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 Euripides. 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 Electra 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 Irene Papas. In 1971, he teamed up once more with Papas to the film The Trojan Women, starring Hollywood legend Katharine Hepburn.

Filmography

• The Cherry Orchard (1999): director, screenwriter, producer
• Pano kato ke plagios ("Up, Down and Sideways") (1993): director, screenwriter, producer
• Glykeia patrida ("Sweet Country") (1986): director, screenwriter, producer
• Iphigenia (1977): director, screenwriter
• Attilas '74 (1975): director, producer
• The Trojan Women (1971): director, screenwriter, producer
• Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria ("The Day the Fish Came Out") (1967): director, screenwriter, producer
• Alexis Zorbas ("Zorba the Greek") (1964): director, screenwriter, producer
• Electra (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

External links

• Michael Cacoyannis at the Internet Movie Database

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