Soulis Georgiades

Early life and family

Georgiades was born in Thessaloniki and was an only child. Although his name was Athanasios, ‘Soulis’ was his artistic name. His father, Dimitri, was one of the four children of the village doctor at Rapsani, a village situated on the slopes of Mount Olympus. His mother, Maria, was a housewife and daughter of a small landowner at the district of Thessaloniki.

Information regarding the family tree from the father’s part dates back to about 17th century, when it seems that Kostis family from Mesolonghi, moves towards Thessaly. Constantine Kostis, born in 1733, changed his name to Hatzivassilis, probably as a result of a trip to the Holy Land (Jerusalem). Saint Giorgio Hatzilaskaris, neo-martyr executed by Veli Pasha on March 6, 1828 is included at the family tree as well. In 1870 Georgios Hatzivassilis changed the surname in Georgiades, in honour of Michael Georgiades, a native of Ambelakia (Turnavo) and a student (in Vienna in 1820) of Fereos Velenstilis (writer and journalist) as a sign of friendship and respect; who will later be the first martyr of the independence of Greece.

The family tree from the grandmother’s side, Domouza, includes Temistokle Domouza, commander of armatoliki (irregular armed) in the revolution of Thessaly in 1878 and boasts the origin from Ferigo Foscari.

Career

From a very young Soulis (only child) showed irresistible passion for cinema, organizing small shows and assiduously studied the history of cinema, not allowing them to lose any movie that was shown at Thessaloniki.

After completing his studies at the Gymnasium of Thessaloniki, at the age of 17, with the moral support of the family and the mother’s in particular, he went by train to Paris and enrolled at IDHEC (Institute for the Study of Cinematography) to where he completed his studies with success in 1956. He participated actively in the social life of the community of Greek students whilst studying in Paris and amongst them was Costas Gavras a dancer who moved from Paris directly to Rotterdam in order to embark as a sailor but Soulis convinced him to join the IDHEC. Other well-known figures were also there such as Dimitri Kollatos, Vassilis Vassilikos and others.

In 1957, he met Maria Bianconi, daughter of the famous Italian painter Fulvio Bianconi and moved in Milan Italy to where they married in 1958. In 1959 Dimitri Fulvio was born (the eldest son) and in 1961 Piero.

Right from the beginning he started working as a commercial director, turning hundreds of advertisements and short films for a huge range of products and customers, such as Café' Bour Bon, Fratelli Fabbri Editori (Capire), shoe factory Helvetia, Sugoro Althea, I Grandi Viaggi, Saiwa, Encyclopedia of Women Formaggino D 'Oro Grunland, New Italian editions of ABC, Marina Julia and many others.

Soulis was the first to include the female Singer Milva as a protagonist in an advertisement thus increasing national notoriety. Soulis was also friend and collaborator with Walter Chiari and other famous personas in the field.

In 1962 he founded the 'Art Film’ production company in Milan through which he later produced most of the advertisements.

With his advertisements he had a strong presence until 1966, which was broadcast by RAI after the news, and was dubbed by G. Evangelista, the patron of Telecolor of Rome, the ‘the queen of the advertisement’.

Soulis received awards and prizes such as the ‘Prix d’honor’ at the Film Festival in Trieste in 1962, first prize at the film festival of ‘humour’ in Bordighera 1963 as well as to the film festival of 'humour’ in Bordighera 1964. Moreover, the first prize in MIFED in Milan in 1964, the Oscar for best advertising series in Milan in 1964, and the first prize of the Presidency of the Council of the Republic (Italian) in 1964.

He was friends since the early years in Milan with the Greek consul Teodoros Meletiou, with whom he worked to assist the Greek community of the city Lombard.

In 1965 it was proposed by Minister George Mpakatselos (relative) to return to Greece in order to collaborate in the creation of public television in Greece. He moved with his family to Athens and founded in 1966, the ‘General Film’ production, development and film printing company.

He directed and produced the films:

He co-produces:

The rebellion of the ten (Η ανταρσία των δέκα) directed by Enrico Andreou.

In addition, he directed and produced dozens of touristic films on behalf of the Greeks for Tourism and for his own account.

In 1967 he meets the actress Haritini Paralopoulou.

In 1971 he separates from his wife, Maria, and in 1985 gets married again.

He was a member of the ‘Hellenic Union of Directors’ in 1969 and a member of the ‘Committee of the prizes’ of the International Film Festival of Thessaloniki of which he will also be a member of the Committee on the admission of the films in 1979 and 1980.

He was a member of the Committee of the Ministry of Hellenic Industry for the development of cinematography in the years 1980 and 1981.

In 1976, he directed and produced 12 documentaries under the title Our National Heritage (Η εθνική μας κληρονομιά) and produces the film Polk's case (Υπόθεση Πόλκ).

Moreover, in the period from 1975 to 1977 he directed and produced about 140 films and TV series, including:

1. A strange murder (Περίεργη δολοφονία)
2. Accusation of the state (Το κατηγορώ της πολιτείας)
3. Death came one day in advance (Ο θάνατος ήρθε μία μέρα νωρίτερα)
4. Life ended at eight (Στις οκτώ έσβησε η ζωή)
5. She was only looking at him (Τον έβλεπε μόνο αυτή)
6. Strange phone calls (Τα παράξενα τηλεφωνήματα)
7. Suspected of Giannis Maris
8. The clinic of terror (Η κλινική του τρόμου)
9. The dose was for two (Η δόση ήταν για δύο)
10. The flower of death (Το λουλούδι του θανάτου)
11. The murder wore tuxedos (O Δολοφόνος φορούσε σμόκιν) both directed by Dimis Dadiras
12. The mystery club TV series of Alberto Ciambrico scripts and screenplays
13. The night of the truth (Η νύχτα της αλήθειας)
14. The nightmare (Ο εφιάλτης)
15. The two faces of death (Οι δύο όψεις του θανάτου)
16. The union will never forgive (Οι άνθρωποι του σωματείου δεν συγχωρούν ποτέ)
17. The visitor (Ο επισκέπτης)
18. Theft in the tower of Athens (Η κλοπή στον πύργο Αθηνών)
19. They warned him that he would die (Τον ειδοποίησαν ότι θα πεθάνει)
20. When you win they murder (Δολοφονούν όταν κερδίζεις)

In 1978 he directed the film Intrigue in Delphi (Το κόλπο του τούνελ) along with Sergio Bergonzelli in which he also was the producer.

In 1979, the film developing and printing company closed and he founded DEK ltd, which began with (first in Greece and not only) the production and sale of videocassette duplication with the initials IVC (International Video Club) and VCI (Video Italian Club), distributing videocassettes recorded both in Italy and in Greece, where he was the market’s undisputed leader until the launching of private television stations.

In 1980 he produced the television series Wooden swords (Τα Ξύλινα σπαθιά), directed by Gregg Tallas (Γρηγόρης Θαλασσινός).

From 1981 the Electronic Georgiades SA replaced the DEK ltd and focused on the distribution of videotapes, also in the USA, where it created a separate company the HVC (Hellenic Video Club of America), in Canada and Australia.

He was a member of GFT & PA (Greek Association of Audiovisual Producers) and remained a member of the board of directors until 1995 .

In 1986, he directed and produced the television series Emigrants’ Café (Καφενείο Εμιγκρέκ) written by Vassilis Vassilikos.

He acquired the studios of Finos Film, with two soundstages of 800 square meters, thus providing a complete set of production and processing cinema and television, with whom in the period 1985-1989 will produce more than 22 films including:

1. Cerberus (Ο κέρβερος) directed by Kostas Karagiannis
2. Destructive meeting (Ολέθρια Συναντηση)
3. I want a man (..Άντρα θέλω ...) directed by Odyssey Kosteletos
4. Journey to ... Bangkok (Ταξίδι στην ... Μπανγκόκ) directed by Takis Christopoulos
5. Like this, that and otherwise (Έτσι, αλλιώς ... και αλλιώτικα) directed by Giorgio Voutsinos
6. Lysistrata (Λισσιστράτη)
7. My servant ... and I (Ο υπηρέτης μου και εγώ ...) directed by Giannis Voglis
8. Reverse route (Αντίστροφη Πορεία) directed by Manoussos Masoussakis
9. Strange meeting (Παράξενη συνάντηση) directed by Manoussos Manousakis
10. Your death my life (Ο θάνατος σου η ζωή μου) directed by Alekos Sakelarios
11. Zero Hour Automobile (Ι.Χ. ώρα μηδέν) directed by Tassos Boulmetis

And the series:

1. A star is born ... with caesarean delivery (Ένα αστέρι γεννιέται ... με καισαρική) directed by Alekos Sakelarios
2. Mr Butterfly goes to paradise (Ο πεταλούδας πάει στον παράδεισο) directed by Enrico Andreou.
3. The companion and the cop (Ο σύντροφος κι 'ο μπάτσος) directed by Nikos Foskolos
4. The woman of the first page (Η γυναίκα της πρώτης σελίδας) directed by Nikos Foskolos

In 1988 and 1989 he directed and produced for ERT the television series Self-portraits (Αυτοπροσωπογραφίες).

In 1988 he acquired a hotel and a restaurant, with the aim of expanding the activities and to integrate with several foreign productions that make use of facilities for audio-visual soundstage.

He suffered a stroke in May 1989 and the subsequent bypass operation slowed him down for a time, but he did not stop.

In 1992 he produced the television series Amazon files (ΦΑΚΕΛΟΣ ΑΜΑΖΩΝ) directed by Manoussos Manousakis and in 1993 he produced the series The Thirteenth box (ΤΟ ΔΕΚΑΤΟ ΤΡΙΤΟ ΚΙΒΩΤΙΟ) directed by Tassos Psaras.

In 1994 he produced the series Someone protect her (ΚΑΠΟΙΟΣ ΝΑ ΤΗΝ ΦΥΛΑΕΙ) directed by Kostas Avgheris and in 1995 the series Anyhow (ΕΤΣΙ ΚΙ 'ΑΛΛΙΩΣ) directed by George Nikolaidis but also the show (20 episodes) Anna with love (ΜΕ ΑΓΑΠΗ ΑΝΝΑ) directed by Gianni Livi and the comedy series ΤΑΧΙ directed by Kostas Sioulas and Andrea Morfonio. In 1996 the series Come to Psalti (ΕΛΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΨΑΛΤΗ) and the stories 100’s spicy stories (ΤΑ ΠΙΠΕΡΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ 100) conducted by Giorgo Nikolaidi.

He died of a heart attack in Athens on January 24, 1997, at the age of 62.

Personal life

As a hobby he liked to cook; he loved Italian cuisine in particular and was a talented cook and host.

Partial list of products as a director

1. Café 'Bour Bon
2. Calzeturificio ELVEZIA
3. Dairy d 'gold Grumland
4. Durban's
5. Encyclopedia of women
6. Fratelli Fabbri Editori (Understanding)
7. I Grandi Viaggi
8. Imec
9. Marina Julia
10. New Releases Italian ABC
11. Remington
12. saiwa
13. Samer - Samaja Mercantile
14. Sugoro Althea

List of films as a director

1. A strange murder (ΠΕΡΙΕΡΓΗ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΑ)
2. Accusation of the state (ΤΟ ΚΑΤΗΓΟΡΩ ΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΙΑΣ)
3. Death came one day in advance (Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ ΗΡΘΕ ΜΙΑ ΜΕΡΑ ΝΩΡΙΤΕΡΑ)
4. Dirladas (Ο ΝΤΙΡΛΑΝΤΑΣ)
5. Emigrants’ café (ΚΑΦΕΝΕΙΟ ΕΜΙΓΚΡΕΚ-TV series, 13 episodes)
6. Life ended at 8 (ΣΤΙΣ ΟΚΤΩ ΕΣΒΗΣΕ Η ΖΩΗ)
7. Lovers of the middle wall (ΟΙ ΕΡΑΣΤΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΣΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΙΧΟΥ)
8. Our National Heritage (Η ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΜΑΣ ΚΛΗΡΟΝΟΜΙΑ-12 documentaries)
9. Self-portraits (ΑΥΤΟΠΡΟΣΩΠΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ-TV series, 40 episodes)
10. She was looking at him (ΤΟΝ ΕΒΛΕΠΕ ΜΟΝΟ ΑΥΤΗ),
11. Strange phone calls (ΤΑ ΠΑΡΑΞΕΝΑ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΗΜΑΤΑ)
12. Suspected (a series of 60 movies)
13. The air-hostess (Η ΑΕΡΟΣΥΝΟΔΟΣ)
14. The clinic of terror (Η ΚΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΟΜΟΥ)
15. The club of mystery (TV series, 40 episodes)
16. The dose was for two (Η ΔΟΣΗ ΗΤΑΝ ΓΙΑ ΔΥΟ)
17. The flower of death (ΤΟ ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ)
18. The night of truth (Η ΝΥΧΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑΣ)
19. The tunnel trick co-directed by Sergio Bergonzelli (ΤΟ ΚΟΛΠΟ ΤΟΥ ΤΟΥΝΕΛ)
20. The two faces of death (ΟΙ ΔΥΟ ΟΨΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ)
21. The union will never forgive (ΟΙ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΜΑΤΕΙΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΣΥΓΧΩΡΟΥΝ ΠΟΤΕ)
22. The visitor (Ο ΕΠΙΣΚΕΠΤΗΣ)
23. Theft in the tower of Athens (Η ΚΛΟΠΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΥΡΓΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ),
24. They warned him that would die (ΤΟΝ ΕΙΔΟΠΟΙΗΣΑΝ ΟΤΙ ΘΑ ΠΕΘΑΝΕΙ)
25. When you win they kill (ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΟΥΝ ΟΤΑΝ ΚΕΡΔΙΖΕΙΣ)

List of works produced

1. 100’s spicy stories (ΤΑ ΠΙΠΕΡΑΤΑ ΤΟΥ 100), television series
2. A star is born ... with caesarean delivery (ΕΝΑ ΑΣΤΕΡΙ ΓΕΝΝΙΕΤΑΙ ... ΜΕ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙΚΗ) directed by Alekos Sakelarios,
3. A strange murder (ΠΕΡΙΕΡΓΗ ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΙΑ)
4. Amazon file TV series (ΦΑΚΕΛΟΣ ΑΜΑΖΩΝ) directed by Manoussos Manousakis
5. Anna with love TV show (ΜΕ ΑΓΑΠΗ ΑΝΝΑ) directed by Gianni Livi
6. Anyhow TV series (ΕΤΣΙ ΚΙ 'ΑΛΛΙΩΣ) directed by George Nikolaidis
7. Cerberus (Ο ΚΕΡΒΕΡΟΣ) directed by Kosta Karagiannis,
8. Come to Psalti (ΕΛΑ ΣΤΟΝ ΨΑΛΤΗ), television series
9. Death came one day in advance (Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ ΗΡΘΕ ΜΙΑ ΜΕΡΑ ΝΩΡΙΤΕΡΑ)
10. Death came one day in advance (Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ ΗΡΘΕ ΜΙΑ ΜΕΡΑ ΝΩΡΙΤΕΡΑ)
11. Destructive meeting (ΟΛΕΘΡΙΑ ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ) Greek-Italian co-production,
12. Dirladas (Ο ΝΤΙΡΛΑΝΤΑΣ)
13. Emigrants’ café (ΚΑΦΕΝΕΙΟ ΕΜΙΓΚΡΕΚ-TV series, 13 episodes)
14. I want a man.. (ΑΝΤΡΑ ΘΕΛΩ ...) directed by Odyssey Kosteletos,
15. Journey to ... Bangkok (ΤΑΞΙΔΙ ΣΤΗΝ ... ΜΠΑΝΓΚΟΚ) directed by Takis Christopoulos
16. Like this, that and otherwise (Έτσι, αλλιώς ... και αλλιώτικα) directed by Giorgio Voutsinos
17. Lovers of the middle wall (ΟΙ ΕΡΑΣΤΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΜΕΣΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΙΧΟΥ)
18. Lysistrata (ΛΙΣΣΙΣΤΡΑΤΗ) co-production USSR - Greece
19. Mr Butterfly goes to paradise (Ο ΠΕΤΑΛΟΥΔΑΣ ΠΑΕΙ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΑΡΑΔΕΙΣΟ) directed by Enrico Andreou
20. My servant ... and I (Ο ΥΠΗΡΕΤΗΣ ΜΟΥ ... ΚΑΙ ΕΓΩ) directed by Giannis Voglis,
21. Our National Heritage (Η ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΜΑΣ ΚΛΗΡΟΝΟΜΙΑ-12 documentaries)
22. Reverse route (ΑΝΤΙΣΤΡΟΦΗ ΠΟΡΕΙΑ) directed by Manoussos Masoussakis,
23. Self-portraits (ΑΥΤΟΠΡΟΣΩΠΟΓΡΑΦΙΕΣ-TV series, 40 episodes)
24. She was looking at him (ΤΟΝ ΕΒΛΕΠΕ ΜΟΝΟ ΑΥΤΗ),
25. Someone look after her TV series (ΚΑΠΟΙΟΣ ΝΑ ΤΗΝ ΦΥΛΑΕΙ) directed by Kostas Avgheris
26. Strange meeting (ΠΑΡΑΞΕΝΗ ΣΥΝΑΝΤΗΣΗ) directed by Manoussos Manousakis
27. Strange phone calls (ΤΑ ΠΑΡΑΞΕΝΑ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΗΜΑΤΑ)
28. Suspected (a series of 60 movies)
29. The air-hostess (Η ΑΕΡΟΣΥΝΟΔΟΣ)
30. The clinic of terror (Η ΚΛΙΝΙΚΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΟΜΟΥ)
31. The club of mystery (TV series, 40 episodes)
32. The companion and the cop (Ο ΣΥΝΤΡΟΦΟΣ ΚΙ 'Ο ΜΠΑΤΣΟΣ) directed by Nikos Foskolos
33. The flower of death (ΤΟ ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ)
34. The murderer wore tuxedos (O ΔΟΛΟΦΟΝΟΣ ΦΟΡΟΥΣΕ ΣΜΟΚΙΝ) directed by Dimis Dadiras,
35. The night of truth (Η ΝΥΧΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑΣ)
36. The nightmare (Ο ΕΦΙΑΛΤΗΣ) directed by Dimis Dadiras,
37. The Thirteenth box TV series (ΤΟ ΔΕΚΑΤΟ ΤΡΙΤΟ ΚΙΒΩΤΙΟ) directed by Tassos Psaras
38. The tunnel trick co-directed by Sergio Bergonzelli (ΤΟ ΚΟΛΠΟ ΤΟΥ ΤΟΥΝΕΛ)
39. The two faces of death (ΟΙ ΔΥΟ ΟΨΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ)
40. The two faces of death (ΟΙ ΔΥΟ ΟΨΕΙΣ ΤΟΥ ΘΑΝΑΤΟΥ)
41. The union will never forgive (ΟΙ ΑΝΘΡΩΠΟΙ ΤΟΥ ΣΩΜΑΤΕΙΟΥ ΔΕΝ ΣΥΓΧΩΡΟΥΝ ΠΟΤΕ)
42. The visitor (Ο ΕΠΙΣΚΕΠΤΗΣ)
43. The woman of the first page (Η ΓΥΝΑΙΚΑ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΩΤΗΣ ΣΕΛΙΔΑΣ) directed by Nikos Foskolos
44. Theft in the tower of Athens (Η ΚΛΟΠΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΥΡΓΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ),
45. Theft in the tower of Athens (Η ΚΛΟΠΗ ΣΤΟΝ ΠΥΡΓΟ ΑΘΗΝΩΝ),
46. Wooden swords (ΤΑ ΞΥΛΙΝΑ ΣΠΑΘΙΑ) directed by Gregg Tallas (Γρηγόρης Θαλασσινός).
47. Your death my life (Ο ΘΑΝΑΤΟΣ ΣΟΥ Η ΖΩΗ ΜΟΥ) directed by Alekos Sakelarios,
48. Zero Hour Automobile (Ι.Χ. ΩΡΑ ΜΗΔΕΝ) directed by Tassos Boulmetis,
49. ΤΑΧΙ TV series directed by Andrea Morfoniou