THE TRAGEDY OF DOMNA VISVIZI
"The Tragedy of Domna Visvizi," is a multidisciplinary work of art combining the poetry of lyrics, music, dance, acting, cinematography and sound design to tell the story of the forsaken and forgotten Greek patriot and heroine Domna Visvizi from the time of her husband's death in 1822, to her own in 1850.
Its purpose is to use the richness and magic that multidisciplinary art is uniquely capable of to breathe life back into Domna Visvizi in a more modern era - today. Through the portal of the camera lens, in the Tragedy of Domna Visvizi, Domna stands before us now, when her status as a woman, mother, wife and warrior are even more reason to pay respect and homage to her incredible generosity, valour and sacrifice rather than disqualify her from the pantheon of great Greek heroes and patriots where she has more than earned her rightful place.
"I cry, but I find no mercy. My screams pierce even the heavens. I fought for freedom and the homeland. I lost my love, my partner, my children... and there is this bitterness. My homeland is not independent yet."
Domna Visvizi - 1826
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Katerina GiannakopoulouDirectorD.O.P., Dimitris Tektonidis
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Mixalis IliaskosDirectorVoice Over, Katerina Giannakopoulou
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Mixalis Iliaskos & Katerina GiannakopoulouWriterSound Design, Marc Fragstein
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Greek Natural VideosProducer
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Mixalis IliaskosKey Cast"Chatziantonis Visvizi"
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Katerina GiannakopoulouKey Cast"Domna Visviizi"
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Project Type:Experimental, Music Video, Short
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Genres:Insprirational, Musicfilm, Experimental, Romancefilm, Documentary, Artfilm
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Runtime:4 minutes 8 seconds
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Completion Date:September 30, 2020
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Production Budget:5,000 EUR
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Country of Origin:Greece
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Country of Filming:Greece
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Language:Modern Greek (1453-)
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Shooting Format:Fujifilm XT-3 (aus-c sensor)
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Oniros Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
WINNER BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM -
Osiris Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
WINNER Best Dance Choreography -
Oniros Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
Grand Jury Award Winner Best Song -
New York International Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
Winner Best Romance -
New York International Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
Winner Best Scenorgaphy -
New York International Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
Winner Best Voice Over -
New York International Film AwardsNew York
United States
November 6, 2020
Winner Best Dance Choreography -
Los Angeles Film AwardsLos Angeles
United States
November 2, 2020
Honorable Mention Romance Film -
Sicily Independent Film AwardsSicily
Italy
Best Music Video -
Oniros Film AwardsNew York
United States
December 4, 2020
Best Scenography -
Oniros Film AwardsNew York
United States
December 4, 2020
Honorable Mention Best Sound Design -
Filmcon Awards
United States
Best Inspirational Film -
Vegas Movie AwardsLas Vegas
United States
January 5, 2021
Best Romance Film (Award of Prestige) -
Vegas Movie AwardsLas Vegas
United States
January 5, 2021
Best Duo (Award of Prestige) -
Vegas Movie AwardsLas Vegas
United States
January 5, 2021
Best Choreography (Award of Prestige) -
Vegas Movie AwardsLas Vegas
United States
January 5, 2021
Best Voice Over (Award of Merit) -
Vegas Movie AwardsLas Vegas
United States
January 5, 2021
Best Sound Design (Award of Merit) -
Athens Inernational Monthly Art Film FestivalAthens
Greece
January 5, 2021
Honorable Mention -
Global Film AwardsLos Angeles
United States
Best Actress -
Global Film AwardsLos Angeles
United States
Best Romance Short Film -
Oasis Inter Film FestivalBombay
India
Best Music Video -
Imagine Rain Film Awards
United States
BEST ROMANCE FILM -
Imagine Rain Film Awards
United States
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT -
Imagine Rain Film Awards
United States
BEST VOICE OVER -
Imagine Rain Film Awards
United States
Best Original Story -
Art Film AwardsSkopia
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Best Actress -
Art Film AwardsSkopia
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Honorable Mention Best Director -
Art Film AwardsSkopia
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Honorable Mention BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM -
Art Film AwardsSkopia
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Honorable Mention BEST MUSIC VIDEO -
Art Film AwardsSkopia
Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Honorable Mention BEST POSTER -
WSXA - InternationalBarcelona
Spain
BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM 2021 -
New York Film AwardsNew York
United States
BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM -
Experimental Dance & Music Film FestivalToronto
Canada
Audience Award BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY -
Wallachia International Film Festival
Romania
Special Jury Mention -
2o AXD Short Film FestivalAlexandroupoli
Greece
June 25, 2021
Special Mention 2021 -
Continental Film Awards 4th Edition
Best European Music Video -
Continental Film Awards 4th Edition
Best European Actress -
12th Bridges International Film FestivalCorinthos
Greece
August 30, 2021
Oficial Selection -
8o Documentary Festival Ierapetra & AwardsIerapetra
Greece
August 16, 2021
Official Selection -
Liftoff Global NetworkToronto
Canada
July 15, 2021
Official Selection -
Direct Monthly Online Film Festival
Best Female Director -
Direct Monthly Online Film Festival
Best Editing -
Direct Monthly Online Film Festival
Best Romance Film -
Cannes World Film FestivalCannes World Film Festival
France
Best Romance Film
IKaterina is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, writer and director of Greek origin living in Cologne, Germany. With the slogan “ARTS FOR SOCIAL CHANGE!” she connects with international artists, filmmakers, associations and organizations with the aim of creating innovative performances and films that deal critically with socially relevant topics, raise awareness, and inform society about them over the long term.
Only Human 1. part - 2021 (Documentary Short)
Director, Dramaturgy, Coach - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Producer - Stephi Siebert
Production Company - cineMars
The Tragedy of Domna Visvizi - 2020 (Experimental Film)
Director, Actress, Dancer, Producer - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Production Company - Greek Natural Videos
Pandemia - 2020 (Experimental Film)
Director, Dancer, Actress, Producer - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Production Company - Public Vision
DIALOG - 2019 (Music Video)
Director, Dancer, Producer - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Production Company - Public Vision
LINIE 18 - 2018 (Experimental Dance Film)
Director, Concept, Choreography, Dance - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Production Company - Greek Natural Videos
LOST & FOUND - 2018 (Dance Film)
Director, Dancer, Actress - Katerina Giannakopoulou -
Production Company - Greek Natural Videos
SEEKER - 2017 (Dance Film)
Director, Dancer, Actress - Katerina Giannakopoulou -
Production Company: Greek Natural Videos
TO FILAXTO - 2016 (Music Video)
Director, Dancer, Concept - Katerina Giannakopoulou
Producer: Greek Natural Videos
My multidisciplinary collaboration with Mixalis Iliaskos mirrors the relationship of the brave and patriotic Greek couple Visvizi in this cinematic homage filmed by Dimitris Tektonidis.
Switching between my role as director to my dual role as Domna Visvizi (dancer/actress) was only possible with much preparation & teamwork. Mixalis’ knowledge of Greek History, poetry, and the Greek aesthetic inspired and both guided me in becoming Domna Visvizi and allowed me to envision “The Tragedy of Domna Visvizi." With our amazing D.O.P. by our side, our film which initially started as a sketch on a mobile phone, was transformed into a rich multidisciplinary work of art.
Our great love for our Greek homeland lead us, in the mysterious ways life does, to the little known and long forgotten story of Domna Visvizi. Deeply moved and inspired, we immediately began the work of creating a heartfelt homage to Domna Visvizi poignantly recognizing both her great love and sacrifice for our shared homeland. The singer/songwriter/director Mixalis Iliaskos released a new single: "You... My sweet Madonna," with music by Sakis Tsilikis and lyrics by Toula Karoni for this film which is anchored in the powerful romantic bond of mutual admiration shared by the couple Vizvisi as a leitmotif of the dramatic life of this Thracian warrior from 1821 when her husband was killed in battle until her own death.
The lyrics and music of "You… My Sweet Madonna," guided us to interpret and direct the dramatic history of Domna Visvizi, forsaken woman, warrior, mother, wife and lover.
Domna Visvizi and her admiring husband express their love for Greece by forsaking their comfortable lives to fight for the liberation of Ainos and Halkidiki in the revolution of 1821 on their ship, Kalomira. Domna Visvizi's unredeemed valour, formidable gallantry, and undaunted confrontation with fate in the critical moments of her life, and the revolution, entitle her to the position of an awe-inspiring heroine in Greek history. Her extraordinary loyalty and courage elevate her stature to at least that of Bouboulina and Manto Mavrogenous. She died abandoned, poor and forsaken. Through a series of documents, excerpts of which are quoted, one can see the anxiety of the Thracian fighter for the success of the revolution, her great contribution and subsequent utter abandonment by the very state she fought to defend and liberate. Our movie was shot in beautiful Acritic Alexandroupolis, where the flags wave with the essence of Greece.
Lyrics:
You…sweet Madonna
My never-ending story
My homeland longing you are
Open your borders
Place me in your heart
You… my sweet Madonna
like a sacred icon
You are the maelstorm of my love
My sweet pain
Delicate figure like a slender branch you lean
and all the honey you envelop me in
You...my little chasm, lust in my body
You are my bitter doubt
Why are you chasing me?
My exotic Circe take me now to court with your magical voice
if I do not surrender.