The autobiographical book “In Search of K”, by the late filmmaker Dinos Katsourides, was presented on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the Film Museum-Thessaloniki Cinematheque, in the context of the 15th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival.
The book was presented by film critic Ninos-Fenek Mikelides. Director Isavella Mavraki, Katsourides’ longtime companion, and producer Sivylla Katsouridi, his daughter, were present. Film director Periklis Hoursoglou discussed Katsourides' prolific career, while actor Dimitris Kotzias read passages from the book.
The book presentation was followed by the screening of Mavraki’s documentary Dinos Katsourides: A Life Like a Movie.
“Whenever I talk about Dinos Katsourides, I remember the short film The Playhouse, in which Buster Keaton plays every role. Dinos was such a prolific artist: a cinematographer and scriptwriter, director, producer and actor. He was a perfectionist, able to spend 24-hours a day in the editing room. I remember that once he bought an expensive piece of equipment that cost more than the film’s budget! Or during our summer vacation, I remember him sitting under our umbrella at the beach, reading a manual on avid. I have no doubt he had learned it by heart before our 12-day vacation was over”, said Ninos-Fenek Mikelides, adding: “Dinos was blunt and a revolutionary, he never minced his words”.
Dinos Katsourides was born in Nicosia in 1927. He came to Athens to study law according to his father’s wishes, but he also loved the cinema - “unlike most directors of his time”, Mikelides noted - so he also enrolled at the Stavrakos Film School. In the 1950s and 1960s, he worked at Finos Film [the most prolific production company of the era). “Finos wanted to have the final say, but Dinos, with his tenacity, asserted himself and won his trust. At Finos Film, Dinos developed his camera and editing skills. He respected Finos’ contribution to Greek cinema, but also said that Finos was not interested in the artistic qualities of the films - all he cared about was success at the box office”, said Mikelides.
Katsourides decided the time had come to direct, but he had a fight with Finos and left his company, finding another producer for his film Murder Backstage, which was based on a novel by Yannis Maris. “Katsourides was a pioneer of the film noir in Greece. His use of light, the atmosphere, all show how deeply he had studied American cinema”, commented Mikelides. Another important part of Katsourides’ career was his collaboration with actor Thanasis Vengos. “He had spotted Vengos’ talent from early on, and directed some of the actor’s finest moments, like the film What Did you Do in the War Thanasi?”, said Mikelides.
During Greece’s military junta, Katsourides collaborated with young, promising filmmakers like Pantelis Voulgaris. “I remember that Pantelis was looking for Dinos to help him out with his equipment for the film To proxenio tis Annas. Voulgaris intended to make a short film, but when Dinos became his producer, he convinced him to turn it into a full feature - and we all know how successful the film would become”, said Mikelides. Mikelides also recollected an incident from the filming of Vasilis Vafeas’ first film The Love of Ulysses, when Katsourides had tied himself from a helicopter to shoot the scene exactly as he wanted. “He was bold and fearless. He also helped young people, he gave them equipment for free. The Greek cinema, both the old, commercial one and the new, owe a lot to Dinos”, concluded Mikelides.
Taking the floor, Periklis Hoursoglou said: “Some people live more lives than one. Dinos was one of them. He was passionate about cinema, which he served for 60 years”. Commenting on Katsourides’ autobiography, he said that it is incredibly edited and that some parts give the impression that Katsourides is talking directly to the reader. Hoursoglou made reference to the artistic vision of Dinos Katsourides, commenting on his earnestness, discipline and gravitas: “I felt awe when I worked with him in the editing of my film Eyes of Night. It was certainly hard to say no to him. He was also extremely generous. In his book he talks about many of the people he met in the 60 years of his career. He examines us thoroughly and puts down his judgement, which is strict but emotional as well. I want to thank him for everything he has taught and given me”.
