Alkaios Spyrou

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HD | 15:40 | 2024 | Athens, Greece | Color A hybrid memoir combining documentary, autobiography, and crafted narrative into a personal journey that follows the violence of a run-down neighbourhood in Athens, threatened by the shadow of redevelopment. Directed by: Alcaeus Spyrou | Sound Design: Kyrgiakos Charalampedes, Zois Loumakis

Pave Paradise - Teaser, 2023
00:46
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HD |11:41 | 2020 | Ceraunian Mountains, Albania | Color A team of ethnographers visit for the last time a community of elderly women on the Ceraunian Mountains, near the border between Albania and Greece. Directed by: Alcaeus Spyrou, Aris Maleas | Cinematography: Joseph Kesisoglou

Why the Mountains Are Black - Teaser, 2020
03:04
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HD |11:41 | 2020 | Ceraunian Mountains, Albania | Color A team of ethnographers visit for the last time a community of elderly women on the Ceraunian Mountains, near the border between Albania and Greece. Directed by: Alcaeus Spyrou, Aris Maleas | Cinematography: Joseph Kesisoglou

Why the Mountains Are Black - Excerpt, 2020
00:55
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HD | 19:15 | 2018 | North Sea | Color A container ship is not an inanimate object. The ship that travels thousands of miles on the high seas is full of life, stories, tragedy and hope. The harbours reached, the industrial landscape one encounters, the cargo that floats in an endless ocean. Anina is a psycho-geographic film essay, documenting the ethnographic tendencies of the industrial landscape and its malevolent stature over the individual. The shipping industry’s ever-shifting landscape, affecting even this interaction you are having with this text, crafts its own mythology. Directed by: Alcaeus Spyrou | Sound Design: Chris Loupis

Anina - Excerpt I, 2018
02:22
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'The Stream' is a series of photographs captured in the canals of the Netherlands. They present the microcosmic arrangements that are assembled through the currents, as well as, their symbiotic connection with litter.

Tranquil Navy, 2018
35mm Film Photograph, 0.3 x 101.6 x 152.4
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HD | 19:15 | 2018 | North Sea | Color A container ship is not an inanimate object. The ship that travels thousands of miles on the high seas is full of life, stories, tragedy and hope. The harbours reached, the industrial landscape one encounters, the cargo that floats in an endless ocean. Anina is a psycho-geographic film essay, documenting the ethnographic tendencies of the industrial landscape and its malevolent stature over the individual. The shipping industry’s ever-shifting landscape, affecting even this interaction you are having with this text, crafts its own mythology. Directed by: Alcaeus Spyrou | Sound Design: Chris Loupis

Anina - Excerpt II, 2018
02:44
info
'The Stream' is a series of photographs captured in the canals of the Netherlands. They present the microcosmic arrangements that are assembled through the currents, as well as, their symbiotic connection with litter.

Mulberry Blue, 2018
35mm Film Photograph, 0.3 x 101.6 x 152.4
info
'The Stream' is a series of photographs captured in the canals of the Netherlands. They present the microcosmic arrangements that are assembled through the currents, as well as, their symbiotic connection with litter.

Olive Moss, 2018
35mm Film Photograph, 0.3 x 101.6 x 152.4
info
'The Stream' is a series of photographs captured in the canals of the Netherlands. They present the microcosmic arrangements that are assembled through the currents, as well as, their symbiotic connection with litter.

Emerald White, 2018
35mm Film Photograph, 0.3 x 101.6 x 152.4
info
'The Stream' is a series of photographs captured in the canals of the Netherlands. They present the microcosmic arrangements that are assembled through the currents, as well as, their symbiotic connection with litter.

Grey Silver, 2018
35mm Film Photograph, 0.3 x 101.6 x 152.4

Some information on this page is only available in Dutch

Standing in-between art and cinema, my practice explores industrial landscapes in their spiritual dimensions.

Through my filmmaking practice, I research mythologies of industrial landscapes and develop their iconography to better communicate these sites to the public. By documenting these superstructures in their logistical abstraction, but also in their metaphysical and spiritual dimensions, I aim to make visible the effects they have on the environment and the inhabitants that operate in them. These cultural landscapes contain archaeological evidence of how factors of production are organised in depth of time, their geo-political implications, and more importantly, how they stand as a reflection of society’s moral heritage. Film-essays can reshape the iconography of these environments, thus offering new languages to understand and address the frustrations, and anxieties that these sites produce. Industrial landscapes can offer a window into our past, present, and future, that abstract data alone cannot narrate.

Websites

Personal Website/ Portfolio

www.alcaeusspyrou.com/

Director page at the streaming service Mubi.com

mubi.com/films/anina-2017

Artist page at Bloomberg New Contemporaries

www.newcontemporaries.org.uk/2018/artists/alcaeus-spyrou

Google Knowledge Panel

g.co/kgs/dVz7aR

Director Page at British Films Directory

film.britishcouncil.org/anina

Social media

www.instagram.com/alcaeusspyrou/

vimeo.com/alcaeusspyrou

Member of a platform, digital or otherwise

British Council Film

Rencontres Internationales

Member of a professional association/artists’ association

Bloomberg New Contemporaries

Curriculum vitae

Education

2018 - 2020

MA Artistic Research Den Haag, Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten diploma
2014 - 2017

BA(Hons) Fine Art Middlesex University diploma

exhibitions

2025

Prospects Art Rotterdam Rotterdam, Netherlands The Prospects exhibition, organized annually by the Mondriaan Fund during Art Rotterdam, aims to enhance the visibility of emerging artists in the Netherlands. This initiative provides a platform for artists who have recently received financial support from the fund, allowing art professionals, collectors, and the general public to engage with their work www.artrotterdam.com/
2024

DISFF Awarded Films Thessaloniki International Film Festival Thessaloniki, Greece The Thessaloniki International Film Festival (TIFF), established in 1960, is Greece’s premier cinematic event, held annually in November. It serves as a vital platform for independent filmmakers worldwide, emphasizing emerging talents and innovative storytelling. TIFF’s diverse program includes International Competition sections, tributes to renowned filmmakers, and industry-focused events like the Agora, which fosters collaborations and project development. Screenings take place in historic venues such as the “Olympion” theater and warehouses at the Thessaloniki port, attracting over 80,000 attendees each year. www.filmfestival.gr/en/
2024

Greek Short Stories Athens International Film Festival Athens, Greece The Athens International Film Festival (AIFF), established in 1995, is a prominent annual event held every September in Athens, Greece. Organized by the Athens Film Society, AIFF aims to highlight lesser-known aspects of independent cinema, introducing audiences to some of the best productions of the year and serving as the ideal opening of the upcoming movie season en.aiff.gr/
2024

47th Drama International Short Film Festival Drama International Short Film Festival Drama, Morocco The Drama International Short Film Festival (DISFF), established in 1978 in Drama, Greece, is the nation’s premier event dedicated to short films. Held annually in September, the festival serves as a vital platform for filmmakers and industry professionals to showcase and discuss new works. DISFF features a range of competitions, including National, International, Student, Animation, and specialized categories like “Short and Green” focusing on environmental themes. Notably, it is an Oscar® and European Film Academy qualifying festival, providing significant recognition to its award-winning films. Beyond screenings, DISFF offers parallel events such as pitching labs, masterclasses, and networking opportunities, fostering collaboration and the advancement of short-form cinema. www.dramafilmfestival.gr/ Group
2021

MAF Young Masters Media Art Festival Leeuwarden, Netherlands An annual competition for art graduates across the Benelux region. My film, Anina, was awarded the MAF Audience Award www.mediaartfestival.nl/category/maf-en/young-masters-en/?lang=en Group
2021

Mediterranea Biennial 19 Mediterranea Biennial San Marino, San Marino The 19th edition of the Biennale of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean. mediterraneabiennial.org/ Group
2019

Rencontes Internationales Paris/Berlin Forum des Images Paris, France Annual International Meeting in Paris and Berlin dedicated to contemporary moving images. www.art-action.org/ Group
2019

Rencontes Internationales Paris/Berlin Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt Berlin, Germany Annual International Meeting in Paris and Berlin dedicated to contemporary moving images. www.art-action.org/ Group
2019

Prague Short Film Festival Svetozor Prague, Czech Republic Annual Short Films Festival organized by Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. pragueshorts.com/en/program/film/27622-Anina Group
2018

Athens Avant Garde Film Festival Greek Film Archive Athens, Greece Film festival focusing on innovative research into the cinematic medium. 9aagff.tainiothiki.gr/en/anina-3/ Group
2018

Report - Notes from Reality European Media Art Festival Osnabruck, Germany EMAF is internationally known as one of the most influential forums of contemporary Media Arts. The festival sees itself as a place of experimentation and a laboratory where extraordinary works, projects and ventures are created and presented. As a meeting point for artists, curators, distributors, galleries and the audience the festival has a great impact on the topics and aesthetics of Media Arts. www.emaf.de/ Group
2018

Swedenborg Film Festival Swedenborg Society London, United Kingdom o-curated by Gareth Evans (Whitechapel Gallery) and Nora Foster (Frieze), the Swedenborg Film Festival invites entries from the latest emerging and established talent of experimental and artist film. www.swedenborg.org.uk/events/swedenborg_film_festival/swedenborg_film_festival_2018_with_susan_hiller/sff_winners_2018 Group
2018

Istanbul International Experimental Film Festival Beyoglu Yesilcam Istanbul, Turkey Istanbul International Experimental Film Festival is a pioneering showcase of avant-garde and experimental cinema in Turkey. The inaugurate IIEFF took place in November 2018 where more than 150 features and shorts from 50+ countries were showcased. istanbulexperimental.com Group
2018

Visions in the Nunnery Nunnery Gallery London, United Kingdom Visions in the Nunnery is an exhibition of recent performance and moving image works by emerging and established artists at the Nunnery Gallery in Bow, London. Artists from all over the world are invited to submit moving image and performance works made in the last two years. bowarts.org/nunnery/visions-in-the-nunnery-2016 Group
2018

Modern Body Festival: Alien Bodies The Gray Space in The Middle The Hague, Netherlands Modern Body Festival is an intermedia art festival in The Hague, founded and curated by artists. modernbodyfestival.org/ Group
2018

Bloomberg New Contemporaries Liverpool Biennial Liverpool, United Kingdom New Contemporaries offers an insight into today’s creative practices, showcasing some of the most dynamic work being made by emerging artists. Established in 1949, this is the first year New Contemporaries profiles emerging talent from alternative as well as formal learning programmes from across the UK. www.biennial.com/2018/partner/bloomberg-new-contemporaries-2018 Group
2018

Bloomberg New Contemporaries South London Gallery London, United Kingdom New Contemporaries offers an insight into today’s creative practices, showcasing some of the most dynamic work being made by emerging artists. Established in 1949, this is the first year New Contemporaries profiles emerging talent from alternative as well as formal learning programmes from across the UK. www.southlondongallery.org/exhibitions/bloomberg-new-contemporaries-2018/ Group
2018

Once In Europa Whitechapel Gallery London, United Kingdom A triptych of responses to the crises informing the psyche, land and seascapes of Europe. Examining migration and asylum, Sarah Wood’s Boat People, container ship culture, Alkaios Spyrou’s Anina and the ruins of Olympic promise, Leo Metcalf’s DisAstro. www.whitechapelgallery.org/events/once-in-europa/ Group
2018

IndieLisboa International Film Festival Culturgest Lisbon, Portugal Annual international competition of independent films indielisboa.com/en/movies/anina/ Group

Projects

2024

Sales/Works in collections

2022

Media Library Argos Collection Brussels, België Argos Centre of Audiovisual Arts, houses the richest collection of artist films and videos in Belgium, being a reference for audiovisual arts internationally. With more than 5000 titles covering more than fifty years of production.

reviews

2021

Alcaeus Spyrou: A Cold Metal World Floating On An Even Colder Sea Website Jan Herman de Boer Leeuwarden, Netherlands tasaworat.net/a-cold-metal-world-floating-on-an-even-colder-sea/ Review of the film, Anina, during its participation on Media Art Festival Leeuwarden
2020

Metropolis M Eindexamenspecial 2020 Magazine Marie van Leeuwen Amsterdam, Netherlands www.metropolism.com/nl/features/41967_nu_in_de_winkel_metropolis_m_nr_5_2020_wat_is_nederland_eindexamenspecial_2020 Feature on the special edition ' Eindexamenspecial 2020' accompaniment of Metropolis M Magazine, in where I discuss my MA thesis, Pave Paradise.
2019

9th Cairo Video Festival: Decentralization, representation and potentiality Newspaper Ash Moniz Cairo, Egypt www.madamasr.com/en/2019/10/10/feature/culture/9th-cairo-video-festival-decentralization-representation-and-potentiality/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=6a9c1a737246e726421cc5c734849b2d2f956173-1615380759-0-AS-RC0qRJ3DxN7fh9A_wytBvIPFMEnToactxdClPlvGlEwPTbGT_9_RYEnl Review for the film, Anina, during its participation on the 9th Cairo Video Festival
2019

ANINA by Alcaeus Spyrou | 9th Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival Website Aigli Andritsopoulou Athens, Greece www.ferociousurbanites.com/post/anina-by-alcaeus-spyrou-9th-athens-avant-garde-film-festival Article for the film, Anina, during its participation at the 9th Athens Avant-Garde Film Festival

Awards and grants

2024

National Competition - Documentary Award Drama International Short Film Festival Drama, Greece Award for the film "Pave Paradise" at the 47th Drama International Short Film Festival.
2021

MAF Audience Award Media Art Festival leeuwarden Leeuwarden, Netherlands Award decision through audience voting. Awarded for the project 'Anina'
2020

C/O Berlin Talent Award C/O Berlin Berlin, Germany Talent award competition for politically engaged photography and moving image. Nominated by Delphine Bedel.
2018

GM Arts Prize / Shortlisted GM Chamber of Commerce Manchester, United Kingdom The prize has been created to provide a platform for contemporary visual artists to become connected to the region’s business community, help provide opportunities for artists to be recognised on a national/international scale and help retain artistic talent in our area. The GM Arts Prize Exhibition at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery
2018

Swedenborg Prize Swedenborg Society London, United Kingdom Winner of the Swedenborg Film Festival. Awarded by Susan Hiller.
2017

John Walker Prize Middlesex University London, United Kingdom Awarded for my BA Graduation thesis for outstanding Academic Achievement

Secondary art-related activities

2022 - --

Editing Instructor at ACPA Leiden On-going