PRESS RELEASE BY THE WORLD COUNCIL OF CRETANS
With a sold-out audience, the award-winning documentary “Venizelos: The Struggle for
Asia Minor” premiered at the Pickwick Theater in Chicago, Illinois, on Friday, May 30, 2025. This premiere marked the first of seven consecutive daily screenings, running from May 30 to June 5, offering the greater Chicago community the opportunity to experience the film. The President of the Venizelos Foundation USA and the World Council of Cretans (WCC), Mr. Nickos Kastrinakis, stated: “The opportunity to screen the documentary about Eleftherios Venizelos in Chicago—one of the most prominent cities in North America—over seven consecutive days highlights the enduring relevance of his legacy. By exploring Venizelos’ life and work, we can draw inspiration and gain valuable insights to guide our future.”
Among the many distinguished guests who attended the premiere were the Honorable
Consul General of Greece in Chicago, Mr. Emmanuel Koumparakis; the former and first President of the Venizelos Foundation and former President of the Pancretan Association of America (PAA), Mr. John Manos; Leadership 100 Chairman, Mr. Demetrios Logothetis; President of Hellenic American National Council (HANC), Mr. Bill Mataragas; the Treasurer of the World Council of Cretans, Ms. Bianca Nicole Pigounakis; the Vice President of the Venizelos Foundation USA, Mr. John Bertakis; the Treasurer of the Venizelos Foundation USA, Mr. Andreas Eliopoulos; PAA Treasurer, Mrs. Debbie Nikokavouras; PAA Philanthropic Chair, Mrs. Evangelia Hobitakis; President of the Cretan Fraternity of Chicago, Mr. Dimitris Spatharakis; President of the Cretan Association of Chicago “Amalthia,” Mrs. Marianthe Zervas; President of the Cretan Youth of Chicago, Mr. Manousos Papadakis; and Editor of Kriti Magazine, Mrs. Amalia Deligianni.
Mr. Kastrinakis presented an award to former President John Manos as a token of
appreciation for his ongoing efforts and contributions to the Foundation. Mr. Manos stated: “I was humbled to receive a plaque of recognition from President Kastrinakis, and I feel it is
only right to share this honor with the Foundation’s Vice President, Mr. John Bertakis, our
Treasurer, Mr. Andrea Eliopoulos, and the entire Board who helped establish this
remarkable organization years ago. I sincerely thank President Kastrinakis for this
thoughtful recognition and for his continued dedication and contributions to the Foundation.
I wish him ongoing success in all his efforts.“
Warm thanks are extended to the Treasurer of the World Council of Cretans, Ms. Bianca
Nicole Pigounakis, for leading the organizing committee, along with all its dedicated
members. Sincere appreciation also goes to Mr. Dino Vlahakis for his support of the event
on behalf of the Pickwick Theatre. Ms. Pigounakis remarked, “It is an honor to help carry on
the legacy of such a remarkable and influential statesman, together as a community.” The
Venizelos Foundation USA will announce a series of events for the fall and winter of 2025
at the summit hosted by the Eleftherios K. Venizelos National Research Foundation on
August 6, 2025, in Halepa, Chania.
The film is a production of the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” and
is based on the book Eleftherios Venizelos: The Man, The Leader by the Foundation’s
Director, Mr. Nikos Papadakis-Papadis. With English subtitles, the documentary—directed
by Nikos Dayandas—brings to life the extraordinary journey of Eleftherios Venizelos, one of
modern Greece’s greatest statesmen. Through dramatized scenes, rare archival footage,
and expert interviews, the film vividly portrays his leadership during the defining decade of
the Balkan Wars, World War I, and the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923.
