Michael Cacoyannis

Michael Cacoyannis was born on June 11, 1921 in Limassol, Cyprus, Greek, is Film Director. Michael Cacoyannis was a distinguished Greek Cypriot film director, producer and screenwriter considered as one of the prominent torch bearers of Greek cinema in the international platform. He was most noted for the film ‘Zorba the Greek’ (‘Alexis Zorbas’) made in 1964 that drew international audience to Greek cinema. The film bagged several nominations including seven ‘Academy Awards’, of which it won three; one ‘Grammy Award’; five ‘Golden Globe Award’; and four ‘BAFTA’ awards. He was also a director of operas and stage plays that included a 1983 musical version of the ‘Zorba the Greek’. Several of his works were based on classical books, particularly the ones from the Greek tragedian Euripides. Over the years he had delivered a number of remarkable films that were both critically acclaimed and also garnered commercial success. Some notable films of Cacoyannis included ‘Windfall in Athens’ (‘Kyriakatiko xypnima’), ‘Stella’, ‘A Girl in Black’ (‘To koritsi me ta mavra’), ‘A Matter of Dignity’ (‘To telefteo psemma’), ‘Electra’, ‘The Wastrel’ (‘Il Relitto’) and ‘Iphigenia’. Among other awards and achievements he earned five ‘Academy Awards’ nominations, a record in itself for any Cypriot film personality. These included three for ‘Zorba the Greek’ for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director; and one each in the category of Foreign Language Film for ‘Iphigenia’ and ‘Electra’.
Michael Cacoyannis is a member of Film & Theater Personalities