Giorgos Arvanitis
Encyclopedia
Giorgos Arvanitis (born February 22, 1941) is a Greek
cinematographer
.
, Greece. Having received an education as an electrician in the construction sector, he started working in the movies business in his early 20s, advancing from 2nd camera assistant to finally become a director of photography.
, having worked on many films produced by Finos Films
. In 1968, he worked one the Theo Angelopoulos
's first short film Εκπομπή (Broadcast). Since then, he has worked in every single on of Angelopoulos' movies, including award-winning Eternity and a Day
(Palme d'or
, Cannes
1998), except for the very last trilogy he is currently shooting (The Weeping Meadow - trilogy).
During his career, his has worked with some of the greatest Greek directors such as Dinos Katsouridis, Pantelis Voulgaris
, Michael Cacoyannis (Iphigenia
(1977) with Irene Papas
), Jules Dassin
(Cri de femmes (1978) with Melina Mercouri
). In 1989, he moved to France with his wife and three sons looking for a brighter future at a time when the total number of Greek movies was in decline. The same year, he received the Osella for Best Cinematography at the Venice International Film Festival for the movie Australia directed by Jean-Jacques Adrien. Since then he has worked with directors such as Volker Schlöndorff
(Homo Faber (1991)), Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
, Marco Bellochio (Il sogno della farfalla for which he received the Best Photography prize at the Gramado
in 1994), Goran Paskaljevic
(Someone Else’s America (1994)), Marco Ferreri, Bruno Podalydès, Agnieszka Holland
(Total Eclipse with Leonardo DiCaprio
), Amos Gitai
, Nikos Panayiotopoulos and the very controversial Catherine Breillat
.
He is a member of the Association Française des directeurs de la photographie Cinématographique.
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
.
Life
Arvanitis was born in the village of DilofoDilofo
Dilofo or Dilofos , may refer to several places in Greece:*Dilofos, a village in the Evros Prefecture*Dilofo, Ioannina, a village in the Ioannina Prefecture, in the municipality Central Zagori...
, Greece. Having received an education as an electrician in the construction sector, he started working in the movies business in his early 20s, advancing from 2nd camera assistant to finally become a director of photography.
Career
Arvanitis has been an important figure in the Greek film industryCinema of Greece
Greece has a long and rich cinematic history. Greek films dominate the domestic market, for example Safe Sex had more box office receipts than Titanic. Characteristics of Greek cinema include a dynamic plot, strong character development and erotic themes...
, having worked on many films produced by Finos Films
Finos Films
Finos Film is a film production company that dominated the Greek film industry from 1943 to 1977. It was founded by Philopemen Finos in 1942 during World War II. It was the biggest film production company in Greece at the time and one of the biggest, in terms of productivity, in south east Europe...
. In 1968, he worked one the Theo Angelopoulos
Theo Angelopoulos
Theodoros Angelopoulos is a Greek filmmaker, screenwriter and film producer.-Life:Angelopoulos studied law at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, but after his military service went to Paris to attend the Sorbonne. He soon dropped out to study film at the IDHEC before returning...
's first short film Εκπομπή (Broadcast). Since then, he has worked in every single on of Angelopoulos' movies, including award-winning Eternity and a Day
Eternity and a Day
Eternity and a Day is a 1998 Greek film starring Bruno Ganz, and directed by Theo Angelopoulos. The film won the Palme d'Or and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
(Palme d'or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
, Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
1998), except for the very last trilogy he is currently shooting (The Weeping Meadow - trilogy).
During his career, his has worked with some of the greatest Greek directors such as Dinos Katsouridis, Pantelis Voulgaris
Pantelis Voulgaris
Pantelis Voulgaris is a Greek film director and screenwriter. His 1989 film The Striker with Number 9 was entered into the 39th Berlin International Film Festival...
, Michael Cacoyannis (Iphigenia
Iphigenia (film)
Iphigenia is a 1977 Greek film directed by Michael Cacoyannis, based on the Greek myth of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra who was ordered by the goddess Artemis to be sacrificed...
(1977) with Irene Papas
Irene Papas
Irene Papas is a Greek actress and occasional singer, who has starred in over seventy films in a career spanning more than fifty years.-Life:...
), Jules Dassin
Jules Dassin
Julius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
(Cri de femmes (1978) with Melina Mercouri
Melina Mercouri
Melina Mercouri , born as Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer and politician.As an actress she made her film debut in Stella and met international success with her performances in Never on Sunday, Phaedra, Topkapi and Promise at Dawn...
). In 1989, he moved to France with his wife and three sons looking for a brighter future at a time when the total number of Greek movies was in decline. The same year, he received the Osella for Best Cinematography at the Venice International Film Festival for the movie Australia directed by Jean-Jacques Adrien. Since then he has worked with directors such as Volker Schlöndorff
Volker Schlöndorff
Volker Schlöndorff is a Berlin-based German filmmaker who has worked in Germany, France and the United States...
(Homo Faber (1991)), Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Dardenne brothers
Brothers Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne are a Belgian filmmaking duo...
, Marco Bellochio (Il sogno della farfalla for which he received the Best Photography prize at the Gramado
Festival de Gramado
The Gramado Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in the Brazilian city of Gramado, Rio Grande do Sul, since 1973. Since 1992 it also gives awards to Latin American films produced outside Brazil...
in 1994), Goran Paskaljevic
Goran Paskaljevic
Goran Paskaljević is a Serbian film director. He was raised by his grandparents in Niš, following the divorce of his parents, and 14 years later returned to Belgrade where he worked in his stepfather's cinema....
(Someone Else’s America (1994)), Marco Ferreri, Bruno Podalydès, Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland
Agnieszka Holland is a Polish film and TV director and screenwriter. Best recognized for her highly political contributions to Polish cinema, Holland is one of Poland's most prominent filmmakers.-Personal life:...
(Total Eclipse with Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...
), Amos Gitai
Amos Gitai
Amos Gitai , born 11 October 1950 in Haifa, Israel, is an Israeli filmmaker and director. He is mainly known for making documentaries and experimental / minimalist feature films...
, Nikos Panayiotopoulos and the very controversial Catherine Breillat
Catherine Breillat
Catherine Breillat is a French filmmaker, novelist and Professor of Auteur Cinema at the European Graduate School.-Life and career:Breillat was born in Bressuire, Deux-Sèvres, but grew up in Niort...
.
He is a member of the Association Française des directeurs de la photographie Cinématographique.
International awards and honours
He has received numerous prizes for his work including (non-exhaustive list):- Thessaloniki Film Festival, Greek cinema awards, Best photography for NyfesNyfesNyfes is a 2004 Greek film directed by Pantelis Voulgaris. The film stars Victoria Haralabidou and Damian Lewis, and the photography is by Giorgos Arvanitis. Set in 1922, is the story of a mail order bride, one of 700, aboard the SS King Alexander, who falls in love with an American photographer...
(2004), Doxombous (1988), Mia toso makrini apousia (1985), O ThiassosThe Travelling PlayersThe Travelling Players is a 1975 Greek film directed by Theo Angelopoulos that traces the history of mid-20th century Greece from 1939 to 1952.-Plot:...
(1974), Meres tou 36 (1972), Anaparastassi (1970) - Golden Bayard at the Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film for Faraw! (1997)
- Nomination for the Camerimage Golden Grog for 'Ulysses' GazeUlysses' GazeUlysses' Gaze is a 1995 Greek film directed by Theo Angelopoulos. The actor Gian Maria Volonté died during the filming. He was replaced by Erland Josephson.-Plot:...
' (1995) and for Eternity and a DayEternity and a DayEternity and a Day is a 1998 Greek film starring Bruno Ganz, and directed by Theo Angelopoulos. The film won the Palme d'Or and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival.-Plot:...
together with Andreas Sinanos (1998) - Golden Kikito at the Gramado Film Festival for Il Sogno della farfalla (1994)
- Osella for Best Cinematography at the Venice Film FestivalVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
(Mostra Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica) for AustraliaAustralia (1989 film)-Cast:* Fanny Ardant as Jeanne Gauthier* Jeremy Irons as Edouard Pierson* Tchéky Karyo as Julien Pierson* Agnès Soral as Agnès Deckers* Hélène Surgère as Odette Pierson* Maxime Laloux as François Gauthier* Patrick Bauchau as André Gauthier...
(1989) - Best Photography award, Chicago Film Festival for Topio stin omichli (1988)