The Birds (or how to be one) by Babis Makridis

In light of their participation in the 2021 Iris Awards by the Hellenic Film Academy in the documentary category, and shortly before their premiere on the international platform MUBI, Babis Makridis's "Birds" touched down once again, for just 24 hours, on the digital channel of the Onassis Foundation on YouTube, on February 7, 2021.

The film draws its inspiration from the archetypical myth of Aristophanes’s “The Birds,” Nikos Karathanos’s production, and its participants, filming them off stage, in real spaces and natural environments—from lava fields in Iceland to the plateaus of Patagonia, and from Times Square to the Egyptian pyramids. Everything takes place in a universe of fluid “everyday” routine, among theater people, ornithologists, and pragmatic recluses who all dream of flying.

A hybrid film, at the edge of documentary, fiction, and political fantasy, by cinematographer Babis Makridis, of “L” (Sundance Film Festival 2012) and “Pity” (Sundance Film Festival 2018, Best Film, Greek Film Academy 2019).

The "Birds" had its world premiere at the Voices section of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2020 and its online premiere in Greece on April, 19 2020 at the Onassis Channel on YouTube .

Credits

A film by: Babis Makridis
Production Manager: Isavella Alopoudi
Cinematography: Konstantinos Koukoulios
Sound Design: Leandros Ntounis, Stefanos Efthymiou
Editing: Marios Kleftakis
Music: The Little Thieves
Original Stage Play Music: Angelos Triantafyllou
Line Producer: Amanda Livanou

With: Alexandra Aidini, Maria Diakopanagioutou, Vasiliki Driva, Nikos Karathanos, Emily Koliandri, Giannis Kotsifas, Ektor Liatsos, Christos Loulis, Grigoria Metheniti, Kostas Berikopoulos, Konstantinos Bibis, Stratos Papadakis, Aggelos Papadimitriou, Foivos Rimenas, Michalis Sarantis, Giannis Sevdikalis, Aris Servetalis, Elena Topalidou, Marisha Triantafyllidou, Haris Fragoulis, and Galini Hatzipaschali

Produced by: the Onassis Foundation, in collaboration with Neda Film

Based on: Aristophanes’ “The Birds”, in a Modern Greek adaptation by Giannis Asteris and Nikos Karathanos
World Sales: New Europe Film Sales