Eva Stefani and I have been close friends since the late 1990s.
She had just completed the first and, by then, already fascinating chapter of her work on Paraskinio—1995-1999—during which she turned everything upside down, radically renewing Greek documentary cinema. It was precisely then, in 2000, that she recommended me to Lakis Papastathis so that I could join the Paraskinio team.
That is where the friendship between the three of us began, as well as my individual friendships with Lakis and Eva.
Although our age difference is not great, Eva had already progressed very far when I was just beginning, tentatively, to work in documentary through Paraskinio.
Our friendship with Eva always remained close. Her work had a decisive influence on me, even though our films are not alike: she devoted herself to the lost souls of this world in an admirably poetic way, while I focused on portraits of outsiders, people who live more in the shadow or have been forgotten, as well as works drawing on culture, sport and history.
When, in 2018, I realized that no comprehensive documentary had been made about her and her work—apart from a short television programme—I suggested that I begin filming her and simply follow wherever she went. With no money and no crew. My only collaborator was Apostolia Papaioannou, who also made the editing of the film.
Eight years later, we had the film ready. It is an attempt to capture cinematically both Eva's highly distinctive world and, from my side, a thank-you for everything I owe her.
Production:
Ordet - Apostolia Papaioannou
Direction - Screenplay - Camera:
Elias Giannakakis
Editing - Sound Mix:
Apostolia Papaioannou
Additional Footage:
Dimitris Kordelas & Apostolia Papaioannou
