Nikos Koundouros
Encyclopedia
Nikos Koundouros is a Greek
film director
, born in Agios Nikolaos
, Crete
in 1926.
He studied painting
and sculpture
at the Athens School of Fine Arts
, and was later exiled because of his political beliefs to the Makronissos island. At the age of 28 he decided to follow a career in cinematography
. He started his career as a director
of the film Magiki Polis (1954), where he combined his neorealism
influences with his own artistic viewpoint. He cast Thanasis Veggos, who he had met at Makronissos, as one of the characters in Magiki Polis. After the release of his complex and innovative film O Drakos
, he found acceptance as a prominent artist in Greece
and Europe
, and acquired important awards in various international and Greek film festivals. His 1963 film Young Aphrodites won the Silver Bear for Best Director
at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, born in Agios Nikolaos
Agios Nikolaos, Crete
Agios Nikolaos is a coastal town on the Greek island of Crete, lying east of the island's capital Heraklion, north of the town of Ierapetra and west of the town of Sitia. In the year 2000, the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, which takes in part of the surrounding villages, claimed around 19,000...
, Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
in 1926.
He studied painting
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
at the Athens School of Fine Arts
Athens School of Fine Arts
The Athens School of Fine Arts , is Greece's premier art school whose main objective is to develop the artistic talents of its students.-History:Athens School of Fine Arts was established on 12 January 1837, known as the School for the Arts...
, and was later exiled because of his political beliefs to the Makronissos island. At the age of 28 he decided to follow a career in cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
. He started his career as a director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of the film Magiki Polis (1954), where he combined his neorealism
Neorealism (art)
In art, neorealism was established by the ex-Camden Town Group painters Charles Ginner and Harold Gilman at the beginning of World War I. They set out to explore the spirit of their age through the shapes and colours of daily life...
influences with his own artistic viewpoint. He cast Thanasis Veggos, who he had met at Makronissos, as one of the characters in Magiki Polis. After the release of his complex and innovative film O Drakos
O Drakos
O Drakos is a Greek black-and-white film directed by Nikos Koundouros. It won the award for best movie 1955-1959 in the first Thessaloniki Film Festival...
, he found acceptance as a prominent artist in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and acquired important awards in various international and Greek film festivals. His 1963 film Young Aphrodites won the Silver Bear for Best Director
Silver Bear for Best Director
The Silver Bear for Best Director is the Berlin International Film Festival's award for best achievement in direction.-Awards:-Repeated winners:*Mario Monicelli *Satyajit Ray *Carlos Saura -External links:*...
at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival
13th Berlin International Film Festival
The 13th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from 21 June to 2 July 1963.-Jury:* Wendy Toye * Harry R. Sokal* Fernando Ayala* Jean-Pierre Melville* B. R...
.
Cinema
- Magiki Polis, English: Enchanted City (1954)
- O DrakosO DrakosO Drakos is a Greek black-and-white film directed by Nikos Koundouros. It won the award for best movie 1955-1959 in the first Thessaloniki Film Festival...
, English: Draco (1956) - Oi ParanomoiOi paranomoiOi paranomoi is a 1958 Greek drama film directed by Nikos Koundouros. It was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Titos Vandis - Kosmas* Petros Fyssoun - Petros* Anestis Vlahos - Argyris* Nelly Angelidou - Maria...
, English: The outlaws (1958) - To Potami, English: The river (1960)
- Mikres Aphrodites: English: Young Aphrodites, English Title: Young Aphrodites (1963)
- To Prosopo tis Medousas, English: The face of Medusa, English Title: Vortex (1967)
- To tragoudi tis fotias, English: The song of fire (1975)
- 1922 (1978)
- Bordello, English: Brothel (1984)
- Byron, balanta gia enan daimonismeno, English: Byron, Ballad for a possessed (1992)
- Oi fotografoi, English: The photographers (1998)
- To ploio , English: The Ship (2011)by Showtime Productions ( www.showtimeproductions.gr)
TV documentaries
- Ifigeneia en Tavrois (1991)
- Antigoni (1994)
- Ellinisti Kypros
- Cinemithologia (2010) by Showtime Productions