
Sotiris Goritsas
Directing
Biography
Sotiris Goritsas (Athens, 1955 - ) is a Greek director. He studied economics at ASOEE (now the University of Economics) and cinema at the London International Film School (LIFS) in London. In the period 1985–1988 he directed over 25 documentaries for ET1, for the broadcasts of ERT in Northern Greece and Periscope. At the same time, he also worked in advertising. His films have been presented at international competitive festivals (Cannes, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago, Amiens, Cairo, etc.) where they have received awards and distinctions for the script and direction. Despina's first medium length film was awarded in 1990 as the 1st best at the Thes/kis festival. His first major film From the Snow won the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in 1993 and many awards at other international festivals. The second film of the Balkanizer in 1997 was a great commercial success which marked the beginning of the return of the public to the Greek film. His film From the Bones was awarded in 2011 as the 1st best film at the Los Angeles festival and by the Hellenic Film Academy (E.A.K) for its actors and editing.
Known For

In the mid-1960s, Kostas left his village in Crete dreaming of becoming a star. His rugged physique and humble background afforded him only small “tough-guy” roles, yet in numerous Greek films – from big studio productions and renowned auteur masterpieces to low-budget exploitation films alike. By placing a support actor at centerstage, the film traces five decades of Greek cinema.
The Golden Grip

The trainee Orthopedic Doctor George Spyrou began his career in the fictional General Orthopedic Hospital "All Saints', somewhere on the outskirts of Athens. There you will discover that the hospital population, by physicians, administrators and nurses, to patients, they are all forced to confront dancing a grotesque dance routine. With humor and humanity within a social landscape so angry George Spyratos trying to balance between the warring parties these microcosms. The gradual evolution from inexperienced trainee to experienced editor will be done through the encounter with the absurd environment. Something that would transform from naive young man who initially stands speechless in front of modern Greek chaos, a mature man who will ultimately make a thoughtful account of choice, but persevere, continue to work on public health.
Welcome to 'All Saints

Two friends from a small Greek town travel to Bulgaria and Switzerland, hoping they can gain money from the difference in foreign exchange rates.
Balkanisateur

Holy Week in Pelion. Two friendly Athenians couples find in their yard corpse of a stranger. They try to avoid the charge of murder by locals, while in the whole fuss becoming uncovered secrets that will change the lives of everyone.
Parees

Vasilis Arvanitakis after spending the E.U money for buying a poor Brazilian Football player, must face the two members of the E.U who will come to check how and where the money is spent...
Brazilero

This highly acclaimed drama from Greek writer/director Sotiris Goritsas, inspired by the Sotiris Dimitriou short story, represented Greece as an official selection for the 1994 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight. It concerns two young Greek men seeking refuge in Albania. Thomas (Vassilis Eleftheriadis) and Achilleas (Ierassimos Skiadaeressis) make an illegal late-night run at the Greek border, joined by young Nikos (Antonis Manolas), a child whose mother had been killed by Albanian guards. Returning to Athens, they find that the land they had missed and dreamed of so often has changed, refusing to accept the returning refugees or even see them as Greek -- the locals refer to the trio as "Albanians" throughout the film. Demoralized and disillusioned, Thomas is accidentally killed while working at a building site to make ends meet, and Achilleas and Nikos decide to return to their Albanian village rather than stay in an Athens, which clearly has no place for them anymore.
From the Snow

On a day when downtown Athens is experiencing yet another ordinary upheaval, young lawyer Antonis Spetsiotis is celebrating his birthday. However, his birthday will unfold in a completely unexpected way, taking him from the courts of Evelpidon to glamorous cafés and dark parking lots on the National Road, from his tidy bachelor pad in Lycabettus to farmhouses in Chalkoutsi and luxurious villas in Aliartos – and will end unpredictably at dawn in Athens.
Where We Live

Despoina, a 20-year-old girl from a village in Evros, trying to find a way out of her stifling provincial life, runs away with a reserve officer to Athens, believing that there she will find the fulfillment of her dreams.