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The touching story of a child from a Pontic refugee family who managed to survive and thrive against all odds, thanks to his immense talent and resilience in the face of social and personal challenges. Music, love, family, friends, fishing, creativity, people of the night, hardcore fans, and intense conflicts come together to create the mosaic of his life. This film is a tribute to legendary singer, Stelios Kazantzidis, whose voice touched the hearts of all Greeks around the world. A film for those who loved him and those who wish to discover him.
In this film, I aim to explore the soul of a man whose songs spoke to millions. With the power and magic of his voice, Stelios Kazantzidis opened doors for himself and those around him. Yet, his family, love affairs, and overwhelming fame left little room for personal happiness.
The film captures the creation of iconic songs that Greeks continue to sing and dance to in gatherings and celebrations. Simultaneously, it chronicles Greece’s evolution from poverty to a modern era, offering insight into the roots of our current times.
Cinematically, the film focuses on character authenticity and emotional truth. As the years progress, the settings and costumes transform rapidly, reflecting the times without overt explanation. The story takes us into spaces and scenarios familiar from classic black-and-white films, brought to life with today’s cinematic tools, unveiling the backstage genesis of Greece’s first major music stars.
The challenge is to reintroduce Stelios Kazantzidis as the hero of this story.
— Yorgos Tsemberopoulos
‘STELIOS’ broke box office records when released in Greece on December 19, 2024. Originally titled ‘ Yparcho', after one of Kazantzidis most famous songs, and directed by Yorgos Tsemberopoulos it tells the story of Greek music legend and singer, Stelios Kazantzidis and stars lead singer of the band Melisses, Christos Mastoras, in the lead role. As of January 2025, ticket sales have surpassed 800,000 admissions, making the film the 4th highest grossing Greek film, in history.
"Greeks have been lining up outside movie theatres to watch the film on the life and career of this beloved singer admired by older and younger generations alike. We are very excited to share this important and wonderful film to the wide Greek diaspora here in the UK, where we think it will be equally as successful.”
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