Stavros Psyllakis

Directing

Stavros Psyllakis

Born 1954-01-30 · Chania, Crete, Greece

Stavros Psyllakis (Chania, January 30, 1954) is a Greek director and producer of anthropocentric documentaries that usually focus on borderline situations of human existence. He has been honored with awards in Greece and abroad, with the most important being the 1st Documentary Award of the Hellenic Film Academy in 2010 for the documentary THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY. He is considered one of the pioneers in Greece in the anthropocentric documentary, with a rich work of over 40 films, in which the films stand out: THE MAN WHO DISTURBED THE UNIVERSE, THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY, METAXA listening to time, OLYMPIA, SMALL STORIES ROMA, TO MESA FOS as well as the trilogy "ODES TO EXISTENCE" which includes the films GIA CHORIS GHORIS GOUOUS meetings with Giorgos Maniatis, OFEILI, APOCHERETISMOS the memory of the place He is a founding member of the Hellenic Film Academy (H.E.A.K.) and the Hellenic Documentary Association (H.E.N.).

Acting credits

Behind the camera

There Was No Other Way poster
9.5

Even after the Civil War had ended in the rest of Greece, a small rump of the Democratic Army, six men and two women, remained in hiding for 14 years in Chania, Crete, where they continued to take part in illegal political activity. In 1962, six of the former partisans escaped, via Italy, to Tashkent. The documentary focuses on the three who are still alive.

There Was No Other Way

2009

There Was No Other Way poster
9.5

Even after the Civil War had ended in the rest of Greece, a small rump of the Democratic Army, six men and two women, remained in hiding for 14 years in Chania, Crete, where they continued to take part in illegal political activity. In 1962, six of the former partisans escaped, via Italy, to Tashkent. The documentary focuses on the three who are still alive.

There Was No Other Way

2009

There Was No Other Way poster
9.5

Even after the Civil War had ended in the rest of Greece, a small rump of the Democratic Army, six men and two women, remained in hiding for 14 years in Chania, Crete, where they continued to take part in illegal political activity. In 1962, six of the former partisans escaped, via Italy, to Tashkent. The documentary focuses on the three who are still alive.

There Was No Other Way

2009

METAXA: listening to time poster
NR

Starting with doctors and staff of the Metaxa anti-cancer hospital who suffer from cancer themselves, we follow this special group of people as they continue to work in the hospital. From the shock of the first time one hears it, to the experience of "… I learnt to listen to time" cancer transforms from a death-threat to a life teacher for these people, not only adding years to their lives, but also adding Life to their years.

METAXA: listening to time

2012

METAXA: listening to time poster
NR

Starting with doctors and staff of the Metaxa anti-cancer hospital who suffer from cancer themselves, we follow this special group of people as they continue to work in the hospital. From the shock of the first time one hears it, to the experience of "… I learnt to listen to time" cancer transforms from a death-threat to a life teacher for these people, not only adding years to their lives, but also adding Life to their years.

METAXA: listening to time

2012

Sculpted Souls poster
NR

For 26 years (1972–1998), Swiss dentist Julien Grivel treated Hansenites (lepers) free of charge in Greece. An inner journey that helped him see the world and life differently. “By adopting the language of the Greeks, I unconsciously adopted their thinking,” he says. His friendship with ex-hansenite Manolis Fountoulakis was a catalyst.

Sculpted Souls

2025

Sculpted Souls poster
NR

For 26 years (1972–1998), Swiss dentist Julien Grivel treated Hansenites (lepers) free of charge in Greece. An inner journey that helped him see the world and life differently. “By adopting the language of the Greeks, I unconsciously adopted their thinking,” he says. His friendship with ex-hansenite Manolis Fountoulakis was a catalyst.

Sculpted Souls

2025

My photograph poster
NR

In "Spaces #1", 8 beloved Greek directors shot, after commissioning by the Festival, a short film at home, making their own timely comment on the new reality that we live in. The project is inspired by the book "Species of Spaces" by the French novelist, filmmaker, documentalist, and essayist, Georges Perec and the days of quarantine. The idea is to create a film at home, using the environment, the people or the animals in that space. The only outdoor areas that may be used are outdoor living spaces, such as the terrace, the garden, the balcony and the stairwell. "My photograph" is Stavros Psyllakis's submission.

My photograph

2020

The Man Who Disturbed the Universe poster
NR

A documentary focusing on two groups of mental patients. The first is located in the Mental Hospital of Chania and the daily life of patients is presented, their relationships, and their contact with reality. The second group, former patients, travels to Denmark in a rehabilitation journey.

The Man Who Disturbed the Universe

2000

The Man Who Disturbed the Universe poster
NR

A documentary focusing on two groups of mental patients. The first is located in the Mental Hospital of Chania and the daily life of patients is presented, their relationships, and their contact with reality. The second group, former patients, travels to Denmark in a rehabilitation journey.

The Man Who Disturbed the Universe

2000

Short Roma Stories poster
NR

Athanasia, Theodoros, George and Chrysoula live and move around Zefyri, Menidi and the wider region. They no longer live in chattels and camps, but in a modern urban environment, each according to what they can afford. Their children and grandchildren are trying to educate themselves. Through small stories about their lives, each of them slowly unfolds his own special personality. They become people with dreams, hopes and disappointments, but also with an ancestry that has importance.

Short Roma Stories

2014

Short Roma Stories poster
NR

Athanasia, Theodoros, George and Chrysoula live and move around Zefyri, Menidi and the wider region. They no longer live in chattels and camps, but in a modern urban environment, each according to what they can afford. Their children and grandchildren are trying to educate themselves. Through small stories about their lives, each of them slowly unfolds his own special personality. They become people with dreams, hopes and disappointments, but also with an ancestry that has importance.

Short Roma Stories

2014

The Light Inside poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Light Inside

2016

The Light Inside poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

The Light Inside

2016

Milonogianni 120, Chania poster
NR

“In 1981 I started working with Nikos on this job. 30 years have passed so fast. I really enjoy socializing here with people, and having fun together. We didn't make money, but it was beautiful”. Nikos and Thodoris have a repair shop for Vespas in Chania, Crete. Just before their retirement, with grease and bearings on their hands, they host us in their daily lives.

Milonogianni 120, Chania

2011

No artwork available
NR

Yorgos Maniatis (1939–2018), a legionnaire in Algeria at the age of 18, an author and later a musician, defines himself as a “public menace.” This film is not a biopic, but it rather seeks to explore the adventure of his soul: an inflammatory conscience in constant vigilance, which immolates itself. Life changes by those who change their lives, he says.

FOR NO REASON meetings with Giorgos Maniatis

2019

No artwork available
NR

Yorgos Maniatis (1939–2018), a legionnaire in Algeria at the age of 18, an author and later a musician, defines himself as a “public menace.” This film is not a biopic, but it rather seeks to explore the adventure of his soul: an inflammatory conscience in constant vigilance, which immolates itself. Life changes by those who change their lives, he says.

FOR NO REASON meetings with Giorgos Maniatis

2019

Debt poster
NR

‘Each person we meet in the course of our life is a journey and we often feel the need to travel with them first class or without luggage and empty pockets’. Alekos Zoukas is a darling man, fun-loving and at the same time a deep thinker. A man you can’t forget once you meet him. In the film, the travels of the director with Alekos Zoukas and his friends to Pirsogianni alternate with Alekos’ confessions about his experience with cancer. A tribute to friendship by a sinful angel…

Debt

2021

Debt poster
NR

‘Each person we meet in the course of our life is a journey and we often feel the need to travel with them first class or without luggage and empty pockets’. Alekos Zoukas is a darling man, fun-loving and at the same time a deep thinker. A man you can’t forget once you meet him. In the film, the travels of the director with Alekos Zoukas and his friends to Pirsogianni alternate with Alekos’ confessions about his experience with cancer. A tribute to friendship by a sinful angel…

Debt

2021

No artwork available
NR

Yannis Behrakis and Lefteris Pitarakis have recorded with their cameras notable war events and moments that marked humanity. Dilemma focuses on photojournalism’s importance and the ethical issues that arise during war or extreme violence. A single episode from ERT’s TV series Viewpoint.

Dilemma

2013

ABEA the congealed time poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

ABEA the congealed time

2002

Olympia poster
NR

Olympia, a 33-year old woman, is already three months pregnant when she finds out that she has lung cancer. After enough thought, she decides to keep the baby. Four months after giving birth to a healthy baby and while her cancer progresses fast, at the initiative of her doctor, Psyllakis and his colleagues will stay near the new mother and her family for four days, recording everything they can.

Olympia

2015

Olympia poster
NR

Olympia, a 33-year old woman, is already three months pregnant when she finds out that she has lung cancer. After enough thought, she decides to keep the baby. Four months after giving birth to a healthy baby and while her cancer progresses fast, at the initiative of her doctor, Psyllakis and his colleagues will stay near the new mother and her family for four days, recording everything they can.

Olympia

2015

Olympia poster
NR

Olympia, a 33-year old woman, is already three months pregnant when she finds out that she has lung cancer. After enough thought, she decides to keep the baby. Four months after giving birth to a healthy baby and while her cancer progresses fast, at the initiative of her doctor, Psyllakis and his colleagues will stay near the new mother and her family for four days, recording everything they can.

Olympia

2015