Michalis Kakogiannis directs the film "Alexis Zorbas"

In 1964, Michalis Kakogiannis (1921-2011), one of the most important cinematographers in Greece and internationally, manages to make the Greek identity and Mikis Theodorakis' music with "Alexis Zorbas" known all over the world. He has already filmed "Stella" in 1955 with Melina Merkouri's unforgetable performance. Cypriot Kakogiannis studied in London during WWII and collaborated with the Cypriot service at BBC in a series of radio shows.

He met many outstanding artists at his work; for some years he occupied the desk next to George Orwell. In 1946 during the airing of a show, he met writer Nikos Kazantzakis. He returned to Greece in 1953 and made his cinematographic debut with the film "Windfalls in Athens" with Ellie Lambeti and Dimitris Horn. In 1961 he directed the film "Electra" based on Euripides' play with Irene Pappas in another astounding performance. The film entered the competition section at the Cannes Film Festival and it won the award of Best Cinematic Transposition.