orizzonti competition section of the Venice International Film Festival. In 2016, ''Suntan'' by Argyris Papadimitropoulos premiered at the Rotterdam and SXSW International Film Festivals and won the Best Film Award at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. In 2017, ''Son of Sofia'', directed by Elina Psykou won the Best International Narrative Feature Award at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2018, ''Pity'', directed by Babis Makridis, premiered in competition at the Sundance and the Rotterdam International Film Festivals. in 2021, Jacqueline Lentzou's ''

Moon, 66 Questions ''Moon, 66 Questions'' ( gr, Selini, 66 erotiseis) is a French- Greek drama film, directed by Jacqueline Lentzou and released in 2021. The film stars Sofia Kokkali as Artemis, a young woman who is forced to care for her estranged father Paris (Laza ...

'' premiered at the Encounters competition section of the 71st Berlin International Film Festival.

Notable films

Pre-WWII * 1914 '' Golfo'', Konstantinos Bachatoris (the first Greek feature film) * 1927 ''Eros kai kymata'',

* 1930 ''Oi Apachides ton Athinon'',

* 1931 ''

'', Orestis Laskos * 1932 ''Shepherdess's Lover'', Dimitris Tsakiris (first speaking) * 1939 ''

The Parting Song (film) ''The Parting Song'' (Greek:''To tragoudi tou horismou'') is a 1939 Greek drama film directed by Filopimin Finos and starring Evgenia Danika, Labros Konstadaras and Linda Miranda. It was the only film directed by Finos, better-known for running ...

'' by

Filopimin Finos Filopimin Finos ( el, Φιλοποίμην Φίνος; 1908 – January 26, 1977) was a Greek film producer of 186 films and the founder of Finos Film, whose first film was in 1939. He built the first sound recording device in Greece, and shot ...

* 1944 '' Chirokrotimata'', George Tzavellas After-WWII (Golden Age) * 1948 ''The Germans are coming again'',

, starring

Vassilis Logothetidis Vasilis Logothetidis (Greek: Βασίλης Λογοθετίδης; 1897 – 20 February 1960) was a Greek comedian. He is considered one of the most significant modern Greek actors. Logothetidis was born as Vasilis Tavlaridis (Βασίλης Τ ...

* 1950 ''

The Drunkard ''The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved'' is an American temperance play first performed on February 12, 1844.

'', George Tzavellas, starring Orestis Makris * 1951 '' Pikro Psomi'',

Grigoris Grigoriou Grigoris Grigoriou (1919–2005) was a Greek screenwriter and film director.Karalis p.58 Selected filmography * '' Red Cliff'' (1949) * '' Storm at the Lighthouse'' (1950) * '' Bitter Bread'' (1951) * '' The Big Streets'' (1953) References ...

* 1954 ''

Despoinis eton 39 ''Despinis eton 39'' or ''Despinis eton 39'' ( el, Δεσποινίς ετών 39 ''A 39-year-old Lady'') is a 1954 Greek drama-comedy film directed by Alekos Sakellarios and starring Vassilis Logothetidis, Smaro Stefanidou and Ilya Livykou. ...

'',

* 1954 '' Kiriakatiko Xipnima'', Cacoyannis * 1955 '' Stella'',

, starring

* 1955 ''

'', George Tzavellas * 1956 '' Thanassakis o politevomenos'',

* 1956 ''

Aces of the Stadiums ACeS (PT Asia Cellular Satellite) was a regional satellite telecommunications company based in Jakarta, Indonesia. It offered GSM-like satellite telephony services to Asian market. The coverage area included Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philip ...

'',

* 1956 ''

O Drakos ''O Drákos'' ( el, Ο Δράκος; English: ''The Ogre of Athens'' or ''The fiend of Athens''), or simply The Dragon, is a 1956 Greek existential and satirical drama crime film, directed by Nikos Koundouros. It tells the story of Thomas, a mous ...

'', Nikos Koundouros, starring Dinos Iliopoulos * 1956 ''

A Girl in Black ''A Girl in Black'' ( el, Το Κορίτσι με τα Μαύρα) is a 1956 Greek dramatic film by the Cypriot director Michael Cacoyannis starring Dimitris Horn and Ellie Lambeti. The film takes place on the Greek island of Hydra, where two Ath ...

'',

, starring Ellie Lambeti * 1956 ''

The Girl from Corfu ''The Girl from Corfu'' ( el, Πρωτευουσιάνικες περιπέτειες, translit. Protevousianikes peripeteies) is a 1956 Greek comedy film directed by Yannis Petropoulakis. It was entered into the 7th Berlin International ...

'', Yiannis Petropoulakis, starring

Rena Vlachopoulou Irene "Rena" Vlahopoulou (Greek: Ειρήνη (Ρένα) Βλαχοπούλου; 28 July 1917 – 29 July 2004) was a Greek actress and singer. She starred in theatre, musical, and Greek cinema productions, including ''The Gambler'' and '' The ...

(the first colour film) * 1957 ''

I theia ap' to Chicago ''The Auntie from Chicago'' ( el, Η θεία από το Σικάγο ''Ê theía apó to Sikágo''; also known as ''Aunt from Chicago'') is a 1957 Greek theatrical comedy film directed by Alekos Sakellarios and produced by Finos Films. The fi ...

'',

, starring Georgia Vasileiadou * 1958 ''

A Hero in His Slippers ''A Hero in His Slippers'' ( el, Ένας ήρως με παντούφλες) is a 1958 Greek comedy film directed by Alekos Sakellarios. Cast * Vasilis Logothetidis - General Labros Dekavallas * Ilya Livykou - Popi Dekavalla * Nitsa Tsaganea ...

'',

, starring

* 1959 '' Astero'', Dinos Dimopoulos * 1959 '' Stournara 288'', Dinos Dimopoulos * 1959 ''

Elias of the 16th Elias is the Greek equivalent of Elijah ( he, אֵלִיָּהוּ‎ ''ʾĒlīyyāhū''; Syriac: ܐܠܝܐ ''Eliyā''; Arabic: الیاس Ilyās/Elyās), a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century BC, mentioned in several hol ...

'',

, starring

Costas Hajihristos Kostas Hatzichristos or Costas Hajihristos ( el, Κώστας Χατζηχρήστος; 1921 – October 3, 2001) was a Greek actor. Biography He was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, to a large family of thirteen members, he was the eleventh chil ...

* 1960 '' Madalena'', Dinos Dimopoulos, starring Aliki Vougiouklaki * 1960 '' Never on Sunday'',

* 1960 '' Egklima sta paraskinia'', Dinos Katsouridis * 1961 ''

'', George Tzavellas * 1961 '' Alice in the Navy'',

* 1961 ''

Woe to the Young ''Woe to the Young'' (Greek: ''Αλίμονο στους νέους'') is a Greek 1961 film loosely based on the myth of Faust. Plot The story concerns a rich old man named Andreas, who wants to be young again so as to marry a young girl, that ma ...

'',

, starring

Dimitris Horn Dimitris Horn () (9 March 1921 – 16 January 1998) was a Greek people, Greek theatrical and film performer of modern times. Biography Horn was born in Athens in 1921, the son of playwright Pantelis Horn (himself descended from an Austrians, Aust ...

* 1962 '' Nomos 4000'',

Giannis Dalianidis Giannis Dalianidis ( el, Γιάννης Δαλιανίδης; 31 December 1923 – 16 October 2010) was a Greek film director. His first film was ''Mousitsa'', released in 1959, which was followed by a series of musicals. Between 1974 and 1981, ...

* 1962 ''

'',

* 1962 ''

Glory Sky ''Glory Sky'' ( el, Ouranos) is a 1962 Greek war film directed by Takis Kanellopoulos. It was entered into the 1963 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Aimilia Pitta - Sofia * Phaedon Georgitsis - Stratos * Takis Emmanuel - Giagos * Eleni Zafeiriou * N ...

'',

Takis Kanellopoulos Takis Kanellopoulos ( el, Τάκης Κανελλόπουλος; 26 October 1933 – 21 September 1990) was a Greek film director and screenwriter. He directed ten films between 1960 and 1980. Filmography * ''Sonia'' (1980) * '' Romantiko ...

* 1963 ''

Young Aphrodites ''Young Aphrodites'' ( el, Μικρές Αφροδίτες, Transliteration, translit. Mikres Afrodites) is a drama film of 1963 in film, 1963 directed by Nikos Koundouros based on a script of Vassilis Vassilikos. Plot In 200 BC, a nomadic g ...

'', Nikos Koundouros * 1963 '' The Red Lanterns'',

* 1964 ''

'',

, starring

* 1965 '' And the Wife Shall Revere Her Husband'', George Tzavellas * 1966 ''

Blood on the Land ''Blood on the Land'' ( el, Το χώμα βάφτηκε κόκκινο, To homa vaftike kokkino, The earth was painted red) is a 1966 Greek western drama film directed by Vasilis Georgiadis. Its subject is conflict between landowners and agricul ...

'',

* 1967 ''

Oi kyries tis avlis ''Oi kyries tis avlis'' ( el, Οι κυρίες της αυλής/ English: Ladies of the Courtyard) is a 1966 Greek film based on the theatrical play ''To ekto patoma'' (''Το έκτο πάτωμα'' = ''The Next Step''). It was made into a movi ...

'', Dinos Dimopoulos * 1968 ''

Girls in the Sun ''Girls in the Sun'' ( el, Κορίτσια στον Ήλιο, translit. ''Koritsia ston Ilio'') is a 1968 Greek drama film directed by Vasilis Georgiadis. The film was selected as the Greek entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the ...

'',

* 1970 ''

Ipolochagos Natassa ''Ipolochagos Natassa'' (Greek: ''Υπολοχαγός Νατάσσα'', ''Lieutenant Natasha'', also known outside Greece as ''Battlefield Constantinople'') is a 1970 Greek film. It starred Aliki Vougiouklaki as Natassa, Dimitris Papamichael as O ...

'',

Nikos Foskolos Nikos Foskolos ( el, Νίκος Φώσκολος; 26 November 1927 – 30 October 2013) was a Greek screenwriter and director. He is one of the most commercially successful screenwriters of Greek cinema. He has been called the "Goldfinger of com ...

(tickets record) * 1971 ''

What did you do in the war, Thanasi? ''What did you do in the war, Thanasis?'' ( el, Τι έκανες στον πόλεμο, Θανάση;, translit=Ti ekanes ston polemo, Thanasi?) is a 1971 Greek satirical drama film. It starred Thanasis Veggos as Thanasis, a poor labourer trying ...

'', Dinos Katsouridis, starring

Thanasis Veggos Thanasis Veggos (alternatively spelt Thanassis and/or Vengos; Greek: Θανάσης Βέγγος; pronounced: ''Thanássis Véngos''; 29 May 19273 May 2011) was a Greek actor and director born in Neo Faliro, Piraeus. He performed in around 130 film ...

* 1971 '' Evdokia'',

* 1971 ''

The Trojan Women ''The Trojan Women'' ( grc, Τρῳάδες, translit=Trōiades), also translated as ''The Women of Troy'', and also known by its transliterated Greek title ''Troades'', is a tragedy by the Greek playwright Euripides. Produced in 415 BC duri ...

'',

* 1972 ''

The Countess of Corfu ''The Countess of Corfu'' ( el, Η Κόμησσα Της Κέρκυρας, translit=I Komissa tis Kerkyras) is a 1972 film starring Rena Vlahopoulou, Alekos Alexandrakis and Nonika Galinea. The movie was filmed in Corfu, the birthplace of Rena Vl ...

'', starring

* 1972 '' Days of '36'',

* 1975 ''

'',

* 1977 ''

'',

Modern * 1981 ''

Learn How to Read and Write, Son ''Learn How to Read and Write, Son'' ( el, Μάθε παιδί μου γράμματα, translit=Mathe paidi mou grammata, italic=yes) is a 1981 Greek comedy film directed by Thodoros Maragos and starring Vasilis Diamantopoulos, Nikos Kalogeropou ...

'', Thodoros Maragos * 1983 ''

'',

* 1984 ''

Loafing and Camouflage ''Loafing and Camouflage'' ( el, Λούφα και Παραλλαγή, translit=Lufa kai Paralagi; 1984) is a Greek comedy film directed by Nikos Perakis. It was followed by the motion picture Living Dangerously (Greek language, Greek: :el:BIOS + ...

'',

Nikos Perakis Nikos Perakis ( el, Νίκος Περάκης; born 11 September 1944) is a Greece, Greek writer and film director. He studied at the Fine Arts Academy of Munich. At that time he worked as a set and costume designer. His 1984 film ''Loafing and C ...

* 1984 '' Voyage to Cythera'',

* 1985 '' Stone Years'',

* 1986 ''

The Beekeeper (film) ''The Beekeeper'' ( el, Ο Μελισσοκόμος, Transliteration, translit. ''O Melissokomos'') is a 1986 Greek drama art film directed by Theodoros Angelopoulos. The film is the second installment in Angelopoulos's "trilogy of silence", ...

'', Angelopoulos, starring

Marcello Mastroianni Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (28 September 1924 – 19 December 1996) was an Italian film actor, regarded as one of his country's most iconic male performers of the 20th century. He played leading roles for many of Italy's top di ...

* 1987 '' Doxobus'',

Fotos Lambrinos Fotos are a German indie rock band from Hamburg/ Cologne. History Fotos' first self-titled album was released through Labels (a Sublabel of EMI) on 29 September 2006. Fotos can be characterised as British-inspired indie rock in co ...

* 1988 ''

Landscape in the Mist ''Landscape in the Mist'' ( gr, Τοπίο στην ομίχλη, translit. ''Topio stin omichli'') is a 1988 Greek film directed by Theo Angelopoulos. The film was selected as the Greek entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd ...

'', Angelopoulos * 1991 ''

The Suspended Step of the Stork ''The Suspended Step of the Stork'' ( el, Το Mετέωρο Bήμα Tου Πελαργού, translit. ''To Meteoro Vima Tou Pelargou'') is a 1991 Greek film directed by Theodoros Angelopoulos. It was entered into the 1991 Cannes Film Festi ...

'',

, starring

* 1995 ''

Ulysses' Gaze ''Ulysses' Gaze'' (, translit. ''To Vlemma tou Odyssea'') is a 1995 Greek film directed by Theo Angelopoulos and starring Harvey Keitel, Maia Morgenstern, and Erland Josephson. The film was selected as the Greek entry for the Best Foreign L ...

'',

* 1998 '' Eternity and a Day'',

* 1998 ''

'', Reppas-Papathanasiou * 1999 ''

Peppermint (1999 film) ''Peppermint'' is a 1999 Greek film directed by Costas Kapakas. It was Greece's submission to the 73rd Academy Awards for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but was not accepted as a nominee. Plot Old schoolmates attend a reunion ...

'', Kostas Kapakas * 2003 ''

'', Tasos Boulmetis, starring

Georges Corraface Georges Corraface ( el, Γιώργος Χωραφάς, ''Giórgos Chorafás'';) is a French actor of Greek descent, born on December 7, 1952 in Paris, France. He performed in film and television, following many years in French theatre, notab ...

* 2004 ''

'',

* 2007 ''

'',

* 2007 ''Tale 57,'' Alexis Alexiou *2009 '' Dogtooth'',

* 2009 '' Strella'', Panos H. Koutras * 2010 ''

'', Athina Rachel Tsangari * 2010 ''

,''

*2011 ''

,''

*2011 ''

'',

*2011 ''Wasted Youth,'' Argyris Papadimitropoulos and Jan Vogel *2012 '' L,'' Babis Makridis *2012 ''

,'' Ektoras Lygizos * 2013 '' Little England'',

* 2013 ''

'',

*2014 ''

Stratos Stratos may refer to: People As surname *Andreas Stratos (1905–1981), Greek politician and historian *Demetrio Stratos (1945–1979), Italian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and music researcher * Nikolaos Stratos (1872–1922), Greek politici ...

,'' Yannis Economidis *2014 '' Xenia,'' Panos H. Koutras *2014 ''

,''

*2015 '' Ouzeri Tsitsanis'',

Manousos Manousakis Manousos Manousakis ( el, Μανούσος ΜανουσάκηςΜανουσάκης, Albanian: Manush Manushaqja) is a well-known Greek director, producer, writer and actor. He was born in Athens, Greece on 14 January 1950. He studied at the Lon ...

* 2015 '' Chevalier'', Athina Rachel Tsangari *2015 ''Interruption,'' Yorgos Zois *2015 '' Wednesday 04:45,'' Alexis Alexiou *2016 '' Suntan,'' Argyris Papadimitropoulos *2017 ''Son of Sofia,'' Elina Psykou *2018 ''

Pity Pity is a sympathetic sorrow evoked by the suffering of others, and is used in a comparable sense to ''compassion'', ''condolence'' or ''empathy'' – the word deriving from the Latin ''pietas'' (etymon also of ''piety''). Self-pity is pity ...

,'' Babis Makridis *2019 ''Eftychia,'' Angelos Frantzis *2019 '' The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea,'' Syllas Tzoumerkas *2021 ''

,'' Jacqueline Lentzou *2021 ''Monday,'' Argyris Papadimitropoulos

Notable musicals

* 1963 ''

Merikoi to protimoun kryo ''Merikoi to protimoun kryo'' (Greek: el, Μερικοί το προτιμούν κρύο) translations: Some Like it Cool is a 1963 Greek comedy film directed by Giannis Dalianidis. Lakis (Dinos Iliopoulos), Rena ( Rena Vlachopoulou), Eva ( Z ...

'' (Some Like it Cold),

* 1964 ''

Something Is Burning Something is Burning ( el, Κάτι να καίει) is a 1964 Greek musical film directed by Giannis Dalianidis. Cast * Dinos Iliopoulos – ''Dinos Exarhopoulos'' * Rena Vlahopoulou – ''Sofia Frantzi'' * Martha Karagianni – ''Rena'' * Hlo ...

'', Dalianidis * 1965 ''

Kiss the Girls (1965 film) ''Kiss the Girls'' ( el, Κορίτσια για φίλημα, translit=Koritsia gia filima, italic=yes) is a Greek film produced by Finos Film in 1965. It is written and directed by Giannis Dalianidis. The lead Rena (Rena Vlachopoulou), a man ...

'',

* 1967 ''

Oi Thalassies oi Hadres ''Oi Thalassies oi Hadres'' ( el, Οι Θαλασσιές οι Χάντρες, ''The Blue Beads'') is a 1967 Greek musical film, directed by Giannis Dalianidis and starring Zoe Laskari, Kostas Voutsas, Martha Karagianni, Faidon Georgitsis, Giannis ...

'',

* 1968 '' Gorgones kai Mages'', Dalianidis

Filming, distribution companies and studios

Past

* Athina Film * Asty Films * Dag Films * Astra Film * Hero Films (Greek: Ἡρώ) * Olympia Films * Anzervos * Spentzos Films * Klak Film

Current

(operates its own studios), founded by the major figure of

* Karagiannis Karatzopoulos * Novak Films (operates own studios) * Madbox Entertainment (operates its own studios) * Village Films Hellas (Greek branch of Village Roadshow) * Haos Film, founded by Athina Rachel Tsangari *Heretic (production company and sales agent) *Neda Films (production company) *Blonde (production company) *Homemade Films (production company) * Cinegram * Odeon Hellas * Make a Movie in Greece/Media Productions * Audiovisual (biggest distributor) * Karamanos Studios (biggest studios in Greece) * The new studios of

Nu Boyana Film Studios Nu Boyana Film Studios ( bg, Ню Бояна Филм) are film studios situated in Sofia, Bulgaria. The film production complex was opened in 1962 and was state owned until 2005 when it was bought by one of the longest-running independent film c ...

(

Nu Image Millennium Media, formerly Nu Image, is an American film studio that was founded by Avi Lerner, Trevor Short, Danny Dimbort, and Danny Lerner in 1992 and is one of Hollywood's longest running independent film companies. Millennium creates, produ ...

) will open inside 2020 in the area of Thessaloniki

Producers

* Prodromos Meravidis

Renowned figures

Directors

Alexis Alexiou Alexandros "Alexis" Alexiou ( el, Αλέξανδρος "Αλέξης" Αλεξίου; born 8 September 1963) is a Greek former footballer and manager. He played for Apollon Kalamarias, Olympiacos Olympiacós Sýndesmos Filáthlon Peiraiós ...

* George Pan Cosmatos *

* Dinos Dimopoulos *

Costa Gavras Costa-Gavras (short for Konstantinos Gavras; el, Κωνσταντίνος Γαβράς; born 12 February 1933) is a Greek-French film director, screenwriter, and producer who lives and works in France. He is known for films with political and s ...

Constantine Giannaris Constantine Giannaris, also Constantinos Giannaris ( el, Κωνσταντίνος Γιάνναρης; born 1959), is a Greek film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or sc ...

* Dinos Katsouridis * Kostas Karagiannis * Panos H. Koutras * Nikos Koundouros *

* Orestis Laskos *

Tonia Marketaki Tonia Marketaki ( el, Τώνια Μαρκετάκη; 28 July 1942 – 26 July 1994) was a Greek film director and screenwriter. She was born in Pireas and spent many of her childhood years in the Zografou district of Athens. Her maternal o ...

Kostas Manoussakis Kostas Manoussakis ( el, Κώστας Μανουσάκης; January 1929 – 26 August 2005) was a Greek film director and screenwriter. His 1964 film ''Treason'' was entered into the 1965 Cannes Film Festival and his 1966 film '' The Fear' ...

* Thodoros Maragos *

Nico Mastorakis Nico Mastorakis ( el, Νίκος Μαστοράκης; born 28 April 1941 in Athens, Greece) is a Greek filmmaker and radio producer. He is probably best known for his 1973 live interview of 17 arrested Greek students, which happened without their ...

* Prodromos Meravidis *

Vassilis Photopoulos Vassilis Photopoulos ( el, Βασίλης Φωτόπουλος) (1934, Kalamata – 14 January 2007, Athens, Greece) was an influential Greek painter, film director, art director and set designer. He was an Academy Award winner for the film ''Zorb ...

Maria Plyta Maria Plyta (27 November 1915 – 4 March 2006) was a Greek screenwriter and film director.Karalis p.60 Selected filmography * ''The She-Wolf (1951 film), The She-Wolf'' (1951) * ''Eva (1953 film), Eva'' (1953) * ''The Duchess of Plakendia'' (195 ...

Spiros Stathoulopoulos Spiros Stathoulopoulos ( el, Σπύρος Σταθουλόπουλος; born 1978) is a Greek-Colombian film director best known for the uncut cult film '' PVC-1'' (2007) and ''Meteora'' (2012). '' PVC-1'' competed for the Camera d'Or at the 60t ...

* Stelios Tatasopoulos * Athina Rachel Tsangari *

Giorgos Tzavellas George Tzavellas, also rendered Giorgos Tzavellas, Yiorgos Tzavellas, or Yorgos Javellas ( el, Γιώργος Τζαβέλλας, 1916, Athens – October 18, 1976), was a Greek film director, screenwriter, and playwright. His filmmaking was particu ...

* Takis Vougiouklakis *

Screenwriters

Efthymis Filippou Efthymis Filippou ( gr, Ευθύμης Φιλίππου, ; born 18 January 1977) is a Greek screenwriter, known for his collaborations with Yorgos Lanthimos. He was the winner of the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay at the 68th Veni ...

* Thanos Leivaditis *

Petros Markaris Petros Márkaris ( el, Πέτρος Μάρκαρης; born 1 January 1937 in Istanbul) is a Greek-Armenian writer of detective novels starring the grumpy Athenian police investigator Costas Haritos. Biography The son of an Armenian entrepreneu ...

* Dimitris Psathas *

Mimis Traiforos Mimis Traiforos ( el, Μίμης Τραϊφόρος; 15 October 1913, in Piraeus – 26 March 1998, in Athens) was a Greek writer and lyricist. In 1934 he collaborated as an actor with Attik and later in 1940 with singer Sofia Vembo, his futur ...

Actors

Alekos Alexandrakis Alekos Alexandrakis ( el, Αλέκος Αλεξανδράκης; 27 November 1928 – 8 November 2005) was a famous Greece, Greek actor. He was known for his theatrical work as well as work in film and television. He died of lung cancer. Alexa ...

Cybele Andrianou Cybele ( el, Κυβέλη) (13 July 1888 – 26 May 1978) was the stage name of the famous Greek actress Cybele Andrianou ( el, Κυβέλη Ανδριανού). She was born on 13 July 1888 to an unmarried couple in Smyrna and spent the first ...

* Beata Asimakopoulou * Vasilis Avlonitis *

Andreas Barkoulis Andreas Barkoulis ( el, Ανδρέας Μπάρκουλης; 4 August 1936 – 23 August 2016) was a Greek actor. He was among the most popular male actors of the 1950s and 1960s in Greece. He was considered such a heartthrob that a popular expres ...

* Vasilis Diamantopoulos *

Lavrentis Dianellos Lavrentis Dianellos (Greek: Λαυρέντης Διανέλλος; 1911 – 16 September 1978) was a Greek actor. From 1948 to 1975, he appeared in 200 films, leading one reviewer to call him "ubiquitous." Indicative filmography * ''The Germans ...

Chronis Exarhakos Hronis Exarhakos ( el, Χρόνης Εξαρχάκος; 18 January 1932 – 27 September 1984) was a Greek actor. Biography He was born in 1932 in Ermoupoli on Syros. He studied at Pelos Katselis's school. He entered in 1963 and performed his ...

* Spiros Focás *

Mimis Fotopoulos Dimitris "Mimis" Fotopoulos ( el, Δημήτρης (Μίμης) Φωτόπουλος; 8 April 1913 – 29 October 1986) was a Greek actor, writer, poet, and artist. He was born in Zatouna, Gortynia, Arcadia. He studied at the Dramatic School of ...

* Giorgos Fountas * Petros Fyssoun * Giorgos Gavriilidis *

Katerina Gogou Katerina Gogou ( el, Κατερίνα Γώγου; 1940–1993) was a Greek poet, author and actress. Early life From the age of 5 years she started playing in children's plays. However she did not spend pleasant childhood years due to the Seco ...

* Dinos Iliopoulos *

Xenia Kalogeropoulou Xenia Kalogeropoulou ( el, Ξένια Καλογεροπούλου; born September 12, 1936) is a Greek actress, who appeared in both Greek and English-speaking films in her career. With her career, spanning six decades, she has appeared in over ...

Kostas Karras Kostas Karras ( el, Κώστας Καρράς ) (21 June 1936 – 6 May 2012) was a Greek actor and politician. Biography Karras was born in Athens and trained as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the drama school ...

Martha Karagianni Martha Karagianni ( el, Μάρθα Καραγιάννη; 6 November 1939 – 18 September 2022) was a Greek film actress. She was born in Athens, but raised in Keratsini. She was one of the most popular Greek actresses of the 1960s. She starred ...

Tzeni Karezi Tzeni Karezi ( el, Τζένη Καρέζη, 12 January 1932 – 26 July 1992); also known as Jenny Karezi, was a Greek film and stage actress. Biography Early life Evgenia Karpouzi was born in Athens, Greece, to a mathematician father and ...

* Manos Katrakis *

Tasso Kavadia Anastasia (Tasso) Kavadia ( el, Τασσώ Καββαδία; 10 January 1921 – 18 December 2010) was a Greek film and television actress. Biography Kavadia was born on 10 January 1921 in Patras. She studied piano in Athens, writing and ...

Kostas Kazakos Kostas Kazakos ( el, Κώστας Καζάκος, alt. sp. Costas Kazakos; 29 May 1935 – 13 September 2022) was a Greek actor, television director, and politician. He was married to the famous actress Tzeni Karezi for 24 years until her dea ...

Lambros Konstantaras Lambros Konstantaras (13 March 1913 – 28 June 1985) was a Greek film actor. He appeared in 80 films between 1940 and 1981. He was born and died in Athens. Biography He was born in 1913, in Kolonaki, Athens. He studied acting in Paris an ...

Giorgos Konstantinou Giorgos Konstadinou ( el, Γιώργος Κωνσταντίνου; born October 27, 1934 in Vathi, Athens) is a Greek actor, writer, and director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Direc ...

Maro Kontou Maro Kontou ( gr, Μάρω Κοντού; born 21 June 1934) is a Greek actress and politician. She performed in more than sixty films since 1954. Selected filmography References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kontou, Maro 1934 births ...

Marika Kotopouli Marika Kotopouli ( el, Μαρίκα Κοτοπούλη; 3 May 1887 – 11 September 1954) was a Greek stage actress during the first half of the 20th century. Biography Kotopouli was born on 3 May 1887 in Athens to actor parents, Dimitrios Ko ...

Nikos Kourkoulos Nikos Kourkoulos ( el, Νίκος Κούρκουλος; December 5, 1934 in Athens, Greece – January 30, 2007) was a highly respected Greek theatrical and film performer, one of the most talented and recognizable actors in Greece of modern time ...

* Marika Krevata * Ellie Lambeti *

Zoe Laskari Zoe Laskari ( el, Ζωή Λάσκαρη, ; 12 December 1942 – 18 August 2017) was a Greek film and stage actress. Life Zoe Laskari was born Zoe Kouroukli in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 12 December 1942—not 1943 or 1944, as had been misreported ...

Ilya Livykou Ilya Livykou or Ilia Livykou ( el, Ίλυα Λιβυκού; 1919 in Heraklio – 6 September 2002 in Athens, Greece) was a Greek actress, a partner with Vassilis Logothetidis. Her real name was Amalia Hatzaki or Hadjaki (Αμαλία Χατζ� ...

* Orestis Makris *

Alexis Minotis Alexis Minotis (; born Alexandros Minotakis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Μινωτάκης); 8 August 1900 – 11 November 1990) was a Greek actor and director. He first appeared on stage in his native Crete as Chorus Leader and later as Messeng ...

Vangelis Mourikis Vangelis Mourikis ( el, Βαγγέλης Μουρίκης) is a Greek film actor. He has appeared in more than thirty films since 1982. He studied in Australia where he did his first works. In 1990s he returned to Greece and devoted himself to ind ...

* Sotiris Moustakas *

Elena Nathanael Elena Nathanael ( Greek: Έλενα Ναθαναήλ, January 19, 1947 – March 4, 2008) was a Greek film actress. Biography Early life Elena Nathanael was born Eleni Delivassili-Nathanael, in Nea Filadelfeia, a town near Athens, to a well-off ...

* Christoforos Nezer *

Marika Nezer Marika Nezer ( el, Μαρίκα Νέζερ; 1906 – 18 July 1989) was a Greek actress. She was the daughter of Konstantinos Nezer, brother of Christoforos Nezer (1903–1996) and cousin of Christoforos Nezer (1887–1970) and granddaughter o ...

Sapfo Notara Sapfo Notara ( el, Σαπφώ Νοταρά; born Sapfo Chandanou (Σαπφώ Χανδάνου), c. 1907 – June 11, 1985) was a Greek actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs " ...

Makis Papadimitriou Makis Papadimitriou ( el, Μάκης Παπαδημητρίου) is a Greek actor. He has appeared in more than thirty films since 2003. Selected filmography References External links * Year of birth missing (living people) Living ...

* Dimitris Papamichael *

* Dionyssis Papayannopoulos *

Angeliki Papoulia Angeliki Papoulia ( gr, Αγγελική Παπούλια; born 1975) is a Greek actress and theatre director. In film, she is most notable for her roles in ''Dogtooth'', ''Alps'' and ''The Lobster'' by Yorgos Lanthimos, and ''A Blast'' and '' ...

Stavros Paravas Stavros Paravas ( el, Σταύρος Παράβας; April 15, 1935 – September 15, 2008) was a Greek actor. Biography He was born on April 15, 1935 in the Athens neighborhood of Tourkovounia. His parents were poor refugees from Asia Minor, a ...

Daphne Patakia Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in whi ...

Vangelis Protopapas Vangelis Protopappas ( el, Βαγγέλης Πρωτοπαππάς; 1917 – 21 May 1995) was a Greek actor from Messolongi. He is most known for his roles in ''A Hero in His Slippers'', '' Santa Chikita'' and ''The Counterfeit Coin''. He later ...

Nikos Rizos Nikos Rizos ( el, Νίκος Ρίζος; 30 September 1924, in Peta – 20 April 1999, in Athens) was a Greek actor. He took part in many Greek comedies in cinema. He and his wife Elsa had one son. Career Rizos began his career with ''Anthropo ...

* Yvonne Sanson * Georges Sari *

Nikos Stavridis Nikos Stavridis ( el, Νίκος Σταυρίδης; 1910 – 14 December 1987) was a Greek actor in film and theater. Biography He started his career at a musical theatre, he participated in shows, operettas and varieties. In the 1940s, he b ...

Smaro Stefanidou Smaro Stefanidou ( el, Σμάρω Στεφανίδου; 9 April 1913 – 7 November 2010) was a Greek theatre, film, television and radio actress. Biography Her family's origin is from Asia Minor. She graduated from Business School in Athe ...

Stefanos Stratigos Stefanos Stratigos ( el, Στέφανος Στρατηγός; 1923 – April 6, 2006) was a Greek actor in film and television. Biography He was born in Athens in 1923 and was the son of the actors Vasileios and Amalia Stratigos. His sisters we ...

Anna Synodinou Anna Synodinou (Greek: Άννα Συνοδινού; 21 November 1927 – 7 January 2016) was a Greek actress and politician. Born in Loutraki, she studied at the National Theatre of Greece Drama School. She mainly excelled in ancient drama and ...

Christos Tsaganeas Christos Tsaganeas ( el, Χρήστος Τσαγανέας; 2 July 1906 – 2 July 1976) was a Greek actor and a cinematographer. Biography Tsaganeas was born in Brăila, Romania. He starred in several movies, his most famous role being the col ...

Nitsa Tsaganea Nitsa Tsaganea ( el, Νίτσα Τσαγανέα; 17 February 1902 – 30 April 2002) was a Greek actress of theatre and film. Biography Eleni Laskari was the second wife of actor Christos Tsaganeas Christos Tsaganeas ( el, Χρήστος Τ ...

Vasilis Tsivilikas Vasilis Tsivilikas ( Thessaloniki, January 17, 1942 – Athens, February 29, 2012) was a Greek comedy actor with significant appearances in the Greek film industry, television and especially theater. Biography He was born on January 17, 19 ...

Nora Valsami Nora Valsami ( el, Νόρα Βαλσάμη, born 24 January 1948) is a Greek film and theatre actress. Life and career Nora Valsami was born in Cairo, Egypt. Her first stage appearance was in a 1965 production of Aristophanes' tragedy Ecclesi ...

Titos Vandis Titos Vandis ( el, Τίτος Βανδής; 7 November 1917 – 23 February 2003) was a Greek actor. Biography Vandis began his career on the Greek stage in the late 1930s. In 1962, he won the Best Actor award for the film ''Poliorkia'' at ...

* Aimilios Veakis *

* Georgia Vasileiadou * Sofia Vembo *

Rena Vlahopoulou Irene "Rena" Vlahopoulou (Greek: Ειρήνη (Ρένα) Βλαχοπούλου; 28 July 1917 – 29 July 2004) was a Greek actress and singer. She starred in theatre, musical, and Greek cinema productions, including ''The Gambler'' and '' Th ...

Giannis Voglis Giannis Voglis ( el, Γιάννης Βόγλης; 30 September 1937 – 20 April 2016) was a Greek actor. Biography Voglis was born in Athens and he studied at Pelos Katselis' drama academy. His father was from Asia Minor and his mother from ...

* Aliki Vougiouklaki *

Kostas Voutsas Kostas Voutsas ( el, Κώστας Βουτσάς; born Konstantinos Savvopoulos ( el, Κωνσταντίνος Σαββόπουλος; 31 December 1931 – 26 February 2020) was a Greece, Greek actor, director, and writer. Personal life Vouts ...

* Sperantza Vrana *

Eleni Zafeiriou Eleni Zafeiriou ( el, Ελένη Ζαφειρίου, 1916 – 2 September 2004) was a Greek film actress. She appeared in 108 films between 1951 and 1996. She was born in Larissa, Greece, and died in Athens. Filmography In film * ''Bitter ...

Pantelis Zervos Pantelis Zervos ( el, Παντελής Ζερβός, Born 1908 in Loutraki – January 22, 1982 in Athens) was a Greek theatrical and a film actor. Biography Zervos was born in Loutraki near Corinth in Perachora. He attended the Art Theatre ...

Directors of photography

Giorgos Arvanitis Giorgos (or Yorgos) Arvanitis ( el, Γιώργος Αρβανίτης; born February 22, 1941) is a Greek cinematographer. Life Arvanitis was born in the village of Dilofo, Phthiotis, Greece. Having received an education as an electrician in t ...

Scenographers

Yannis Tsarouchis Yannis Tsarouchis ( el, Γιάννης Τσαρούχης; 13 January 1910 – 20 July 1989) was a Greek modernist painter and set designer who achieved international fame, and was "known in particular for his homoerotic subjects," including sold ...

Film score composers

Kostas Giannidis Ioannis Constantinidis (Greek: Ιωάννης Κωνσταντινίδης), also known by the pen name Kostas Giannidis ( el, Κώστας Γιαννίδης) (21 August 1903 – 17 January 1984) was a Greek composer, pianist and conductor.Nina ...

* Manos Hatzidakis (''notable: Stella, Never on Sunday,

, Htipokardia sto thranio'') * Kostas Kapnisis *

Eleni Karaindrou Eleni Karaindrou ( el, Ελένη Καραΐνδρου, born 25 November 1941) is a Greek composer. She is best known for scoring the films of the Greek director Theo Angelopoulos. Biography Karaindrou moved with her family to Athens when she wa ...

(''notable: Eternity and a Day'') *

Giorgos Katsaros Giorgos Katsaros ( el, Γιώργος Κατσαρός) (born on 7 March 1934 in Corfu) is a famous Greek musician and songwriter. He plays the alto saxophone. He has made a variety of recordings, collaborating amongst others with Greek musical ...

Loukianos Kilaidonis Loukianos Kilaidonis (: 15 July 1943 – 7 February 2017) was a Greek composer, songwriter and singer. Biography Kilaidonis was born at Kypseli, Athens. He studied at the Lycée Léonin of Patissia. He then studied architecture at the Aristotle ...

(''notable:

'') * Manos Loïzos (''notable: Evdokia'') *

Yannis Markopoulos Yannis Markopoulos ( el, Γιάννης Μαρκόπουλος; born 18 March 1939) is a Greek composer. Biography Early life and education Yannis Markopoulos was born in 1939 in Heraklion, Crete. From one of the old families of the island— ...

Giorgos Mouzakis Giorgos Muzakis ( el, Γιώργος Μουζάκης, Athens, 15 August 1922 – 27 August 2005) was a prominent Greek virtuoso trumpeter and music composer. Career Born in Metaxourgeio, Mouzakis performed first as a trumpeter in 1938, recordin ...

Vangelis Papathanassiou Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou ( el, Ευάγγελος Οδυσσέας Παπαθανασίου ; 29 March 1943 – 17 May 2022), known professionally as Vangelis ( ; el, Βαγγέλης, links=no ), was a Greek composer and arranger of ...

(''notable:

'') *

Mimis Plessas Mimis Plessas ( el, Μίμης Πλέσσας; born 12 October 1924) is a Greek composer born in Athens. He began his career in 1952 and has written music for over 100 films, television and radio programs, and theatrical events. He has worked wit ...

(''notable:

What Did You Do in the War, Thanasi? ''What did you do in the war, Thanasis?'' ( el, Τι έκανες στον πόλεμο, Θανάση;, translit=Ti ekanes ston polemo, Thanasi?) is a 1971 Greek satirical drama film. It starred Thanasis Veggos as Thanasis, a poor labourer trying ...

'') *

Michalis Souyioul Michail Sougioultzoglou ( gr, Μιχαήλ Σουγιουλτζόγλου ; 1 August 1906 – 16 October 1958), known professionally as Michalis Souyioul ( gr, Μιχάλης Σουγιούλ ) was a prominent Greek composer of light music ...

Stamatis Spanoudakis Stamatis Spanoudakis - Σταμάτης Σπανουδάκης (born 11 December 1948 in Athens, Greece) is a modern Greek classical composer. Early on he studied classical guitar. He went through a rock music phase, but then continued classical ...

Mikis Theodorakis Michail "Mikis" Theodorakis ( el, Μιχαήλ "Μίκης" Θεοδωράκης ; 29 July 1925 – 2 September 2021) was a Greek composer and lyricist credited with over 1,000 works. He scored for the films ''Zorba the Greek'' (1964), '' Z'' ...

(''notable:

, Z,

'') * Stavros Xarchakos (''notable: The Red Lanterns,

'') *

Giorgos Zambetas Giorgos Zampetas (Pronounced 'Zabetas', el, Γιώργος Ζαμπέτας, sometimes romanized as George Zambetas / George Zabetas / Giorgos Zabetas; 25 January 1925 – 10 March 1992) was a Greek bouzouki musician. He was born and died in A ...

References

Bibliography

* Dimitris Koliodimos, ''The Greek filmography, 1914 through 1996'' (vols. 1 and 2), Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 1999. * ''Journal of Modern Greek Studies'' 18.1, May 2000, Special Issue: "Greek Film." * Vrasidas Karalis, ''A History of Greek Cinema'', Continuum, 2012.

External links

Madbox Entertainment - Film production company and studios and postproduction

myFILM.gr - Entertainment news and movie reviews (Greek)

* ttps://web.archive.org/web/20080511001019/http://90lepta.com/ Database of Greek films
greek-movies.com

Greek movies, tv series and shows database.

Make a Movie in Greece - media productions in Greece

Various movie theatres in GreeceVideo of Peter Yiannoudes, who established Greek Cinema in Victoria, Australia in the 1950s
on Culture Victoria {{Europe in topic, Cinema of Greek culture

History of the Greek cinema

Origins

The Golden Age (modern period)

Postmodern period

Notable films

Notable musicals

Filming, distribution companies and studios

Past

Current

Producers

Renowned figures

Directors

Screenwriters

Actors

Directors of photography

Scenographers

Film score composers

See also

References

Bibliography

External links