Independent filmmaker specializing in exploitation. That is what I mostly watch and that is what I like to do myself. My style is not for everyone. You either love it or you hate it. That pretty much describes my personality as well :)
I started making my first feature ATHENS 2004: TERROR & VIOLENCE IN THE CITY in 2002. It didn't surface until 2 years later. This movie could be also used as an example on how to make your own independent trashy movie on a 1300 Euro budget :) It was an experiment that worked and the movie got somewhat of a following.
I quickly followed it with RETURN OF THE BASTARDS (2003), starring the late, great Apostolos Souglakos. The budget for RETURN was 7.000 Euros, raised by the Emerald Video team and myself. We released it on DVD and it can still be found at a few video rental stores. I still believe that movie was a failure from every point of view.
It should be mentioned that I am and ALWAYS was 100% independent, not relying on any kind of support from the Greek Film Center in order to make my movies. Having to produce your own movies really sucks. And not just because you spend your own money but because you deal with situations that suck. I wish I could just shoot stuff without being forced to involve myself in the "business" and organizational side of the whole thing.
In my country I am known as a "cult filmmaker" but that is not a label I picked for myself. If you believe what I do is "cult" that's fine with me. Just keep in mind it turns out that way- its not something I do on purpose. According to wikipedia, a cult film is a film that "has acquired a highly devoted but relatively small group of fans". Unfortunately, the term "cult movie" is synonymous to "bad comedy" here in Greece so I am not sure if I want to accept that term for my own movies. The ones I made so far (specially RETURN) were definitely bad but my intention was never to make comedies or parodies or whatever. I certainly intended to make them over the top but I was also inexperienced and lacked a decent budget. So that is why they were so ridiculous.
CATHARSIS teaser
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My upcoming 3rd feature is being professionally made but maintains my personal style. The title is CATHARSIS, starring Kostas Stefanakis, Vangelis Mourikis (O Vasilias, I Psyhi Sto Stoma) and appearing Telis Stallone (former Greek adult cinema king) as a corrupt minister. It is basically a violent revenge movie about corruption. It also tries to explore the relationships between the people of the underworld- there is no trust and everybody seems to have a good reason to whack all the rest.
