The official premiere of Giannis Smaragdis’ new film, Kapodistrias, was marked by intense emotion, as the acclaimed director spoke publicly — with rare candour — about the loss of his wife, Eleni Smaragdi, to whom the film is dedicated, and about the arduous journey to bring the production to completion.
Smaragdis described the film as Eleni’s “lifelong dream”, stressing that she was the driving force behind the project — from shaping the screenplay to making final revisions shortly before her death. Speaking with visible emotion, he referred to a loss that, by his own admission, remains an open wound. “She organised everything and I simply followed,” he said, adding that at one point he even considered omitting his own name from the credits, believing that he had served a vision that belonged primarily to her. He also said that he still feels she continues to “guide” him to this day.
At the same time, the director revealed that the completion of Kapodistrias was never a certainty. In a recent television appearance, he spoke openly about financial dead ends, interruptions to filming, and pressures that — as he claimed — escalated to threats aimed at preventing the film from reaching the big screen. According to Smaragdis, production began without secured funding and relied largely on promises, resulting in forced pauses during filming. “When you take on Kapodistrias, you do not expect to face such situations,” he said, disclosing that he had even received threats against his life.
He described the film’s completion as “a miracle”, and placed particular emphasis on a phrase his wife shared with him shortly before her passing: that she firmly believed this would be their finest work. “She told me this would be our most important film,” he said, clearly moved.
Premiere at the Foundation of the Hellenic World – honour for Eleni Smaragdi
The premiere took place on Monday, 15 December, at the Foundation of the Hellenic World, before a packed audience that included figures from the arts and business communities, representatives of the film industry, journalists and cinema enthusiasts. The screening was held in a solemn atmosphere, with the opening address delivered by Giannis Kalfakakos, CEO of distribution company Tanweer.
One of the most emotionally charged moments of the evening came when Vicky Bafataki, representing the Vatican, presented a posthumous honorary award to Eleni Smaragdi — producer of the film and the director’s wife — in recognition of her contribution to culture, lending an even more personal dimension to the night.
The story of the film
Kapodistrias is a historical drama set in the early 19th century, recounting the life of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the first Governor of Greece following its liberation from Ottoman rule. The film portrays Kapodistrias as a figure who fiercely defended human freedom with integrity, compassion and dignity, ultimately to the point of self-sacrifice — including the sacrifice of the great love of his life — while confronting forces described as “forces of evil”. He is depicted as relinquishing wealth, prestige and international recognition, and accepting the role of Governor despite sensing his tragic fate, with his death presented as the ultimate act of service to the nation.
Directorial vision
In his director’s note, Giannis Smaragdis emphasises that “Greece was blessed” by the birth of Kapodistrias, presenting his life as a continuous “strategic campaign” aimed at revealing a “Higher Greece” and enabling the country to stand on its feet. According to this vision, Kapodistrias laid the foundations not only for the post-revolutionary state, but also for the formation of the modern Greek nation itself, leaving behind a legacy which — as the note stresses — future generations have a responsibility to preserve, so that “the blessed seed he sowed is not lost”.
With the historical weight of its subject matter and the deeply personal circumstances surrounding its creation, Kapodistrias is expected to attract significant interest — a film that carries not only the story of a pivotal historical figure, but also the imprint of profound personal dedication.
