Yannis Economides, a renowned Cypriot filmmaker, was born in 1967 in Cyprus. He made the bold decision to leave law school in 1987 to pursue his true passion for filmmaking in Athens, Greece.
Economides' journey in the film industry began with the creation of several documentaries and short films. His breakthrough came in 2003 with the release of his debut feature film, "Matchbox", an iconic work that would set the tone for his future projects.
In 2006, his second feature, "Soul Kicking", premiered at the International Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival, garnering widespread recognition. This was followed by "Knifer" in 2010, which won seven Greek Film Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. His third feature, "Stratos", had its world premiere at the 64th Berlin International Film Festival in 2014.
In addition to his work in film, Economides has also ventured into the world of theatre. In 2016, he wrote and directed his first play, "Sleep, Stella, Sleep", which premiered at the New Stage of the National Theatre in Athens and received critical acclaim.
His latest feature, "Ballad for a Pierced Heart", was released in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and surprisingly became a box office hit in Greece. The film received 15 Greek Film Academy nominations, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
Throughout his career, all five of Economides' feature films have been honored with the Greek Film Critics Association Award for Best Greek Feature Film of the Year and have been screened at various prestigious international film festivals.
In November 2022, "Matchbox - The Musical" premiered at the main stage of "Onassis Stegi", with Economides serving as librettist and artistic director.
Economides has recently completed his new feature film, "Broken Vein", a testament to his unwavering dedication to his craft.
