Michael Cacoyannis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Cacoyannis
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| Born |
Michalis Kakogiannis
11 June 1922 |
| Died | 25 July 2011 (aged 89) |
| Other names | Michael Yannis |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1954–1999 |
| Partner(s) | Yael Dayan (1959–1967) |
Michael Cacoyannis (born Michalis Kakogiannis; June 11, 1922 – July 25, 2011) was a famous Greek Cypriot director. He worked in theatre and film. He was also a writer, producer, and actor. Sometimes, people knew him as Michael Yannis.
Much of his work was based on old stories, especially plays by the Greek writer Euripides. His most well-known film is Zorba the Greek from 1964. This movie was based on a book by Nikos Kazantzakis. He also directed a musical version of Zorba the Greek on Broadway in 1983. Besides directing, he wrote, produced, translated, and designed many plays and operas.
Michael Cacoyannis was nominated for an Academy Award five times. This is a record for any film artist from Cyprus. He was nominated for Zorba the Greek for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. He also received nominations for Best Foreign Language Film for Electra (1962) and Iphigenia (1977). He won many other awards around the world. These included the Technical Grand Prize from the Cannes Film Festival. He was also nominated six times for the Palme d'Or award.
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Life and Career of Michael Cacoyannis
Michael Cacoyannis was born in 1922 in Limassol, Cyprus. His father, Sir Panayotis Loizou Cacoyannis, was honored by the United Kingdom government. He was made a "Sir" in 1936 for his public service in Cyprus. Michael's sister, Stella Soulioti, became a politician.
In 1939, his father sent him to London to study law. He finished law school and then joined the BBC World Service. He soon became in charge of its new Cyprus Service. During World War II, he produced programs in Greek for the BBC. After the war, he went to the Old Vic theatre school. He had a short career as an actor there, using the name Michael Yannis.
He wanted to direct films in Britain but found it hard to get a job. So, Cacoyannis moved to Greece. In 1953, he made his first film, Windfall in Athens. He was offered a chance to direct famous actors Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. However, he decided not to take the job.
From 1959 to 1967, he was in a relationship with Yael Dayan. She was an Israeli politician and writer. Michael Cacoyannis also translated some of William Shakespeare's plays into Greek. These included Antony and Cleopatra, Coriolanus, and Hamlet. He also translated Euripides' play The Bacchae into English.
Michael Cacoyannis passed away on July 25, 2011, in Athens, Greece. He was 89 years old.
Films Directed by Michael Cacoyannis
Michael Cacoyannis directed many films throughout his career. Here is a list of some of his most notable works:
- The Cherry Orchard (1999): director, screenwriter, producer
- Up, Down and Sideways (Pano kato ke plagios) (1993): director, screenwriter, producer
- Sweet Country (Glykeia patrida) (1986): director, screenwriter, producer
- Iphigenia (1977): director, screenwriter
- Attilas '74 (1975): director, producer
- The Story of Jacob and Joseph, director
- The Trojan Women (1971): director, screenwriter, producer
- The Day the Fish Came Out (Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria) (1967): director, screenwriter, producer
- Zorba the Greek (Alexis Zorbas) (1964): director, screenwriter, producer
- Electra (1962): director, screenwriter, producer
- The Wastrel (Il Relitto) (1961): director, screenwriter
- Eroica (Our Last Spring) (1960): director, screenwriter, producer
- A Matter of Dignity (To telefteo psemma) (1957): director, screenwriter, producer
- A Girl in Black (To koritsi me ta mavra) (1956): director, screenwriter
- Stella (1955): director, screenwriter, producer
- Windfall in Athens (Kyriakatiko xypnima) (1954): director, screenwriter
Awards and Nominations
Michael Cacoyannis received many awards and nominations for his films. Here are some of them:
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
See also
In Spanish: Michael Cacoyannis para niños
