EDITOR’S NOTE (Nick Stamatakis). Helleniscope is thrilled to announce that the world premiere of Yannis Smaragdis’ highly anticipated film Kapodistrias will take place in New York at the end of November. This marks a significant milestone not only for Greek cinema, but also for the international legacy of Ioannis Kapodistrias—Greece’s respected first governor—whose extraordinary life and sacrifices are vividly brought to the screen. Smaragdis, renowned for his cinematic dedication and Cretan tenacity, is expected to be present in New York, ready to introduce audiences to a poignant tale of faith, loss, and national identity.

In a recent interview (below), Smaragdis reveals the immense pressures he endured to bring this project to fruition—including death threats aimed at halting production—underscoring the stakes behind this historical biopic. He also reflects on personal tragedy, losing his wife and producer, Eleni, yet pressing on with unwavering determination. The result is a film that emerged victorious against every obstacle, poised to resonate deeply with viewers. Mark your calendars: late November in NYC promises a premiere that honors both cinematic artistry and Greek heritage.

At the end of the post, one of the best cinema critics, Giannis Zoumboulakis, analyzes the uphill process of completing Kapodistrias and the tenacity of its director, Giannis Smaragdis.

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source – tovima.gr

Yannis Smaragdis Is Finished With Kapodistrias

Yannis Smaragdis went through not just one, but several Iliads and Odysseys to bring this film to life—but he stood firm and never gave up.

After literally years of effort—and filming that went through its own Scylla and Charybdis—the film Kapodistrias by Yannis Smaragdis has finally completed shooting. That’s it. Everything that needed to be filmed, has been filmed.

The news was shared with me over the phone just a few days ago by the director himself, Yannis Smaragdis. The film is now in post-production and editing, meaning a few more months of hard work remain before it will be ready for release during the Christmas holidays.

That’s when it’s scheduled for distribution by the company Tanweer. Tanweer, which—when it comes to Greek commercial cinema—only seems to count successes, all of which (what a coincidence!) began during the holiday season: Eftychia, My Beloved Smyrna, The Murderess, I Exist.

Which means: they clearly know what they’re doing.

Yannis Smaragdis went through not just one, but two or three Iliads and Odysseys to make this film—but he stood strong and didn’t fall. I won’t go into details about the battles he faced—take my word for it, just as I took his and didn’t ask. After all, what meaning does a battle have if, in the end… you’ve won?

Also, during these years that he fought to realize the Kapodistrias project, Smaragdis lost his wife—his beloved Eleni—the person who, besides being his life partner, was also the producer of his films.

And just when you’d think that this loss would be the uppercut that knocks him out for good—here we are: Kapodistrias is now a reality. And I can say without hesitation that it will become a real event with the audience as its protagonist in just a few months.

I hear that cinema owners who have already booked the film are rubbing their hands and crossing themselves in anticipation. I haven’t seen even a single frame of Kapodistrias, but that’s not the point here. The point is that persistence wins—and the ever-persistent Smaragdis, who once something gets into his Cretan, stubborn head, there’s no way he won’t see it through—has won.

He’s finished the film.

I may not have agreed with all of Yannis Smaragdis’ previous works, but I have never stopped admiring that Cretan stubbornness of his—well hidden behind the gentle, aristocratic demeanor of a man of letters.

Because stubbornness here means faith—in what I want to do, and in what I can do. You can say whatever you want about Yannis Smaragdis, but one thing is undeniable: he always, always believes in what he’s doing.

And so, from this space, I want to say that I hope—and wish—that Smaragdis has made a good film. A film that perhaps we all need. Ioannis Kapodistrias did not hesitate to sacrifice himself for the homeland he loved and believed in. A homeland that never loved him back in equal measure.

And Yannis Smaragdis wants to honor him—at a time when many people today feel betrayed themselves. At a time when many would wish to have a living Kapodistrias by their side.

We don’t have him. But let us settle for a cinematic version of him—so we can watch him, and dream of a better Greece.

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O Γιάννης Σμαραγδής τελείωσε με τον «Καποδίστρια»

Ο Γιάννης Σμαραγδής πέρασε όχι μία, αλλά δυο-τρεις Ιλιάδες και Οδύσσειες για την υλοποίηση αυτής της ταινίας, αλλά βάσταξε γερά και δεν έπεσε κάτω