Dimitri Athanitis Film director

Dimitri Athanitis is one of the most productive young film directors in Greece and one of the more established. Born in Athens, he studied cinema and architecture. All his films are produced by his own company DNA Films, remaining a really independent filmmaker.

His feature “2000+1 Shots” was selected by the Australian cineaste B. Mousoulis among the 10 best films in the world for 2001. His second film “No Sympathy for the Devil” was nominated for Golden Alexander and gained Best Actress Award at Thessaloniki International Film Festival 1997. His first film “Addio Berlin” gained Jury’s Prize at Thessaloniki 1994 and a Critics Mention and became a cult film in Greek cinema, while his third film “An Athens Summer Night’s Dream” gained Award for Best Feature at the Independent’s Festival, Thessaloniki 2001.

Dim Athanitis, has collaborated with some of the best young Greek actors like Vicki Volioti (Shooting Star Berlin 1997), Lena Kitsopoulou (Best Actress Award Thessaloniki IFF 1997), Dimitris Alexandris (Best Actor Thessaloniki 1993,1999), Katerina Didaskalou (starring at Eric Rhomer’s “Triple Agent”, Berlin 2005).

filmography The Boy (in development) feature, 2010 Three Days Happiness (in pre-production) feature, 2009 Madonna calls Fassbinder (jn production) short, 15’ 2008 Planet Athens feature, 77’ (director’s edition) 2007 Planet Athens feature, 82’ 2005 2000+1 Shots feature, 75’ 2000 An Athens Summer Night’s Dream feature, 72’ 1999 No Sympathy for the Devil feature, 82’ 1997 Vox TV feature, 60’ 1996 Addio Berlin feature, 72’ 1994 Mister X short, 6’ 1994 Philosophy short, 12’, 1993 PLANET ATHENS ( 2005) “Small miracles are happening here” Paulos Kagios, TA NEA, Athens 2000+1 SHOTS ( 2000-1) On New Years Eve of the year 2000, the paths of eight persons, cross in an unexpected way, A businessman who weavers between his wife and his mistress, faces an extortion. An unemployed man, becomes a hired killer to escape from his misery. A child with no family, wanders alone trying to survive. Behind all of the glittering celebrations, people are experiencing a different reality. “Among the 10 best films of 2001” Bill Mousoulis, SensesOfCinema

“… Direction of extraordinary dexterity and a sensual but also hallucinate atmosphere.” Elie Castiel, Sequenses, Montreal

“As New Year’s Eve approaches at the end of 2000, eight lonely alienated city duelers struggle to connect with other human beings in “2000+1 Shots”. Skillfully intercutting their stories, which converge in unexpected ways, this criss-crosser gradually shifts from everyday portraiture to drama as all connections turn out for the worse. Though bleak, this fourth film by helmer Dimitris Athanitis is admirably sincere and concise in describing a cross-section of today’s Athenians. “ Deborah Young, Variety

“A difficult and deliberately unglamorous film, but sure of its method and purpose. Athanitis blends disconnected threads of alternated, urban life –a lost child, an unhappy couple, a hired killer – into a despairing but hypnotic mosaic.” Adrian Martin, The Age, Melbourne

AN ATHENS SUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1999) An actor decides to put together a theater group, in order to realize his dream, to play Oregon in Shakespeare’s Midnight Summer’s Dream. An audition takes place, the actors are selected, the rehearsals begin. Soon, stage and reality start to merge for the young actors. The only one who is still living in his dream, is the director. He will be the last one to wake up. “From somewhere else comes the name, but here is the grace!” V. Kehagias, Makedonia

NO SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL (1997) A romance of extremes in a future Athens. A cashier of a super market finds true love in the face of a young waitress, who has recently been released from prison. When he loses her, he travels all the way to hell to get her back.

“Extremely romantic story given in a tough, unusual way.” G. Kanakis, 01 Magazine

“No Sympathy for the Devil is a film which has well and truly polarized opinion. A semi-futuristic “romance of extremes” this international competition entry has turned out to be the Thessaloniki Film Festival love-it-or-hate-it. Dave Bowman, Athens News

ADDIO BERLIN ( 1994) -What is a film director Alex? Style Alex, style! Alex, a Greek director living miserably in Berlin, decides to follow his agent’s advise in order to make his first film. Carrying his script, he begins an odyssey from Berlin to his final destination, Athens, where a notorious producer invites him. But some other guys, not so good are also waiting for him, or at least for someone like him. “Maybe the next big name of Greek cinema.” B. Aktsoglou, Athinorama

“Sarcasm, talent, minimalism.” D. Danikas, TA NEA, Athens

“Among the best films I saw in Thessaloniki” Sandor K. Korospetaki, Fipresci

“Goodbye monotony!” D. Politakis, 01 Magazine

“Athanitis made an auspicious debut” Dave Bowman, Athens News

“Among the 10 best films of 2001” Bill Mousoulis SensesOfCinema

“…Dimitris Athanitis a construit un film d’ une extraordinaire dexterite dans la mise en scene et d’ une atmosphere a la fois sensuelle et hallucinante. “ Elie Castiel Sequenses (3-2001)

“ A despairing but hypnotic mosaic.” Adrian Martin, The Age (19-4-2001)

“ Admirably sincere and concise in describing a cross-section of today’s Athenians. “ Deborah Young, Variety (4-12-2000)

DIMITRI ATHANITIS - FILM DIRECTOR