©Ariadne Fytopoulou
About Eleanna
Eleanna Santorinaiou is a writer director who lives between London and Athens. She studied Philosophy & History of Science in the National & Kapodestrian University of Athens. In 2012 she continued her studies in London Film Academy. She is the Artistic Director of the children's stage at the Fournos Centre of Digital Arts in Athens, Greece.
She recently graduated from the prestigious National Film & Television School (NFTS) in London for "Directing Commercials."
Throughout her work as a whole, she focuses on human relationships—the idea of family, the one we have and the one we make, childhood, and loneliness. Her characters are always "carrying" an heirloom from their salad days. Through these "micro-histories,” she wants to raise issues that go beyond borders, beyond the characters’ lives, and are universal.
She has participated in Riff Directors Lab (2021), Cannes Series Writers Club (2022), and Sundance Screenwriters Lab (2015 - semifinalist). She has been funded by the Greek government for her latest short film. Her films have gone to festivals around the world.
Her latest short film, "Until You See Me" got selected for the Oscar-Qualified Drama International Film Festival. She is developing her first series, "Shut Up & Swim".
An eye-opening experience was her collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos. In February 2020, she participated as 3rd AD and an assistant to Ms. Emma Stone for Lanthimos' short film "Bleat", commisioned by the Greek National Opera. The short film premiered with a live orchestra in May 2022 in Athens, Greece.
In June 2020, she collaborated with the Stegi Onassis Foundation and Theatrum Mundi's associate, Fani Kostourou. They created the project "Do You Hear Athens", a 24-hour audio piece compiled from 101 recordings made from balconies in different neighbourhoods of Athens.In June 2021, Eleanna continued this project by writing a radio play based on the soundscape they had created.
As a strong believer in children and their power, she also makes art for them. Eleanna has been collaborating for 15 years with Theatre Fournos in Athens, making children's plays since 2008.
She has written and directed five shows that have been seen by more than 200K people. Her show "Apples, Cinnamon, & Sugar" has been the longest-running play for children in Athens, and it has been on since December 2008. It has now been turned into a digital game supported by the Greek government.
During the pandemic, she took the initiative to write, direct, and produce, with the collaboration of the Fournos team, Audio Tales for young children, which were offered for free and are now available on Spotify.
Being Greek and living in London, she is proud to say that she combines both English and Greek elements in her work, a hybrid of both cultures.
Award of Merit
2013
BEST
New Director
2013
Semi-finalist
Sundance
Screenwriter's Lab
2015
Awards
Cannes Series Festival
Writers Club 2022
TV Series "Shut Up & Swim"
Reykjavik International Film Festival
Talent Lab 2021
Feature Film "Marabados"
Official Selection - 10th International Video Poetry Festival 2022
Video Poem "Baby"
Daily Short Pick - Film Shortage
Video Poem "Baby"
Covid - 19 Support Scheme - Greek Ministry of Arts
Short film "Until You See me", selected for financial support, 15th out of 1100 scripts.
Benton Park Film Festival 2019
Short film "Pub & Such", official selection.
Nukhu Fest 2018
Short film "Pub & Such", official selection.
Screencraft Film Fund Fall 2017
Short film script "Bad Reception", quarter finalists.
Sundance Screenwriter's Lab 2015
Feature script "Praying Mantis" which was considered for the International Entry and was selected to the final 20.
Best Shorts Competition 2013
Award of Merit for short film "Parson & Son"
London Greek Film Festival 2013
Best New Director award, for short film "Do you Remember when We Used to Go to the Sea?"