Michael Cacoyannis

Michael Cacoyannis From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Michael Cacoyannis Born Michalis Kakogiannis 11 June 1922 Limassol, Cyprus Died 25 July 2011 (aged 89) Athens, Greece Occupation Film director Years active 1954–99 Michael Cacoyannis (Greek: Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης; 11 June 1922 – 25 July 2011)[1] was a prominent Cypriot filmmaker from Cyprus, best known for his 1964 film Zorba the Greek. He directed the 1983 Broadway revival of the musical based on the film. Much of his work was rooted in classical texts, especially those of the Greek tragedian Euripides. He was nominated for an Academy Award five times, a record for any Cypriot film 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. Contents [hide] 1 Life 2 Death 3 Filmography 4 Awards and nominations 5 References 6 External links Life[edit source | editbeta]

Michalis (or Mikhalis) Kakogiannis was born in 1922 in Limassol, Cyprus as Μιχάλης Κακογιάννης. In 1936, his father Panayiotis Loizou Cacoyannis was knighted by the United Kingdom government for services to Cyprus.[2][3] In 1939, he was sent by his father to London to become a lawyer. However, after producing Greek-language programs for the BBC World Service during World War II,[4] 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 moved to Greece, and in 1953 he made his first film, Windfall in Athens.[4] He was offered the chance to direct Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in the film Reflections in a Golden Eye, but declined. He had worked on many occasions with the Greek actress Irene Papas and especially Elli Lambeti with whom he was in love. Between 1959 and 1967, he was in a relationship with Yael Dayan, a progressive Israeli politician and author.[5] In 1971, he teamed up once more with Papas for the film The Trojan Women.[citation needed] Cacoyannis also translated Shakespeare's plays Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus and Hamlet into Greek, and Euripides' play The Bacchae into English. Death[edit source | editbeta]

Cacoyannis died on 25 July 2011 in Athens, aged 89. Filmography[edit source | editbeta]

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 (The Girl in Black) (1956): director, screenwriter Stella (1955): director, screenwriter, producer Kyriakatiko xypnima (Windfall in Athens) (1954): director, screenwriter Awards and nominations[edit source | editbeta]

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[6] 1962 : Grand Jury Prize for "Elektra" — won[6] 1962 : Technical Award for "Elektra" — won[6] 1977 : Golden Palm for "Iphigenia" — nominated Berlin International Film Festival 1960 : Golden Bear for "Our Last Spring" — nominated[7] 1963 : David O. Selznick Award for "Elektra" — won Academy Award (Oscar) 1963 : Best Foreign Language Film for "Elektra" — nominated[8] 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[9] Golden Globe 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 Award (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 Award 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 References[edit source | editbeta]

^ Paul Vitello (July 25, 2011). "Michael Cacoyannis, Director of ‘Zorba the Greek,’ Dies at 90". The New York Times. ^ National Archives, Colonial Office Honours List, Birthday 1936: List by country of honours and names; Retrieved 13 April 2013 ^ Supplement to London Gazette, 23 June 1936: Retrieved 13 April 1936 ^ a b Erickson, Hal (2006). Allmovie Biography ^ In conversation with Yael Dayan ^ a b c "Festival de Cannes: Electra". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 2009-02-22. ^ "IMDB.com: Awards for Our Last Spring". imdb.com. Retrieved 2010-01-16. ^ "The 35th Academy Awards (1963) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2011-11-01. ^ "The 50th Academy Awards (1978) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved 2012-06-16. External links[edit source | editbeta]

Mihalis Kakogiannis at the Internet Movie Database Obituary 'Michael Cacoyannis: Theatre and film director best known for 'Zorba the Greek, The Independent, 27 July 2011 Obituary of Michael Cacoyannis, The Daily Telegraph, 25 July, 2011 Michael Cacoyannis Foundation [hide] v t e The films of Michalis Cacoyannis Windfall in Athens Stella A Girl in Black A Matter of Dignity Our Last Spring The Wastrel Electra Zorba the Greek The Day the Fish Came Out The Trojan Women Attilas '74 Iphigenia Sweet Country Up, Down and Sideways The Cherry Orchard Authority control VIAF: 42101241 Categories: 1922 births2011 deathsPeople from LimassolGreek Cypriot peopleCinema of GreeceCinema of CyprusCypriot film directorsCypriot screenwritersCypriot film producersAlumni of the Central School of Speech and DramaBarristers and advocatesMembers of Gray's Inn