COSTA-GAVRAS
(1933) directorCosta-Gavras is a world-renowned film director. He is primarily known for creating a new genre, the political thriller. He was born in Loutra Iraias, Arcadia, but grew up in Athens. His father's Communist Party membership made it impossible for Costa-Gavras to attend university in Greece or be granted a visa to the United States. After high school, he moved to France, where he began studying literature at Sorbonne in 1951. In 1956, Gavras left his university studies to study film at the French national film school, IDHEC. After film school, he apprenticed under Yves Allégret, and became an assistant director for Jean Giono and René Clair. After serving as assistant director, he directed his first feature film, “Compartiment Tueurs”, in 1965.
Z (1969) is the film that contributed to his worldwide recognition. The film is a fictionalised account of the events surrounding the assassination of Greek politician Grigoris Lambrakis in 1963. It had additional resonance because Greece had been already ruled for two years by the "Regime of the Colonels" at the time of its release. The film was honoured with the Academy Award for Best International Language Film, and Gavras was nominated for best director.
Costa-Gavras is known for merging controversial political issues with commercial cinema. Through his films, he targets right-of-centre movements and regimes and right-wing dictatorships. In his words, “art is a kind of resistance; it shows new directions, new things out of the ordinary.”
Costa-Gavras has brought attention to important international political issues through traditional cinematic storytelling.
He and his wife founded K.G. Productions, a film production company. Their three children have been following in their father's footsteps in cinematography.
-
Selected Works
-
Awards
-
Honourable moments and distinctions
-
Links
CACOYANNIS MICHAEL
VOULGARIS PANTELIS
