Today is the Death Anniversary of Michael Cacoyannis ( Michalis Kakogiannis; 11 June 1922 – 25 July 2011) the Cypriot-born Greek Filmmaker, 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. Michalis Kakogiannis was born in 1922 in Limassol, Cyprus. His father, Sir Panayiotis Loizou Cacoyannis, had been knighted by the United Kingdom government for services to Cyprus, in 1936. 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, 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. 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. Cacoyannis also translated Shakespeares plays Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus and Hamlet into Greek, and Euripides play The Bacchae into English. Michael Cacoyannis died on 25 July 2011 in Athens, aged 89. 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 Bear for Our Last Spring — nominated 1963 : David O. Selznick Award for Elektra — won Academy Award (Oscar) 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 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 RIP MICHAEL CACOYANNIS.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 02:12:07 +0000
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