3 Steps to Heaven

Constantine Giannaris (b. 1959, Athens) emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1976. He graduated from the University of Keele, and then continued studies at university in Birmingham before moving to London. He started his film career making short movies, including Trojans (1990; Best Short Film at the festivals in Cork and Turin), North of Vortex (1991; Best Short Film at Chicago) and Caught Looking (1991; Teddy Award in the Panorama section at the Berlinale). His first feature film, 3 Steps to Heaven (1995), was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight at the 1995 Cannes IFF. From the Edge of the City (Apo tin akri tis polis, 1998) followed and was awarded Best Director, Best Greek Drama and the Greek Film Critics’ Prize at the Thessaloniki IFF; it was also screened at numerous other festivals including Berlin. One Day in August (Dekapentavgoustos, 2001) was screened in competition at the festivals in Berlin, Chicago, Melbourne, Troy (where it took Best Screenplay) and Thessaloniki (honoured with the Critics’ Prize). —KVIFF