
Person
Iakovos Kabanellis
Writing · 1921–2011 · Naxos, Greece
Biography
Iakovos Kambanellis (Greek: Ιάκωβος Καμπανέλλης; 2 December 1921 – 29 March 2011) was a Greek poet, playwright, screenwriter, lyricist, and novelist. Born 2 December 1921 in Hora on the island of Naxos, the sixth of nine children of Stefanos Kampanellis, an experienced pharmacist, and Aikaterini Laskari. His father came from Chios, while his mother came from an old noble family in Istanbul. Iakovos Kambanellis appeared as one of the most prominent Greek playwrights of the 20th century and he is considered to be the father of modern Greek theater. As a survivor of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp, he wrote the lyrics of the "Mauthausen Trilogy" with music by Mikis Theodorakis. He has also written a memoir known as Mauthausen describing his experiences from the concentration camp. He wrote the scripts of at least 12 films and he directed three of them. In addition, he is well known as a lyricist, having written the lyrics for more than 100 songs. He was a member of the board of the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET – Morfotiko Idryma Ethnikis Trapezis), along with some of the most prominent Greek artists. From 1981 to 1987, he was Director of the Radio section of the Greek National Broadcasting Company (E.R.T.). In 2000 he was elected member of the Academy of Athens. The same year he was awarded the medal of the Order of Phoenix by the President of the Greek Republic. Kambanellis was rushed to the hospital on 4 February 2011 due to complications of his long-term kidney failure. At the age of 89, he died on 29 March 2011 from kidney failure, nine days after his wife's death. (Source: Wikipedia)
Known for

Experts on the Football Field
Writer

The River
Writer

The 7th Day of Creation
Screenplay

The Cannon and the Nightingale
Director

Girls in the Sun
Writer

Date in Corfu
Adaptation

Χίλια Χρόνια Πριν - Βυζάντιο: Η Γιορτή των Καλενδών
Writer

Mauthausen
Writer

The Lagoon of Desire
Adaptation

Shadows in the sand
Writer
Filmography
- 2025MauthausenWriter
- 2010Odyssea Corporum - Ballad for Nikos KoundourosSelf
- 1976Χίλια Χρόνια Πριν - Βυζάντιο: Η Γιορτή των ΚαλενδώνWriter
- 1970A German in KalavrytaWriter
- 1970Shadows in the sandWriter
- 1968The Cannon and the NightingaleDirector
- 1968Girls in the SunWriter
- 1966The 7th Day of CreationScreenplay
- 1960Snow White and the 7 Old BoysDirector
- 1960Sunday's DateWriter
- 1960The RiverWriter
- 1960Date in CorfuAdaptation
- 1957The Lagoon of DesireAdaptation
- 1957Horse and CarriageWriter
- 1956The Abduction of PersephoneWriter
- 1956Experts on the Football FieldWriter
- 1956The Ogre of AthensWriter
- 1956Dollars and DreamsDialogue
- 1955StellaScreenplay
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