A night dedicated to Stavros Kaplanidis
In a moving event, full of cinema under the moonlight and by the sea, the 23rd Thessaloniki Documentary Festival paid tribute to the beloved director Stavros Kaplanidis, in the roof of Thessaloniki Concert Hall’s M2 building. His last movie, Teo and Stavros, was screened in the context of the Festival’s tribute to the director, who passed away in 2019. Friends of Kaplanidis spoke about the director and his movies: Lena Rammou, administration and management consultant in the audio-visual sector, Ilias Kanellis, journalist, and Hronis Theoharis, editor.
Lena Rammou said: “I met Stavros and Ilias in 1995 and we remained close friends until Stavros’ death. He was a free and unconventional man who served art consistently, for he believed in art and not because he had to abide by a certain set of rules”.
Ilias Kanellis mentioned: “We all stood by him because we owed him a lot. In 2010, I decided to publish a literary magazine. As you already know people usually don’t buy such magazines. We couldn’t afford it. What we had in fact was the know-how and the zest. I remember saying to Kaplanidis “-Are you in?”. He was on board right away, taking over as logistics manager. He was extremely experienced in cinema logistics, as he had worked many years in American cinema, as well as in European cinema. Stavros was a kind of zealot. He strongly believed in publishing this magazine because he thought that society needed it, even if its target group was no more than a dozen people. He believed it was the way to produce knowledge and forge bonds of friendship”.
Mr. Kanellis continued: “Stavros used to work with a certain group of people, who shared the same values. His last movie revolves around this kind of friendship. It is a buddy movie that also focuses on the notion of time that goes by. Teos Romvos is a prolific writer. Both Stavros and Teos were born in Koukaki around the same period. Stavros took pride in the fact that they were raised together. Romvos practically nursed from Stavros’ mother. Since then, they had been walking side by side. They were together in Paris during the seven years of the dictatorship in Greece struggling for their personal freedom and knowledge. Their goal was finally achieved. They got back to Athens. Stavros got a job in cinema and Romvos opened a bookstore. Kaplanidis was very fond of magazines and publications. He did wonderful sketches, though he kept working in cinema. Teo lives in Syros as a writer and he didn’t manage to be here with us. Stavros worked with exceptional professionals. His first documentary that won a prize in the Festival dealt with Stavros Tornes. He directed the film, Kantina; Stavros Tsiolis was the screenwriter. It was a very refined and narrative comedy. He directed a movie related to editor Anna Vich, who was his partner for many years. She marked his life in a gentle and vivid way. Anna Vich worked alongside many Greek directors.
This documentary was an exemplary melodrama. Teo and Stavros is a movie dedicated to Teo Romvos. I believe that Stavros got involved in this movie as a prelude to his death”.
Hronis Theoharis referred to his relation with the director: “I am the editor of this film and was a close collaborator to Stavros for so many years. I am so moved. We miss him a lot. He had a very special perception of everything. I admit that, through editing, I have learned a lot of Stavros. An editor is literally the director’s confessor. We used to share a lot of things. I have known him since 1984. Soon enough I realised that Stavros had been always a deeply emotional artist. Every movie represents a part of his life and his interests, his concern about cinema, art and people. Stavros’ cinema is an invitation as well as a challenge for all of us”.
The Festival’s tribute to Stavros Kaplanidis consists of the following movies:
Stavros Tornes: The Poor Hunter of the South attempts to approach Stavros Tornes’ life and work and capture the journey of a filmmaker who remained consistent with what he saw, lived and believed in until the end of his life.
Play it Again, Christos is a documentary about the prolific artist Christos Vakalopoulos (1956–1993), film critic, radio producer, playwright, screenwriter, journalist, and director of films.
Anna Wich – Photographer is a reflection on the German photographer who grew up in post-WWII Europe, where everything was cast into doubt, yet chose to live in an introverted place like Greece.
Teos and Stavros is the last documentary by Kaplanidis and deals with Exarchia and writer Theo Romvos, one of the prominent figures of alternative culture.
All films are available at the Festival’s online platform online.filmfestival.gr for viewers all over Greece.
