Gregory Vardarinos
Happy to make it happen
About: who I am
My name is Gregory Vardarinos and I am a director. I graduated
from Edinburgh College of Arts, University of Edinburgh, back
in 2010, with a scholarship from the Alexandros S. Onassis
Foundation.
I became a director because it couldn’t have been otherwise. I really enjoy creating conditions that allow each story to unfold in the best possible way, "speaking" to diverse audiences. When I work, I make the most out of all available sources: from the actors’ talent and the possibilities of each script, all the way to the technical details and the aesthetic parameters that compose the final result.
I became a director because it couldn’t have been otherwise. I really enjoy creating conditions that allow each story to unfold in the best possible way, "speaking" to diverse audiences. When I work, I make the most out of all available sources: from the actors’ talent and the possibilities of each script, all the way to the technical details and the aesthetic parameters that compose the final result.
My directing career to date has led me to many interesting
destinations: from award- winning short films, creative and
historical documentaries and television productions, to
original collaborations and educational activities, with an
emphasis on young audiences, while I am currently working on
my first feature film. Moreover since 2017, I run “le plus
petit chef”, an independent production company, based in
Athens and Thessaloniki.
Directing is a journey, in the preparation of which nothing should be left to chance. And yet, everything can change from a random inspiration, a last-minute twist of the plot. I believe in the power and dynamics of the creative process: in the ideas that are waiting to be born, in the stories that are waiting to be told. With an ongoing flair for experimentation, I look forward to the next day on my own creative journey.
Directing is a journey, in the preparation of which nothing should be left to chance. And yet, everything can change from a random inspiration, a last-minute twist of the plot. I believe in the power and dynamics of the creative process: in the ideas that are waiting to be born, in the stories that are waiting to be told. With an ongoing flair for experimentation, I look forward to the next day on my own creative journey.
SERVICES: what I do
I do whatever needs to be done, so that at the end of each
project, I can rest assured that the result could not have
been better at the given time. Whether we are talking about
a historical documentary or a corporate presentation; aren’t
they all stories after all? The content and the context
might change, the audience might be different, but the goal
remains the same: the narrative needs to be visualized and
successfully received not only by the eye, but also by the
heart of each viewer.
Every time I embark on a new project, an exciting journey begins. I draw inspiration from dozens of sources, I do research, I think a lot, and I imagine even more. I enter the game with impatience and the same enthusiasm each and every time; each project is a new creative challenge. And at the end of the day, it all begins and returns to the same quest: the best way to tell the story.
Every time I embark on a new project, an exciting journey begins. I draw inspiration from dozens of sources, I do research, I think a lot, and I imagine even more. I enter the game with impatience and the same enthusiasm each and every time; each project is a new creative challenge. And at the end of the day, it all begins and returns to the same quest: the best way to tell the story.
PORTFOLIO: what I ‘ve done
"Philhellenes: fighting for freedom"
2021
In this mini-series of historical documentaries, on the
occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution, I
attempt a modern approach to the great historical event, from
an international perspective. Throughout the 6 episodes, we
embark on a complete historical journey, starting from the
18th century, focusing on Philhellenism during the Greek
Revolution and concluding with modern Philhellenism. Iakovos
Michailidis, Professor of Modern and Contemporary History,
AUTh, served as the Historical consultant of the series, which
is a production of Cosmote TV / Cosmote History, with my own
"le plus petit chef" in the execution.
"Boys and Ballet"
2018
The boys who attend the Higher Vocational School of Dance of
the National Opera unfold their dreams and the difficulties
they encountered to get there, from their first plié and
relevé. An honest and sincere journey that explores what it
means to be a boy dancing ballet in modern Greece, while
revealing the present and the future of classical dance in the
country.
"Giannis Ntontsakis - Passion for Dance"
2018
In the context of a show featuring television portraits of
various important personalities from the field of arts and
culture, I directed a tribute to Mr. Giannis Ntontsakis,
Director of the Higher Vocational Dance School of Greek
National Opera. It was a rather spontaneous call, one of those
last minute projects, in which you improvise, let the story
take its own course and unfold in its own unique way. The
result was an interesting narration by Mr. Ntontsakis on
camera, with inlaid footage from his own archive.
"The Great Fire of Salonika: Birth of a City"
2017
A historical documentary, following the footsteps of the great
fire of 1917; the world - historic urban catastrophe that
changed the face of Thessaloniki forever, destroying most of
its historic center and leaving more than 70,000 inhabitants
homeless. The documentary’s premiere took place in 2017,
within the context of the 82nd TIF, while it followed an
important festival course, with continuous sold outs
screenings across the country and the winning of two audience
awards. This is a co-production with COSMOTE HISTORY, with the
support of TIFF - HELEXPO and the Thessaloniki Port Authority.
"Herbs, fruits of the earth"
2017
Greek land’s herbs were the inspiration for this award-winning
documentary series. The camera wanders around the exquisite
Greek nature, in search of the history, the importance and the
timeless value of these wonderful plants, from the depths of
the folk tradition all the way to the modern era. Guided by
scientific knowledge, the show highlights one of the most
deeply rooted relationships in our lives: our relationship
with herbs.
"In wood We Trust"
2015
Two brothers coming from a small village in Pieria are
resisting the crisis, turning a family carpentry business into
a modern factory, specializing in the production of special
handmade wooden accessories. Crafting the pieces with unique
artistry and paying full attention to the smallest detail,
they give wood its forgotten glamor, turning it to what it
really is; a truly precious natural material.
"The Noir Project"
2014
Through the innovative mix of live action and animation, in
this short film I attempted an original approach to the issue
of domestic violence. The film was selected by dozens of
festivals in Greece and abroad, and won numerous awards and
positive reviews. It was screened in more than 30 cities in
Greece and was the basis for an educational program on gender
equality and women's rights in Greek schools. This is a
co-production with ERT and Cosmote TV, which was also
supported by the program MEDIA - SEE Cinema Network.
"Krito the Acrobat"
2013
How high would you reach for your art? As part of the
documentary series "Tomorrow’s stars", with this
film we travel to Seattle, USA, to make it to the dressing
room of Krito, the first Greek acrobat who managed to win a
place in the world’s most famous circus: Cirque Du Soleil.
"Mehmet"
creative documentary
creative documentary
2010
Α young Turkish student in Istanbul, surrounded by oppressed
Muslim girls, looks for a breath of life and freedom through
the internet. In this context he starts flirting online with a
Greek girl; what kicks off as an online adventure ends up in a
real relationship after they meet in person in Thessaloniki
and Istanbul. But when Mehmet decides to move to Greece, he
faces a series of challenges. To cross the Europe-Asia border
was easy. To deal with Greek bureaucracy was manageable. But
to be fully integrated in a society like the Greek one? What
happens when a Turk wants to pursue Greek identity?
"Talking Piranhas"
2010
In a story where piranhas talk, the plot can never be boring.
The short black comedy "Talking Piranhas" is my
thesis film and an internationally acclaimed short film. Its
long festival career kicked off with a nomination for the
BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award 2010 in Fiction and ended up
in the Golden Panda Award for Most Innovative Film 2011 at the
Sichuan Film Festival in China.
Asphyxia
My first feature film is a dark, atmospheric teen
thriller. This is a project under development, which has
been supported by the Greek Film Center and is in the
process of developing the final script.
First Devised Theatre group in Thessaloniki
In collaboration with the award-winning author Filippos
Mandilaras, we organized the first devised theater group
in Thessaloniki, with the participation of teenagers from
deprived urban areas. An initiative which resulted in the
creation and presentation of an original performance by
the participating teenagers.
Collaboration with Vice Greece
Blind women’s makeup is the original topic of this short
video, entitled Blind MakeUp, that was the creative result
of my collaboration with Vice Greece. This is a rather
oxymoronic concept, considering that the women themselves
cannot see the result. The characters we observe are women
who participate in a make-up seminar, some of them totally
blind, and others facing issues with their vision, as they
interact with their young teacher. We feel their need to
highlight their beauty and to harmoniously integrate into
the "look" society. After all, they are just
women looking for ways to express their feminine side.
Scholarships - Workshops
Creative vigilance is the only way to stay up to date with
the ever-changing landscape of the creative economy.
Pursuing scholarships and participating in seminars and
workshops, I invest in knowledge and build constructive
relationships with the contemporary filmmaking world.
These creative fermentations give me the inspiration and
the tools I need to keep evolving.
- Digital Production Challenge II, March 2021
- Berlinale Talent Campus 2017
- Development of Feature Films Program G.F.C 2016 -‐ 2018
- Robert Bosch Stiftung fellowship 2016 START program
- Leipzig DOK Hackathon 2015 (Leipzig Documentary Festival)
- EuroConnection Forum 2013 (Clermont-‐Ferrand Festival)
- From Page to Screen 2010 (UK National Council for Drama Training & Skillset)
- Celtic Media Festival 2009 (BBC Scotland Fellowship)
- Onassis Foundation Fellowship 2008 Edinburgh College Art
- Cinematic & Literary Traditions of Liberty 2007 (UCLA -‐ The Institute for Humane Studies Fellowship)
CONTACT: let’s talk!
A small chat can set the basis for a great and fruitful
collaboration! So let’s talk today!
Phone
+306948947423
Address
45th Markou Mousourou st, POBox 11636,
Athens - Greece
Athens - Greece
Email