“Of course I would like to shoot in Russia, but since my country is positioned in this vertical way in terms of our relations with Russia on cultural issues, I am Greek and I should follow the checks of my country “said the director.
“There was a war, a pandemic and very bad relations with Russia, not only of Greece, but of Europe in general. “This means that as things stand, it is forbidden for anyone to insist on filming in Russia.”
This remark was made by the internationally renowned director, Giannis Smaragdisin an interview with Nikos Giotis for the Athenian / Macedonian News Agency, when asked about the shooting of his film “Kapodistrias”, part of which was to be made in Russia.
As he characteristically said, after this war we are facing a new world.
“Of course I would like to shoot in Russia, but since my country is positioned in this vertical way in terms of our relations with Russia on cultural issues, I am Greek and I should follow the checks of my country, which from what I understand are also European “he noted and added:” You can not cooperate with a country that has invaded a European country “.
Asked how to cover the production costs corresponding to Russia, which was a co-producer with Greece and Switzerland, he replied that “fortunately there was a cooperation from the United States, who liked the script and will be co-producers and will cover part of it. while the rest I believe will be covered by Greek sources “.
Mr. Smaragdis clarified that a cooperation agreement had been signed with the Russians, but no final contracts. “Now they are asking us to give them a certificate that it is a European co-production. “So which agency in Greece or the European Union would sign, that is, would it now agree to cooperate with Russia?” He asked.
Regarding the issues related to the shooting of Russia, he pointed out that they will move to another country that has similar palaces.
Referring to the agreement with the American company, he said that “America has a” hidden wound “, because one of their great Presidents, Kennedy, was assassinated. The man who read the script – and he is a Hollywood personality – found that something similar happened to Kapodistrias. In other words, there was an “underground meeting” of the undefeated leaders and that is why he wanted to cooperate with us “.
Asked what his award from the Academy of Greek Art Awards means as a Greek personality of the year, with the international award “Ioannis Kapodistrias”, he noted that from an award you receive positive energy and try to put it in your work!
It was a great honor that Vangelis Papathanassiou wrote my film music
Speaking about Vangelis Papathanassiou -who recently passed away from us- who had written the music for the films “Cavafy” and “El Greco”, he said that he is the artist who sets in motion the heavenly harmony, that is, the Divine. That’s why his music through NASA left for the universe.
Vangelis was a part of the central source of the universe. He was a much bigger person than one can imagine and I say that I lived him for twelve whole years. It was a great honor for me to write the music in these films of mine without getting paid, as he never got paid for what he did in Greece, because he was a great Greek! He knew what it means to be Greek! He was a top person earthly but deeply celestial! “
