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4Caves – 4Seasons: “Journey into the Veins of the Earth”

Greece is known for its historic shipwrecks, the famous Greek summer, the ideal temperature, and the pristine sea waters, attracting divers from all over the world.
For us, however, this country has much more to offer. It has four seasons and about 10,000 caves, underwater and above ground, most unexplored and uncharted.
The last water frontier of our planet.
The “4 Caves – 4 Seasons” is a dive into four unique caves of the Peloponnese and film karst springs, rooms with cave themes of several meters, narrow siphons with sedimentary rocks, and well-hidden rooms untouched over the millennia. We roam from the Arcadian mountains to the spring of the ancient Inachos River through a route that reveals to us the geological history of our place in a unique way.

  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Director
  • Michael Roubis
    co-Director
    To navagio (2023-2024), Mavro Rodo (2022–2023), Prosfyges 1922: I zoi meta (2022), On Freedom - 200 Years Since the Greek Revolution (2021)
  • Andreas Andrikopoulos
    Writer
  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Producer
  • Andreas Andrikopoulos
    Key Cast
    Amphitrite (2017)
  • Stratis Kas
    Key Cast
    Amphitrite (2017), You Look Like Love (2020), Never (2021)
  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Key Cast
    Amphitrite (2017), Europe from Above (2021)
  • Matteo Ratto
    Key Cast
    Amphitrite (2017)
  • Vassilis Tsiairis
    Key Cast
    Amphitrite (2017)
  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Underwater Camera
    Amphitrite (2017), Europe from Above (2021)
  • Vassilis Tsiairis
    Underwater Camera
    Amphitrite (2017)
  • Magda Georgiadou
    Script Editing
    Y1: Sti siopi tou vythou (2020), Apo patrida se patrida (2023)
  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Director of Photography
    Amphitrite (2017)
  • Aggelos Arnaoutelis
    Pilot and AV Camera Operator
  • Aris Ninios
    Pilot and AV Camera Operator
  • Kostas Sigalas
    Pilot and AV Camera Operator
  • Spyros Tapas
    Pilot and AV Camera Operator
  • Paul Casselle
    Narration
    The Secret Underground Mouse Cult (2022), Frog Boy (2022), The Bill (1994)
  • Georgi Atanasov
    Narration
  • Minto Argyropoulos Sawas
    Film Editing
    Faith - Nikos Oikonomopoulos: Otan ta fota svinoun (2022)
  • Panagiotis Patsiaouras
    Color Grading
  • Ioannis Giannakopoulos
    Sound Design
  • Markos Vaxevanopoulos
    Scientific Support
    Europe from Above (2021)
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    4Σπήλαια - 4Εποχές: "Ταξίδι στις Φλέβες της Γης"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Poetic Documentary, Underwater, Nature, Participatory, Extreme Sports
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    40,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Greece
  • Country of Filming:
    Greece
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Golden Short Film Festival
    Abruzzo
    Italy
    July 1, 2024
    Official Selection: Golden Documentary Short
  • Neum underwater film festival

    Bosnia and Herzegovina
    August 23, 2024
    Quarter-Finalist: Underwater films
  • European Cinematography AWARDS (ECA)

    Netherlands
    September 30, 2024
    Award Winner: BEST UNDERWATER CINEMATOGRAPHY
  • LANE DOC FEST
    Jackson, TN
    United States
    October 5, 2024
    Finalist: Doc Short Environment
  • Florida Environmental Film Festival
    Florida
    United States
    November 8, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Indie Cine Tube Awards
    Kolkata
    India
    November 17, 2024
    Winner: Underwater Film
  • International Underwater Film Festival Belgrade
    Belgrade
    Serbia
    December 22, 2024
    Winner: Independent Film Production
  • Travel Beyond Film Festival
    Torondo
    Canada
    February 7, 2025
    Regional Premier
    Best Diving Film / Underwater Film
  • BCN Sports Film 2025
    Bercelona
    Spain
    February 21, 2025
    Finalist
Distribution Information
  • Nikolas Margaritis
    Country: Greece
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Nikolas Margaritis

Nikolas Margaritis's journey into the depths began in 2011 when he first delved into the mesmerizing world beneath the waves. From capturing the ethereal beauty of marine life to documenting underwater landscapes with precision and artistry, his work is a testament to his dedication and talent.

With a keen eye for detail and a deep-seated commitment to environmental conservation, Nikolas has carved a niche for himself in the realm of underwater filmmaking and photography.

Nikolas’s commitment extends beyond the lens, as he actively engages in various projects aimed at preserving marine ecosystems and raising awareness about environmental issues. From ghostfishing initiatives to 3D mapping expeditions, he is at the forefront of efforts to safeguard our oceans for future generations.

In 2017, Nikolas embarked on his first underwater filming project, “Amphitrite,” laying the foundation for a burgeoning career in cinematography beneath the waves.
Currently, he is immersed in the post-production phase of his latest endeavor, “4Caves – 4Seasons: Journey into the Veins of the Earth,” a visual odyssey that promises to captivate audiences with its immersive storytelling and breathtaking imagery.

Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, Nikolas is actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with nonprofit organizations, leveraging his skills and experience to contribute to initiatives that promote ocean conservation and environmental stewardship.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The production of "4Caves - 4Seasons: Journey to the veins of the Earth" is an ambitious endeavor by our team Top2Bottom Diving Team stemming from our passion and love for the geological riches of our country.

The conception of the idea sprang out of the wealth of emotions that nature generates in our souls through the change of seasons, something that we also universally experience through our underwater wanderings in these 4 very different caves of our country, on the Peloponnese peninsula, presented in the film.

The filming is, as was the entire production of "4Caves 4Seasons", financed entirely by us, since April 2018 when our underwater journey began, from all 5 members of the Top2Bottom Diving Team. The production of the documentary was interrupted in 2020, due to the global COVID pandemic and the return to normality found the team fractured, since by then 3 members had left the group. Despite the challenges and adversities we faced, Andreas and I felt determined to see this film hit the festival screens.

"4 Caves - 4Seasons" reflects our enthusiasm and strong will to share with the general public all the magic we encounter during our underwater journeys.

Caves are not merely the setting, but the main characters and narrators of an ancient saga. We explore 4 underwater caves in the Peloponnese, 1 per season, to uncover these ancient geological wonders, untouched for thousands of years, to capture their captivating beauty and profound significance, and highlight the need for ongoing research and conservation efforts.

This documentary is more than an exploration film. "4 Caves - 4Seasons" is a journey through time and space, an ode to the veins of the earth.