Yannis Economides(I)
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Yannis Economides was born in Cyprus. In 1987 he moved to Athens, Greece, to pursue studies in law, but soon left law school to study filmmaking instead. After directing several documentaries and short films, in 2003 he wrote and directed his first feature film, Matchbox.
His second feature, Soul Kicking, premiered at the International Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. His third feature, Knifer, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2010 and went on to win seven Greek Film Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. His fourth feature, Stratos (To Mikro Psari), had its world premiere in the Official Competition of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival in 2014.
In 2016 Yannis Economides wrote and directed his first play, Sleep, Stella, Sleep, for the New Stage of the National Theatre in Athens. His fifth feature film, Ballad for a Pierced Heart, premiered in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and became a box office success in Greece. The film received 15 Greek Film Academy Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. In November 2022, Matchbox - The Musical premiered at the main stage of Onassis Stegi, with libretto and artistic direction by Yannis Economides. His sixth and most recent feature film, Broken Vein, was released in Greek theaters in 2025. All six of his feature films have been honored with the Greek Film Critics Association Award for Best Greek Feature Film of the Year. In 2026 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Hellenic Open University. His films have screened at several international film festivals.
His second feature, Soul Kicking, premiered at the International Critics' Week of the Cannes Film Festival in 2006. His third feature, Knifer, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2010 and went on to win seven Greek Film Academy Awards, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. His fourth feature, Stratos (To Mikro Psari), had its world premiere in the Official Competition of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival in 2014.
In 2016 Yannis Economides wrote and directed his first play, Sleep, Stella, Sleep, for the New Stage of the National Theatre in Athens. His fifth feature film, Ballad for a Pierced Heart, premiered in 2020 during the COVID pandemic and became a box office success in Greece. The film received 15 Greek Film Academy Award nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. In November 2022, Matchbox - The Musical premiered at the main stage of Onassis Stegi, with libretto and artistic direction by Yannis Economides. His sixth and most recent feature film, Broken Vein, was released in Greek theaters in 2025. All six of his feature films have been honored with the Greek Film Critics Association Award for Best Greek Feature Film of the Year. In 2026 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Hellenic Open University. His films have screened at several international film festivals.
