206 Piraeus St, Tavros
Athens 117 78, Greece
T +30 210 3418 550
F +30 210 3418 570
www.mcf.gr
[email protected]
206 Piraeus St, Tavros
Athens 117 78, Greece
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MICHAEL CACOYANNIS’ FOUNDATION
Michael Cacoyannis established the public benefit foundation named “Michael Cacoyannis” in 2003. His ambition has been the introduction of a
cultural institution that will occupy modern technology, develop innovative ideas, while exhibiting Michael Cacoyannis’ respect to arts.
He envisioned a distinct cultural medium that would engage its strengths in the study, support and spread of visual arts, especially the arts of
Theatre and Cinema, to which Michael Cacoyannis devoted himself for more than 50 years.
Bearing the same sense of loyalty and devotion, “Michael Cacoyannis” Foundation set and succeeded in accomplishing its first goal: the
creation and construction of a 6,810-square-foot facility in Piraeus St, a Cultural Centre named “POLYTROPON” that will shelter the foundation
and its activities.
But this was only the beginning. The foundation is now forming an ambitious programme of numerous activities and events worthy of its
founder’s expertise and artistic capacity. The foundation is to associate other renowned Greek and foreign institutions in delivering cultural
projects, to set up and implement sophisticated educational programmes, seminaries, workshops etc, as well as to introduce novel projects in
favour of young artists.
The foundation is also planning to award scholarships to the young and talented, not only to widen their artistic scope, but also to reinforce the
country’s potential. Michael Cacoyannis believes in the young and their driving forces. He sees their prospects and through the foundation, he
fights along them for the values in arts and how not to forget to enjoy them.
“Michael Cacoyannis” Foundation is a privately funded not-for-profit cultural institution based in Tavros-Athens, supervised by the ministries of Economy and
Finance, Culture and National Education and Religious Affairs and was ratified by a 2004 presidential decree.
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MICHAEL CACOYANNIS
Michael Cacoyannis, the elder son of Sir Panayiotis and Lady
Angeliki, was born on June, 11, 1922 in Limassol, Cyprus. He
studied law in London and was called to the Bar (Barrister-atlaw) in 1943. He also studied acting at the Central School of
Dramatic Art in London and directing at the Old Vic School,
while he was employed by the BBC (Greek service) first as a
news announcer and then as a producer of cultural programs
until 1951.
In 1947 Michael Cacoyannis made his debut as an actor in
London, but he quickly decided to give up acting and
concentrate on directing. In 1952 he installed himself in
Athens and a year later he made his first film “Windfall in
Athens” thus determining the beginning of what was to
become an international career in directing. “Stella”, “A Girl in
Black”, “A Matter of Dignity”, the trilogy: “Electra”, “The Troyan
Women”, “Iphigenia”, and “Zorba the Greek” are only a few of
his films that where screened at the best international film
festivals and have won many awards and distinctions. In his
films, Michael Cacoyannis worked with great Greek actors
and some of the best known Hollywood and European stars.
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Apart from directing in Greek and international film productions, Michael Cacoyannis has also shined as a stage and opera director
in Greece, the U.S., France and other European countries. He has published several screenplays and translated Shakespeare’s
plays in Greek and Greek tragedies in English, while he has also written the lyrics of some of the most famous Greek songs.
The initiative of the illumination of Parthenon and the other ancient monuments on the Acropolis Hill also belongs to Michael
Cacoyannis, for which cause he established the “Athens’ Friends” union and teamed up with the famous French engineer Pierre
Bideau. The project received backing from the Ministry of Culture, the City of Athens and the donations of the members of the
“Athens’ Friends” union.
In 2003, Michael Cacoyannis established the public benefit foundation named after him, aiming in the study, support and the
spread of the arts of Theatre and Cinema, as well as in the recording and preservation of such arts’ masterpieces. The foundation’s
Cultural Centre, located in Piraeus St. in the area of Tavros, is to initiate its operations in fall 2009.
Michael Cacoyannis has been honored many times in Greece, Cyprus and abroad for his work and overall contribution. He has
been awarded with the Order of the Golden Phoenix (Greece), the Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (France), the Grand Cross
/ Order of Makarios 3rd (Cyprus) and the Special Grand Prix of the Americas (Montreal). He has been honoured by the Greek
Academy with its highest award for national services, with the Life Achievement Award by Salonica’s Festival, Jerusalem’s Film
Festival, the American Hellenic Institute in Washington, as well as Cairo’s Film Festival. He has been declared an Honorary Citizen
of Limassol, Montpellier and Dallas, and has been awarded with Doctor of Arts (Columbia College, Chicago), while he has also
received the Honorary Doctorate from Athens University, from Cyprus University, as well as from Aristotelio University of Salonica.
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POLYTROPON
Michael Cacoyannis Foundation decided to build its Cultural Centre “POLYTROPON” at 206, Piraeus st., at the heart of what is
becoming the new cultural and intellectual centre of Athens; where the past and memories mingle with the present forming the new
identity of the city.
The new building, with modern infrastructure of a total area of 6.810 square meters, that will shelter the foundation and its cultural
programme from fall 2009, can also host various events –corporate and other- like conferences, seminaries, presentations,
exhibitions etc, while the building’s configuration, is ideal for simultaneous events.
The venue features four floors with an amphitheatre of 330 seats, a cinema of 120 seats, a multi use black box hall of 68 seats,
exhibition area, while there are also two café – bars, a restaurant and the foundation’s shop running.
“POLYTROPON”, and its high aesthetic environment, fully equipped and of high quality services, is an ideal choice for inspiring and
impressive events.
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CINEMA
–GROUND FLOOR
The cinema hall has 120 seats arranged in 10 rows in a down
gradient, with wheelchair spaces available, a fixed screen
which uses masking to convert screen to 4 different formats
and a Dolby surround system installed. The analog projector
is placed in a special projection booth; however there is also
the ability of digital projection.
The hall can also be utilized for events such as conferences,
presentations, seminaries and for this reason a small stage is
built and three trusses of light-projectors are set for stage
lighting.
The colors’ selection of the surfaces was made in order to
meet the various uses of the room. Blue, grey and a slight
black are the prevailing colors.
The selection of the materials as well as the ceiling’s
morphology increase aesthetics and acoustics. The outcome
is a harmonious interchange of sound absorbent and sound
reflecting materials.
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MULTI-USE HALL –GROUND FLOOR
The hall can accommodate up to 70 seats in different
patterns.
Its main use is for screening; however it can be utilized for
other events such as seminaries, teaching, theatrical and
dancing performances or rehearsals and practicing.
The hall is equipped with a digital projector, placed in a
special projection booth, as well as with a pull up screen. A
Dolby Surround system is installed, while focused ceiling
spotlights contribute the performances.
The hall is actually a “black box” interrupted by intense red
lines; vertical on the walls and diagonal on the ceiling. The
mobile seats, black and red, are of the same aesthetics.
The surfaces of the room are a combination of sound
absorbent and sound reflecting materials that were selected in
order to cover the hall’s various acoustic requirements.
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EXHIBITION AREA
-1ST FLOOR
It is equipped with a revolving projector and exhibition panels
that can be arranged in various patterns. The lighting
installation consists of special spotlights in a suspended
ceiling structure of tracks.
Apart from exhibitions, it can host other events such as
performances. Impressive projections can be made onto the
opposite atrium wall.
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THEATER – 2ND FLOOR
The theatre has 330 seats and there are wheelchair spaces
available. The amphitheatric arrangement of the hall
combined with the non-elevated stage and the intense
gradient between the rows, create immediacy between the
stage and the audience, as the rows of seats “hug” the flat
space of the stage. Such morphology refers directly to ancient
theaters.
Wood dominates the hall; dark on the floor and light on the
vertical surfaces which contributes not only to the halls
aesthetics, but also to perfect acoustics.
For its theatrical use, the stage is transformed into a black
box, while several auxiliary spaces are provided, as well as
special structures (vampire, deus ex machine).
More than 120 lighting projectors are suspended from the
ceiling, able to cover a wide range of lighting requirements.
The sound and lighting booths are in line of sight with the
stage. There are auxiliary spaces in the backstage, as well as
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a fully equipped technical floor. There are also dressing rooms
for leader actors and larger ones for groups of actors, as well
as other rooms of support to the cast.
The theatre hall has also access to a lift for scenery/ loads
from parking level.
The hall is designed for plays; however it can host several
other events such as conferences, presentations, even film
screenings.
For conference usage, besides the booth for translations
(capacity for 3 languages + the speaker’s language), the hall
is also equipped with a pull up screen and a backdrop that
enhances the audience’s vision.
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