Born in Athens, Greece in 1977, Elina Psykou studied Film Direction at Lykourgos Stavrakos Film School and Sociology at Panteion University, both in
Athens. She continued her studies receiving her MA (DEA) in Cultural History in Paris, France (EHESS). In 2007, she participated in the Berlinale Talent
Campus. She has written and directed two short films and has also directed TV spots for the National Greek Opera. Her first feature film as a director, The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas, received the first award of the Works in Progress section at the Karlovy Vary IFF. She is a partner at
the Guanaco Film Production Company. (From LFF)
The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas
is playing as a part of LFF.
Women and Hollywood: Please give us your description of the film playing.
Elina Psykou: The eternal hourglass of existence is turned upside down again and again — and you with it, speck of dust! (“The Gay Science” by Friedrich Nietzsche).
WaH: What drew you to this script?
EP: A TV report: “Wallace Souza, a Brazilian TV presenter and politician, was accused of hiring hitmen to kill people in order to increase the
ratings of his program.Suspicions were raised because he was frequently first to the scene of a crime, gathering graphic footage of the
victims.”
WaH: What was the biggest challenge?
EP: As I hadn’t managed to find financing for the movie, it was a very big challenge for me to take on both the directing and the producing! I did it and
I didn’t regret it at all!
WaH: What advice do you have for other female directors?
EP: To continue making films despite of the difficulties they probably face.
WaH: Do you have any thoughts on what are the biggest challenges and/or opportunities for the future with the changing distribution mechanisms for films?
EP: The biggest opportunity is that via internet platforms the films can reach more people who until now didn’t have access to art house films. For me as a
filmmaker this is very important. I want my films to be viewed by as many people is possible. If someone — from a village I don’t know, in a country I
haven’t visited can watch my film, I communicate with him/her and for me this is the only reason to continue making films.
WaH: Name your favourite women directed film and why.
EP: Lourdes by Jessica Hausner
Lynne Ramsay
La Cienaga by Lucrecia Martel
All the films mentioned above combine high aesthetics, interesting content and form. They are at the same time sensitive and cruel like reality and women
are!
