EXCLUSIVE: After posting report field workplace figures in Greece, Stelios, a biopic of the revered Greek musician Stelios Kazantzidis, is heading stateside for a theatrical launch by way of Firestorm Entertainment.
Firestorm will launch the flick in theaters throughout the U.S. and Canada from Could ninth.
Directed by Yorgos Tsemberopoulos and produced by Tanweer Productions, Stelios stars Christos Mastoras, lead singer of the band Melisses, as Kazantzidis. Since its launch in Greece in December, Stelios has handed 920,000 admissions, rapidly climbing the native charts to change into the fourth highest-grossing Greek movie of all time.
The movie explores Kazantzakis’s distinctive life story, from his childhood as a Pontus refugee to his begin within the music enterprise and the way he grew to become one in all Greece’s most beloved artists. Finest recognized for his tunes which combined Greek rebetiko and laïko traditions, Kazantzakis was considered the voice of the individuals. His songs typically explored themes of affection, migration, and resilience.
Such was his quiet but world recognition, Frank Sinatra is commonly quoted to have mentioned of Kazantzidis: “If Stelios Kazantzidis had been in the US, he would have had a much bigger profession than me.”
Stelios is co-produced by Aegean Oil, Finos Movie, Cosmote TV, Hellenic Movie and Audiovisual Middle- Artistic Greece, Stardust Results, and Black Orange, with sponsorship from Customized Productions, DEI, the Greek Nationwide Tourism Group, and the Hellenic Healthcare Group.
Along with opening within the US and Canada, Stelios is about for theatrical launch in the UK (Two Contemporary), Germany, Switzerland and Austria (Kinostar), the Netherlands (Kinepolis), Turkey (The Moments Leisure), Australia (Palace Cinamas), Israel (Tulip Leisure), with offers being set for South Africa and Central and Jap Europe.
“Stelios Kazantzidis is not only a musician – he’s a voice of resilience, hope, and keenness that has outlined Greek tradition for generations,” Tsemberopoulos mentioned in an announcement. “This movie is a tribute to his legacy, and we’re thrilled to share it with audiences world wide.”
Firestorm Leisure is the theatrical distribution label based and run by trade veterans Amorette Jones, Evan Saxon, and Joe Garel — the distribution and advertising and marketing workforce behind the hit Filipino drama Good day, Love, Once more.
Producer Dionyssis Samiotis added: “The overwhelming response in Greece proves the lasting affect of Stelios Kazantzidis’ music. His voice spoke to the soul of the nation, and this movie captures his unbelievable journey.”
