Mihalis Gaziadis(1902-1988)

Mihalis Gaziadis was a pioneering Greek filmmaker, cinematographer, and director of photography, best known as one of the founders of the country's first film company, Dag Film, alongside his brothers Dimitris Gaziadis and Kostas Gaziadis. With a background in both technical and creative aspects of cinema, he played a central role in the early development of Greek filmmaking during the interwar period. In 1932, Mihalis and Kostas left Dag Film to establish Cosmopolitan Film (also known as Kosmofilm), which became a rival company to their brother's enterprise. The two firms frequently competed for major assignments, often clashing over film rights to important national events. Despite these tensions, both contributed significantly to the documentation of Greek public life and to the production of early newsreels and documentaries. Mihalis Gaziadis was highly regarded for his technical expertise and artistic precision behind the camera. As a cinematographer, he filmed numerous industrial, commercial, and educational documentaries, including promotional shorts for major Greek companies such as Papastratos, Fix Brewery, Pavlidis Chocolate, Heracles Cement, and EVGA, as well as tourist and cultural films highlighting Greek landscapes, archaeological sites, and national celebrations. His work extended to international collaborations and official state commissions, capturing historical moments such as athletic events, festivals, and public ceremonies. After years of rivalry, he eventually rejoined Dag Film, where he continued to shoot documentaries and industrial films until the late 1930s. A leading figure of Greece's formative cinematic years, Mihalis Gaziadis helped shape the country's visual record of its modern identity and remains an important name in the history of early Greek cinema.