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Mediterranean and European area, through
such fertile, transnational cooperation”.
He explained, “Through such cultural
networking we aim towards the fruitful
exchange of experience and knowledge that
will bridge any differences and highlight the
substantial power of the art of theater.”
Toumazis pointed out that it was not by chance
that THOC used the National Theatre of Greece
as the artistic model to base its own operations
on. “This unity of the two theatres as regards
their perceptions and expectations betokens
a sincere and productive cooperation, which
promises to promote our common quests and
constructively contribute to transforming our
key objectives into actions,” he said.
Underlining the need for more such
transnational agreements in cultural matters,
the THOC Chairman said this need was all
the more pressing nowadays, when every
facet and expression of culture is under threat
of deteriorating amid the harsh economic
and cultural crises which are unfortunately
affecting both countries. “The cooperation
between the two state theatres could not have
come at a better time, to bring a refreshing
new lease of life to the cultural and artistic life
of Cyprus and Greece, but also to shield our
countries’ culture.”
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
National Theatre of Greece, George Stephanakis,
said his personal ties with Cyprus were very
strong. “There are many things that connect me
to Cyprus; I experienced the invasion first hand,
but also Cyprus through Seferis (Georgios, the
great Greek poet),” he said, adding that this has
made him all the more determined to make this
collaboration a success.
“Each and every stone (in Cyprus) is in our
culture and in our poetry and if I may say so, I
am enchanted by it and I hope that we all turn
the words into actions and altogether attend the
common show,” said Stephanakis.
Artistic Director Soteris Hatzakis said the
Protocol started from the same reality and the
fact that both countries are currently in the midst
of a financial war with difficult conditions,
both financially and morally. “Culture is not a
derivative of growth; it is a component element
and the political branches of both countries
need to understand that,” said Hatzakis.
Among the two theatres’ planned actions is
to present, in cooperation with the National
Theatre of Israel, a play on the three letters –
epistles – of Apostle Paul. The plan is to present
it in Paphos in 2017, when the town will become
the Cultural Capital of Europe.
Hatzakis also announced plans for the two
theatres to co-produce a show for the 2016
Athens and Epidaurus Festival, thus enabling
THOC to enter the Epidaurus for the first time,
through the Greek National Theatre.
The agreement will also see theNational Theatre
of Greece provide THOC with invaluable
expertise on matters such as lighting, audio,
archiving and more.
Concluding, Hatzakis said: “Exceptional
people of the theatre live, operate and create
here in Cyprus.”
C
ypriot director Kyros Papavassiliou’s film
The Impressions of a Drowned Man
was
among thirteen other international movies to make
it to the competition section of the 44
th
International
Film Festival Rotterdam, which took place on 21
January – 2 February 2015.
Specifically,
The Impressions of a Drowned
Man
was nominated in the Hivos Tiger Awards
Competition.
Even though it did not receive an award, Kyros
Papavassiliou’s achievement did not go unnoticed
by the Ministry of Education and Culture, which
funded the film and which proudly announced the
director’s nomination in the Festival.
“International Film Festival Rotterdam is one
of the most important and biggest film events
in the world, which promotes talent, quality and
innovating and special cinematic aspects,” the
Ministry announced.
The film is a poetic thriller, based on the final days
of the great Greek poet Kostas Karyiotakis. For
more Information:
Aproduction of dryTree Films
Directed by: Kyros Papavassiliou
Co-produced by Monica Nicolaidou and Yiorgo
Pantzi (Filmblades – Cyprus), Yianni Chalkiadaki
(Greece), Bojan Mastilovic (Restart Productions-
Slovanis), the Cultural Services of the Ministry of
Education and Culture of the Republic of Cyprus
and South-Eastern European Cinema Network
(SEE).
Main cast: Theodore Pantidis, Marissa
Triandafyllidou, Christodoulos Martas.
Script: Kyros Papavassiliou, in collaboration with
Philippe Gianni Kkoyri, George Zois and Maria
Varnakkidou.
Cinematography: Constantinos Othonos
Montage: Yannis Chalkiadakis
Music: Nikos Veliotis
Scenography: Andy Bargilly
Sound Design: Persephone Miliou
Costumes: Notis Panayiotou, ConstantinaAndreou
Production: Kyros Papavassiliou dryTree Films
The Impressions of a Drowned Man
(Oi entyposeis enos pnigmenou)
A man who doesn’t know who he is meets his
former love. She tells him he is a famous poet,
Kostas Karyotakis, who killed himself in 1928.
Every year he returns on the anniversary of his
death.Aday that has taken place many, many times
before plays out again. Will Kostas make the same
decisions again?
Do we take responsibility for who we are? How
free do we dare to be in creating our identity,
and to what extent do we take heed of what
people expect of us? These existential questions
The Impressions of a Drowned Man
A film by Kyros Papavassiliou that made it to this year’s International Film Festival Rotterdam
THOC Central Stage in Nicosia
Kyros Papavassiliou
