Thanassis Sarantos - Personal Information
Field of work: Director, Actor
Line about myself: Born in Athens, he studied English Literature in Athens, Acting at the Carolos Koun Drama Theater School in Athens and Film Direction at the New York Film Academy on scholarships from the Fulbright Foundation, the Onassis Foundation and the Greek Film Centre. While in New York, he worked as an actor and assistant director under Robert Wilson at the Watermill Center (2000) and went on to perform in Wilson's production of Prometheus at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall (2001). On his return to Greece, he acted and directed in a number of Greek theaters, played various roles on Greek TV and founded the Ithikon Akmeotaton production company. He has adapted and directed "Caligula" by Albert Camus co-production of Ithikon Akmeotaton Theater with the National Theater of Northern Greece (1999-2000). He has played the role of Bernard in the Greek premiere of the play "A Number" of Caryl Churchill in Theater Empros directed by Tasos Mpantis, translated in Greek by Thanassis Sarantos and Tasos Mpantis. He has also directed Antoine de Saint Exupery's "The Little Prince" (2003) and two plays by Marius von Mayenburg ”The Ugly One" in the National Theater, Athens (2008) and "The Dog, the Night and the Knife" (2009). He also served a scriptwriting internship in Berlin in 2007 as part of the Nipkow Programm, during which he participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival. He has adapted, acted and directed the novel "The American" by the prestigious Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis and toured it in many cities and islands of Greece. (2009-2011) "The American" was also presented in Michalis Kakogiannis Foundation in January and March of 2011.
Line about myself: Born in Athens, he studied English Literature in Athens, Acting at the Carolos Koun Drama Theater School in Athens and Film Direction at the New York Film Academy on scholarships from the Fulbright Foundation, the Onassis Foundation and the Greek Film Centre. While in New York, he worked as an actor and assistant director under Robert Wilson at the Watermill Center (2000) and went on to perform in Wilson's production of Prometheus at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall (2001). On his return to Greece, he acted and directed in a number of Greek theaters, played various roles on Greek TV and founded the Ithikon Akmeotaton production company. He has adapted and directed "Caligula" by Albert Camus co-production of Ithikon Akmeotaton Theater with the National Theater of Northern Greece (1999-2000). He has played the role of Bernard in the Greek premiere of the play "A Number" of Caryl Churchill in Theater Empros directed by Tasos Mpantis, translated in Greek by Thanassis Sarantos and Tasos Mpantis. He has also directed Antoine de Saint Exupery's "The Little Prince" (2003) and two plays by Marius von Mayenburg ”The Ugly One" in the National Theater, Athens (2008) and "The Dog, the Night and the Knife" (2009). He also served a scriptwriting internship in Berlin in 2007 as part of the Nipkow Programm, during which he participated in the Berlinale Talent Campus at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival. He has adapted, acted and directed the novel "The American" by the prestigious Greek writer Alexandros Papadiamantis and toured it in many cities and islands of Greece. (2009-2011) "The American" was also presented in Michalis Kakogiannis Foundation in January and March of 2011.
Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2011 - Alexandros Papadiamantis and "A Dream on the wave"
In July of 2011, Thanassis Sarantos adapted, acted and directed another story written by Alexandros Papadiamantis: that was the "A Dream on the wave" ("Oneiro sto kyma"), one of the cultural events of Athens and Epidaurus Festival 2011.
"A Dream on the wave"
Writer: Alexandros Papadiamantis
Director - performance: Thanassis Sarantos
This play was dedicated to the writer's memory - honouring the centenary of his death. "A Dream on the wave" is one of the writer's most important works and the first short story in modern Greek literature to describe a nude. The story of the young shepherd's encounter with Moschoula speaks of the carefree spirit of youth, of bucolic simplicity and happiness close to nature, but it also sheds light on a traumatic, unconsummated passion in a production which combines dramatized narrative with live music and the moving image to convey the unique atmosphere of Papadiamantis' work.
"A Dream on the Wave" is on stage again at Acropol Theatre, for 4 performances, from March the 13th until April the 4th 2012.
- Television
- Thanassis Sarantos has also starred in various TV series in the National Greek Television (ERT) and other Greek TV channels.
- Filmography
2000 Cold Turkey, 16mm, 4min, B/W.
2001 Give me the Rose and the Glove, (To Ganti), 35mm, 9min, B/W. Second prize for best student film at the Film Festival of Drama, 2001. Best Photography award at Athens’ 3rd Fantastic Film Festival. Winner of a Greek Film Centre scholarship.
2004 White Light, (En Lefko), 35mm, 22 min, color. Audience Award at the1st Cyprus International Film Festival, 2006. Special Mention at the 13th Mediterranean Festival of New Filmmakers in Larissa, 2005. National Film Award 2004 (Greek Ministry of Culture for Short Film). Greek Film Centre award. Honorary distinction for best acting in the Film Festival of Drama 2004.
2009 Maria, 35mm, 27 min, color.
Talent Campus attendance Berlin 2007
