Michael Cacoyannis

Michael Cacoyannis (born June 11, 1922) is a prominent Greek Cypriot filmmaker best-known for his 1964 film Zorba the Greek. (He also directed the 1983 Broadway revival of the musical based on the film.) Much of his work is rooted in classical texts, especially those of the Greek tragedian Euripedes. Cacoyannis has been nominated for an Academy Award 5 times, a record for any Greek artist. He received Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film nominations for Zorba the Greek, and two nominations in the Foreign Language Film category for Elektra and Iphigenia.


Life

Born in Limassol, Cyprus under the name Μιχαλης Κακογιαννης (Mikhalis Kakogiannis), as a young man, Cacoyannis was sent by his family to England to become a lawyer. However, after producing Greek-language programs for the BBC during World War II,[1] Cacoyannis found an interest in film instead. He ended up at the Old Vic school, and enjoyed a brief stage career there under the name "Michael Yannis" before he began working on films. After having trouble finding a directing job in the British film industry, Cacoyannis returned to Greece, and in 1953 he made his first film, Windfall in Athens.[1]

Cacoyannis has worked on many occasions with the Greek actress ("The Day the Fish Came Out") (1967): director, screenwriter, producer

  • Alexis Zorbas ("Zorba the Greek") (1964): director, screenwriter, producer
  • Elektra (1962): director, screenwriter, producer
  • Il Relitto ("The Wastrel") (1961): director, screenwriter
  • Eroica ("Our Last Spring") (1960): director, screenwriter, producer
  • To telefteo psemma ("A Matter of Dignity") (1957): director, screenwriter, producer
  • To koritsi me ta mavra ("A Girl in Black") (1956): director, screenwriter
  • Stella (1955): director, screenwriter, producer
  • Kyriakatiko xypnima ("Windfall in Athens") (1954): director, screenwriter

    Awards and nominations

    Cannes Film Festival

    • 1954 : Golden Palm for "Windfall in Athens" - nominated
    • 1955 : Golden Palm for "Stella" - nominated
    • 1956 : Golden Palm for "A Girl in Black" - nominated
    • 1957 : Golden Palm for "A Matter of Dignity" - nominated
    • 1961 : Golden Palm for "The Wastrel" - nominated
    • 1962 : Golden Palm for "Elektra" - nominated
    • 1962 : Grand Jury Prize for "Elektra" - won
    • 1962 : Technical Award for "Elektra" - won
    • 1977 : Golden Palm for "Iphigenia" - nominated

    Berlin International Film Festival

    • 1960 : Golden Berlin Bear for "Our Last Spring" - nominated
    • 1963 : David O. Selznick Award for "Elektra" - won

    Academy Awards(OSCARS)

    • 1963 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Elektra" - nominated
    • 1964 : Best Picture for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1964 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1964 : Best Adapted Screenplay for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1977 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Iphigenia" - nominated

    Golden Globes

    • 1956 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Stella" - won
    • 1957 : Best Foreign Language Film for "A Girl in Black" - won
    • 1965 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek - nominated

    British Academy Awards(BAFTA)

    • 1966 : Best Film for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1966 : UN Award for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated

    New York Film Critics

    • 1964 : Best Film for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1964 : Best Director for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated
    • 1964 : Best Screenplay for "Zorba the Greek" - nominated

    David di Donatello Awards

    • 1964 : Special Plaque for "Zorba the Greek" - won

    Thessaloniki Film Festival


    • 1960 : Special Contribution Award - won
    • 1961 : Best Director for "Our Last Spring" - won
    • 1962 : Best Film for "Elektra" - won
    • 1962 : Best Director for "Elektra" - won
    • 1977 : Best Film for "Iphigenia" - won
    • 1999 : Union of Film and Television Technicians Award for "The Cherry Orchard" - won

    Moscow Film Festival

    • 1956 : Silver Medal for "A Girl in Black" - Won

    Edinburgh Film Festival

    • 1954 : Diploma of Merit for "Windfall in Athens" - won
    • 1962 : Diploma of Merit for "Elektra" - won

    Montreal World Film Festival

    • 1999 : Special Contribution Award - won

    Jerusalem Film Festival

    • 1999 : Lifetime Achievement Award - won

    Cairo International Film Festival

    • 2001 : Lifetime Achievement Award - won

    Trivia

    • Close friend to Darryl F. Zanuck and George Cukor.
    • He was offered the chance to direct Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in the film Reflections in a Golden Eye, but declined.

    References

    1. ^ a b Erickson, Hal (2006). All Movie Guide Biography: Michael Cacoyannis

    Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria ("The Day the Fish Came Out") (1967) - director, screenwriter, producer

    Links

    Michael Cacoyannis (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128050/) at the Internet Movie Database

    Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.orgs"
    All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

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