“The Chaos She Left Behind”: Nikos Kolioukos’ film participates in this year’s Cannes Film Festival

The Chaos She Left Behind, the award-winning directorial debut of Nikos Kolioukos, will have its international premiere in the LA CINEF Official Competition Study Section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, among 17 other shortlisted films by promising young filmmakers from around the world.

The film had its Greek premiere in the Student Section of the Drama Festival last September, winning the Best Director and Best Actress Awards for Marina Siotou.

The Chaos She Left Behind is only the second Greek film in the history of LA CINEF at the Cannes Film Festival, 23 years after The Eyes That Eat by Sylla Tzoumerkas in 2001.

Starring Marina Siotou and Yiannis Tsortekis. With them are Eleni Karagiorgi, Danai Skiadi, Maria Filini and Vassilis Kanakis. The editing of the film is by Giorgos Zafeiris (Mila, Fingernails), the director of photography is Alexandra Riba (My Mother is Agia) and the original music composition is by Pelagia Hatjinikita.

Summary:

Anna feels that now is her last chance to pursue her dream, a musical career in Paris. Success wouldn’t seem so elusive if her alcoholic father didn’t stand in her way. A story about love and dependence, about all the things you love and the things you want to leave behind.

Director’s note

I am interested in contrasts and contradictions, the complexity and unexpected power of emotions. My purpose was to ensure that Anna’s relationship with her father would be honest, realistic and complex. In this story I wanted to show that light exists in the dark and that love emerges even in the darkest moments.

Director’s biography

Nikos Kolioukos (b. 1996) is a director based in Athens. He is a graduate of the Film Department of the School of Fine Arts of AUTH. During this period he is preparing his next two short films, The Beast That Walks Like a Man (Open Borders) and Amnesia (Homemade Films).

Coefficients:

Actors: Marina Siotou, Yiannis Tsortekis, Eleni Karagiorgis, Danae Skiadis, Maria Filini, Vassilis Kanakis, Emilia Tsortekis.

Screenplay, Director: Nikos Kolioukos

Director of Photography: Alexandra Riba

Editing: Giorgos Zafeiris

Original Music Composition / Sound Design: Pelagia Hatjinikita

Scenography: Elena Koutsou

Costumes: Konstantina Mardikis

Costumer: Nelli Godika

Make-up: Voula Khoursidou

Sound engineering: Maria Pasvanti, Angeliki Said

Sound Mixing: Kostas Phylaktidis, Tone Studio

Color Correction: Dimitris Manousiakis, Frenel Post Lab

First Assistant Director: Silva Tsumana

Line Producer: Stefanos Evagelopoulos

Production: Nikos Kolioukos, Alexandra Riba, Pelagia Hatjinikita

The film was shot as part of the diploma thesis of Nikos Kolioukos and the thesis of Alexandra Riba at the Cinema Department of the School of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.