Private Project

Smile it ®

During a daily stroll in the park, the youngest of two brothers, Marco -who has been diagnosed with autism- runs away from Elias to follow a little girl.
As his big brother wanders in agony, eerie figures intercede sending him on an adventurous pursuit through the park.

  • YIORGOS TZIVELEKIS
    Director
  • THALIA XIDAKI
    Producer
  • YIORGOS TZIVELEKIS
    Producer
  • PANAGIOTIS DRAKATOS
    Key Cast
    "MARKOS"
  • KOSTIS MPOUNTAS
    Key Cast
    "ELIAS"
  • VAGELIS CHATZINIKOLAOU
    Key Cast
    "GENTLEMAN, STREET CLEANER, HOMELESS, NEIGHBOR "
  • TAKIS SAKELLARIOU
    Key Cast
    "DAD"
  • ERATO TZIVELEKI
    Key Cast
    "YOUNG GIRL"
  • TASOS GIANNOPOULOS
    Key Cast
    "MAN IN PARK"
  • MARIA SKAFTOURA
    Key Cast
    "WOMAN IN PARK"
  • FROSSO ZAGOREOU
    Key Cast
    "LIVING STATUE"
  • AGAPI PAPATHANASIADOU
    Key Cast
    "MANIA (voice)"
  • YIORGOS TZIVELEKIS
    Writer
  • THOMAS GINIS
    Cinematography
  • HELEN HARRIS
    Co-Producers
  • PLATON PAPADIMITRIOU
    Co-Producers
  • THOMAS GINIS
    Co-Producers
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Smile it ®
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family, Adventure, Fantasy
  • Runtime:
    16 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 13, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Greece
  • Country of Filming:
    Greece
  • Language:
    Modern Greek (1453-)
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2,35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - YIORGOS TZIVELEKIS

Born in Athens, Greece, Yiorgos Tzivelekis spent his youth studying the violin, classical and byzantine music, theory and harmony at the Music School of Athens (Odio Athinon). Later, he attended the Cinema School Papantonopoulou where he specialized in sound engineering and editing.

Since 1996, Yiorgos has worked as a session bass player, musical arranger, composer and sound designer/editor for songs and TV/radio commercials. Yiorgos has collaborated with many well-known Greek composers and singers in studio as well as live performances around the world. He is credited in over 600 songs as an arranger and/or sound engineer.

Realizing his passion for creating art beyond music, in 2014, Yiorgos began writing scripts for plays and films. The following years he attended theatrical and film directing seminars and In 2017 he directed his first music video. The same year, Yiorgos also made his first short film, “BLOT” which has won distinctions in festivals all over the world. This year Yiorgos is working on the scripts of a tv series and he completed his second short film "Smile It ®".

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Director Statement

(ENGLISH)
"Once upon a future time,
I am able to leave my home on my own, to cross a busy a street,
to climb up and down stairs, to dart carefree through the park…
Once upon a future time,
I am able to express myself freely, to not be afraid to shout,
to sing out, to laugh…
Once upon a future time,
I am greeted with neighbourly hellos,
I attend any school I choose,
I am picked for games with the other kids…
Once upon a future time,
I find a fulfilling career and when I get off work I can go out and have fun!

I, who am a person with a disability, have a hard time surviving in my town.
Yet, I want to live and smile, and yes I want to do it here.
In this land."

(GREEK)
“Τι ωραία θα ήταν να μπορούσα να βγαίνω μόνος μου από το σπίτι, να διέσχιζα έναν δρόμο, να ανεβοκατέβαινα σκαλιά και να ‘τρεχα ξένοιαστος στα πάρκα.
Θα ‘θελα να εκφραζόμουν όπως θέλω, να μη φοβόμουν να φωνάξω, να αντιδράσω, να γελάσω.
Θα μου άρεσε να με καλημερίζει η γειτονιά, να μπορώ να πηγαίνω σε όποιο σχολείο θέλω, να με παίζουν και τα άλλα τα παιδιά.
Πόσο ωραία θα ήταν να έβρισκα μια δουλειά που να με γεμίζει και όταν σχολάω, να βγαίνω για διασκέδαση.
Εγώ, που έχω κάποια σωµατική, ψυχική ή πνευµατική αναπηρία, δυσκολεύοµαι να επιβιώσω στη χώρα μου.
Εγώ όµως θέλω να ζω, να ονειρεύομαι, να χαμογελώ και µάλιστα εδώ, σε τούτο ‘δω τον τόπο.”