The theater awards “Melina Merkouri” and “Dimitris Horn” were awarded, in a joint ceremony, which took place this evening at the “Melina Merkouri Foundation” in Plaka.

Elina Rizou, Anastasis Roilos, Fotis Stratigos and Dimitris Kapouranis are the winners of this year’s compact award for young actresses.

The “Melina Mercouri” theater award was won by Elina Rizou for her performance in the works “Mythistorim” by Giorgos Heimonas, directed by Panagiotis Exarcheas at the Mikro Theatro Kerameikos, “The Iceman is Coming” by Eugene O’Neill, directed by Akylla Karazisi at the Theater Proscenium and ‘Bells at midnight. Some ladies are having fun”, a performance by the RMS MATAROA group, directed by Manos Vavadakis at the Karolos Koun Frynihou Art Theatre.

Her co-candidates were Nefeli Maistralis, Irini Makri and Penelope Tsilika.

The other candidate, Nancy Sideris, had left the process earlier.

The theater award is given annually in recognition of the best female performance by a young actor of the previous theatrical season. The honorary distinction in memory of Melina takes into account the stage presence of young talented actors and their acting performances. The prize amounts to 3,000 euros and the honored actress keeps Melina Merkouri’s pin for one year, which she hands over to her colleague who is distinguished the following year.

The award committee consists of Dio Kangelaris, Matina Kaltakis, Michael Marmarinos, Amalia Moutousi and Reni Pittakis.

The prized “Dimitris Horn” Award, is the cross worn by the actor, which passes each year from one awardee to another, accompanied by parchment. The award is annual and is given for the best performance by a young male actor during the previous theatrical season. It was instituted by Stamatis Fasoulis with the help of Theodosis Isaakidis.

The period of the pandemic suspended the operation of the institution, which is why at tonight’s event the awards of the previous years were awarded: 2019-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023.

The winner of the “Dimitris Horn Award” for the 2019-2020 & 2020-2021 seasons is Anastasis Roilos for the role of Jim O’Connor in “The Glass World” by Tennessee Williams, directed by Giorgos Nanouris at the National Theatre. His co-candidates were Konstantinos Zografos, Dimitris Kitsos, Nikos Manesis and Panos Papadopoulos.

The next holder of the Horn title for the 2021-2022 season is Fotis Stratigos for the role of John in “How much does it cost to live” by Martina Mayok, directed by Thomas Moschopoulos at Porta Theatre. His co-candidates were Stathis Koikas, Tasos Lekkas, Dimitris Filippidis and Orestis Chalkias.

The third and last recipient of the Cross of Dimitris Horn for the 2022-2023 season, is Dimitris Kapouranis for the roles of Martin/Federikos in Sergio Blanco’s “Another Thebes”, directed by Vangelis Theodoropoulos at the New World Theatre. His co-candidates were Vangelis Daoussis, Panos Zygouros, Vassilis Milionis and Stratis Hatjistamatiou.

The chairman of the “Dimitris Horn” Award committee (2019-2023) is Stamatis Fasoulis.

Members of the committee are Lydia Koniordou, the theater expert Irini Moutraki and the journalists Myrto Loverdou and Antigoni Karalis.