The European Academy of Sciences and Arts has elected the acclaimed Greek director Yannis Smaragdis as full member, representing contemporary Greek culture, making him the first Greek director to join the academy after its foundation in 1990. The Academy is based in Salzburg, Austria, and operates under the patronage of the presidents of 12 European nations.
The official ceremony welcoming the Greek director as a new academic member in the Academy’s Arts section will be held at the Academy’s headquarters in Salzburg on March, 2025. This is a significant honor that acknowledges Smaragdis profound cultural impact and 40-year legacy.
The Cretan born director has directed celebrated films such as “Cavafy”, “El Greco” and “Kazantzakis,” which were widely loved by audiences both in Greece and outside the country’s borders.
“It is a great honor to be elected by the European Academy of Sciences and Arts as a member in the field of Arts and Culture,” stated Yannis Smaragdis, further adding that he views this distinction as a duty to honor the Greek film and theatre directors who have left an indelible worldwide mark through successful films and stage productions.
Smaragdis, specifically stated “There are many talented Greeks who merit this recognition in fields such as music, painting, literature, and theater. My duty is to reach out particularly to the filmmakers and television creators, where numerous Greek directors are already gaining international prominence, not to emphasize my own success but to highlight the legacy of great creators of our nation in recent centuries—the fathers of modern Greek culture. They have fused core Greek values with contemporary international movements in a spirit of creative exploration, integrating their works into our national and, simultaneously, European and global tradition.”
