Info
Elena Gazi (b. 1999) is a visual artist, filmmaker and writer from Greece, who’s artistic and film practices, compose autobiographical and anthropomorphic cabinets of curiosities.
Her visual work unfolds personal childhood memories, terrors and dreamscapes, dealing with loneliness and daydreaming. The subject’s matter of her activity are around fear, memory, solitude, nature, decay, intimacy, metamorphosis, folkloric heritage and circus. From her soft yet grotesque sculpted dolls and masks, that stand as totems of her childhood traumas and terrors; to her collages with Byzantine character, and from her mystic installations about techniques of escapism and healing rituals, to collecting and assembling forgotten toys & objects from her ancestral archive and Balkan roots, Gazi creates a dialogue between unsettling yet sensitive hybrids. After she completed her BA in Visual Arts at the American College of Greece, she earned her Master degree in Stop Motion Animation in Barcelona, creating her first stop motion animation short film ‘PRIKOSYMPHONO’, a documentary that is narrated from her grandfather, portraying his recalled memories as a child, featuring the theme of objectification of women in patriarchal traditions at a Greek society of 1955, conveyed through the loss and yearning.
Currently she is focused on expanding her ‘Phobētrons’ series of dolls, while she attends filmmaking courses like the ‘Personal Experimental Filmmaking’ with Rouzbeh Rashidi at EFS in Berlin, and the Summer Filmmaking Campus of FAMU in Prague, in which she co-directed her last short experimental documentary ‘EVA’.
Education
- 2017- 2023 Bachelor of Fine Arts, Visual Arts – Deree, The American College of Greece.
- 2023-2024 Master of Arts, Stop Motion Animation – BAU, College of Arts & Design Barcelona.
- 2025 FAMU International Summer Filmmaking Campus 2025- FAMU, Prague.
Workshops/ Masterclasses
- 2025, 16mm Film Workshop ‘City Structures’ { Shooting with BOLEX Camera, Developing & Editing 16mm} with František Týmal in FAMU International & FAMU STUDIO.
- 2025, Theories of Personal Experimental Filmmaking course, with the experimental filmmaker Rouzbeh Rashidi, from EFS Film School.
- 2024, Spray Painting Taller/ Workshop with the artist Psychoudini at 200cent in Barcelona, Spain.
- 2024, Character Animation Workshop with the stop motion animator Tim Allen, at BAU, College of Arts & Design, Barcelona.
- 2024, Pixilation Workshop with Alice Guimaraes, at Bau, College of Arts & Design, Barcelona.
- 2023, Experimental Filmmaking Animation Workshop with the filmmaker and anthropologist Adriana Vila Guevara, at BAU, College of Arts & Design, Barcelona.
- 2023, Cut-Out Animation Workshop with Nuria Garcia, at BAU, College of Arts & Design Barcelona.
2023, Rotoscoping Animation Workshop with the stop motion animator Arnau Godia, at BAU, College of Arts & Design, Barcelona. - 2023, Puppetry & Box Theatre workshop with the puppeteer and puppet maker Katarína Caková (Katanari) at the Music Village 2023- International Music Community in Aghios Lavrentios, Pelion, Greece, organised by arTree, a civil non-profit partnership, supported by Demitriada Metropolis, the Local Society of Aghios Lavrentios, the Association of Aghios Lavrentios and the Greek Ministry of Culture.
- 2023, JINEN BUTOH – Life of a Flower Atsushi Takenouchi & Hiroko Komiya Intense Butoh Workshop and Stage Performance with the Japanese Butoh Dancer Atsushi Takenouchi at Quantum Body Athens Butoh Dance Group and EMPROS theatre.
- 2022, XENO- BIOLOGY: Intensive Butoh and Impro Workshop Valentin Tszin, Vicky Filippa & Daniel Williams Intensive Butoh and Impro Workshop with the Russian actor and butoh dancer Valentin Tszin and Vicky Filippa in Quantum Body Athens Butoh Dance Group in Athens.
- 2021-2023,’ Butoh’- Quantum Body Athens Butoh Dance Group Butoh dance and performance, at the Butoh dance Company, Quantum Body in Athens with the Greek Bio Scientist and Butoh Performer Vicky Filippa as choreographer and instructor.
- 2021, Songwriting seminar with the Musician and Art Historian Melina Tanagri at Mikro Polytexneio in Athens.
- 2020, Poetry workshop with the poet, novelist and translator Stratis Paschalis at the IANOS bookstore seminars’ program in Athens.
- 2019, ‘Creative Writing & Poetry’ seminar with the poet, director and criminologist Thrassos Kaminakis at Mikro Polytexneio in Athens.
- 2019, ‘Codes of Fiction’ seminar with the writer Christina Oikonomidou at Mikro Polytexneio in Athens.
- 2019, ‘Techniques of Narration’ seminar with the writer Christina Oikonomidou at Mikro Polytexneio in Athens.
- 2018, ‘Women in the History of Art’ seminar with the archaeologist and art-historian Eirini Chryssoheri at Mikro Polytexneio in Athens.
- 2018, Children’s Book Illustration workshop with Svetlin Vassilev at IANOS bookstore seminar’s program in Athens
Career
Group Exhibitions
- 2025, Platforms Project- Independent Art Fair 2025, Tobacco Factory, presented by adARTes
and curated by Michalis Argyrou and Artemis Potamianou. - 2025, Splitart Projects Wien, ‘Mirror, pixels & stars’, presented by Georg Georgakopoulos, Michalis Argyrou at Vienna, Austria.
- 2024, Platforms Project- Independent Art Fair, Tobacco Factory, presented by adARTes and curated by Michalis Argyrou and Artemis Potamianou.
- 2023, BACK TO ATHENS 10, International Art Meeting 2023, geometry of rational, Isaiah Mansion, presented by Space 52 and curated by Athina Lasithiotaki and Katerina Milesi.
- 2023, ‘The Space Between’ Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts, Art Gallery Deree, Athens
- 2022, “Thinker’’, John S. Bailey Library, American College of Greece.
- 2019, ”The A-DASH issue of Sunny Days’’, published by Cube Art Editions on the occasion of the exhibition “The collection as an Automaton” curated by Elpida Karaba and organised by the Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts as part of the Arts Festival Exhibition at the American College of Greece in February 2019 at the ACG Art Gallery, The American College of Greece, Athens.
Filmography
Released
2024, ‘PRIKOSYMPHONO’, stop motion documentary animation film by
Elena Gazi, Dolan Bailey, Alejandra Diaz, Leonardo Dal Fabbro. 4:56mins
Synopsis
Placed in Lefkada, an island in the Ionian Sea, a little girl finds a paper from 1955, that contains
a list of objects that belonged to her great aunt and proceeds to ask her grandfather about it. He
explains to her that this is the list of her dowry, an old Greek tradition, in which the bride’s
possessions were concede to the groom as a formal marriage agreement. Moved by this finding,
he starts recalling memories of his childhood, witnessing his older sister Armenia, having an
arranged marriage and leaving behind her family and the island for a better future.
Cinematographer/ Script/ Storyboard/ Lighting /Costume Designer: Elena Gazi
Animator/ Construction Designer/Lighting: Leonardo Dal Fabbro
Animator/ Editor/Puppet Designer: Dolan Bailey
Production & Prop Designer: Alejandra Diaz
Music by Jose Ramon Madrid Alonso
Sound by Jose Ramon Madrid Alonso& Dolan Bailey
Mixing and Mastering: Josep Maria Bossa
Violin: Emma Ortega
Accordion: Roman Gottwald
Percussion: Mario G. Cortizo
Voices: Nikos Gazis (Narrator), Amalia Pehlioglou (Granddaughter)
filmed on BAU Stop Motion Studio, in Barcelona, Spain.
Original Music Tracks:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m13hWvsiKYv8PSOpgjNWLU5OO7ysVMFY0
https://open.spotify.com/album/5Kk8F6QgfFedSmOxvVyS6w
In Production
2025, ‘EVA’
experimental documentary short film by
Elena Gazi, James Ji, Sasha Liu, Noah Mendola 13 mins
Produced by FAMU International
Synopsis
A letter from a mother to her daughter, revealing to her that she is not her biological child,
illuminating that her presence brought light to her life and past.
Directed by: Elena Gazi, James Ji, Sasha Liu, Noah Mendola
Written by: Elena Gazi, James Ji, Noah Mendola
Cast: Ilaria Pacini, Eva Oliveto, Annaida Macri, Joey GreenbergDirector of Photography: Noah Mendola, James Ji
Camera Supervisor: Shubham Mhatre
Sound Recordist: Sasha Liu
Sound Mix & Post Audio: Richard Beran, Sasha Liu
Art Director: Elena Gazi
Stop Motion by: Elena Gazi
Editor: Elena Gazi, James Ji, Sasha Liu, Noah Mendola
Colour Grading: Shubham Mhatre
Editing Supervisor: Tereza Rozálie Koldová
Production Manager: Lukas Krbec
Production Co-ordinator and Supervisor: Kristýna Kapinus
Head of Department, FAMU International: Jitka Hejtmanová
Deputy Head of FAMU International: Žaneta Cagášková
Program Administrative Coordinator: Iveta Valášková
Administrative Support: Anna Uhrová
FAMU pedagogical team
Mentor: Vít Janeček
Still photography mentor: Jitka Hejtmanová
Workshops and seminars: František Týmal (16mm), Richar Beran (sound)
Michal Bregant (film history)
Special thanks: Vít Janeček, Yue Xu, Joey Greenberg, Riyana Lama, Sneci Farma, Standard Café
Filmed on Location in
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
FAMU International 2025
international.famu.cz
© Elena Gazi, James Ji, Sasha Liu, Noah Mendola
Unreleased
2025,
‘Moonriver’ 2,50 mins
experimental short film shot in 16mm with BOLEX Camera
filmed, developed & edited by Elena Gazi, James Ji, Sasha Liu, Noah Mendola
for the ‘City Structures’ project by František Týmal, produced by FAMU International in Prague,
Czech Republic.
2023, ‘La Vita di Pierrot’,
cut-out animation short film by
Leonardo Dal Fabbro & Elena Gazi. 3:30 mins
‘An overwhelmed pierrott travels through the emotional dynamics of different colours.’
2023, ‘The Boy with the Boat, the Cat and the Fog’, 2:58 mins
‘Experimental short with audio the vibrations of fishes that eating bread.’
2023, ‘Κρόνια’,
experimental short film by
Elena Gazi & Alex Tzimopoulos. 4:12 mins
‘Kronia’ stands as another word for Saturday, in ancient Greek, while it was dedicated to Saturn
(Kronos). An experimental short that thrives to transcend through the first beginnings.
*The rock was collected in Mount Sinai
2020, ‘Fear of the Unknown’,
Video Art by
Elena Gazi, starring as Minotaur Argiris Tzaferis. 3:35 mins
‘A surrealistic dream of a man dealing with his animalistic nature and the challenges of his free will.’
Movie Productions
- 2025, Co- Director, Co- Writer, Art Director, Animator & Co- Editor for the Experimental Documentary ‘EVA’, produced by FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic.
- 2025, Co- Director, Developer & Co-Editor for the Experimental 16mm Short Film ‘Moonriver’, shot with BOLEX Camera, for the ‘City Structures’ project by František Týmal produced by FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic.
- 2025, Actress for the fiction movie ‘On Paper’, Written & Directed by Cynthia Lyn, DOP by Dorota Szulc, produced by FAMU International in Prague, Czech Republic.
- 2024, Director, Cinematographer, Costume Designer & Storyboard Artist for the Stop Motion Animation Documentary ‘PRIKOSYMPHONO’, filmed on BAU Studio, in Barcelona, Spain.
- 2023, Production Assistant for the movie “WASTE (INHERITANCE)” by Jennifer Nelson and Jennifer Nelson Productions, in collaboration with EMST, Athens..
- 2021, Background Actress at Smyrna (2021) directed by Grigoris Karantinakis and produced by Mimi Denissi and Martin Sherman.
- 2021, Background Actress at Rise (2022) Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios, Faliro House Productions, biographical film of the three young Nigerian‑Greek brothers, Giannis, Thanasis and Kostas Antetokounmpo ”Rise (2022)”, directed by Akin Omotoso and produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Studios.
Theatre
- 2022, Installation Designer and Sculptor at the Greek Butoh Play ‘Cabaret 1825’ by Quantum Body Athens Butoh Group, written by Giannis Soldatos ”Cabaret 1825”, directed by Vicky Filippa for the 1st Room‑dance Festival at Arroyo Theatre.
Performances
- 2023, ‘Life of a Flower’, JINEN Butoh Stage Performance, choreographed by the Japanese Butoh Dancer Atsushi Takenouchi and composed by Hiroko Komiya, with Vicky Filippa and Quantum Body Athens Butoh Dance Group at EMPROS theatre.
- 2022, ‘Urban Divinities’ by Quantum Body Athens Group, choreographed by Vicky Filippa at Quilombo Centro Cultural.
- 2019, Performing for ”The A-DASH issue of Sunny Days’’, published by Cube Art Editions on the occasion of the exhibition “The collection as an Automaton” curated by Elpida Karaba and organised by the Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts as part of the Arts Festival Exhibition at the American College of Greece in February 2019 at the ACG Art Gallery, The American College of Greece, Athens.
Collaborations
- 2023, Taxidermy & Animal Preservation collaboration with the taxidermist Nikos Choulieris, for a project about the Ethics and Practice of Animal Preservation in the Modern Greece.
- 2024, Participating in the art collectiva adARTes, founded and directed by Michalis Argyrou.
Nominations & Awards
- 2023, Nominated for the Artistic Achievement Award of the Frances Rich School of Fine and Performing Arts in the American College of Greece.
PRIKOSYMPHONO in Festivals
AWARDS:
2024, Winner for Best Animation International in the Super Short Length Category, Festival at the AltFF, the Alternative Film Festival in Toronto, Canada.
2024, Winner for Best Animated movie and Best Editing at the film festival ‘Rome International Movie Awards’.
2025, Award with Special Mentions for Young Filmmakers- for authors aged 18 to 30 in the 22th LUKSUZ FILM FESTIVAL in Krsko, Slovenia.
2025, Winner for Best Animated Short at the Santorini Film Festival 2025, in Santorini, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at the KYMATA International Film Festival in the category of ‘Best Short Documentaries’ in Kefalonia, Greece.
NOMINATIONS:
2024, Nominated & Premiered for the 44TH VGIK annual International Student Film Festival, in Moscow, Russia.
2024, Selection for the program ‘Dialogue of Cultures’ in the competition of the XIX International Film Festival named after Vladimir Menshov «Won together», in Sochi, Russia.
2025, Official Selection at 5th edition of ANIMATEX, in Cairo, Egypt, in the Documentaries Category.
2025, Official Selection & Nomination for the 4th edition of SHORT ENCOUNTERS, International Film Festival in Preveza, Greece in the Documentaries Category.
2025, Semi-Finalist at the Winter 2025 Kyoto Independent Film Festival, in Kyoto, Japan.
2025, Official Selection for the 18th International Animated Film Festival Animator 2025, at Poznan, Poland.
2025, Official Selection & Nomination for the 4th International Aigio International Short Film Festival “Theodoros Angelopoulos” in the Animation Category.
2025, Official Selection & Nomination for Best Animated Short & Best Greek Production at the Santorini Film Festival 2025, in Santorini, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at the 14th Aegean Film Festival in Patmos, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at the Nikita Chisnikov- ‘Short Shot Fest’ in Moscow, Russia.
2025, Official Selection at the International Alexandria Short Film Festival for the Balkan Young Filmmakers Competition Section in Alexandria, Imathia.
2025, Official Selection at the Ikaria Film Festival for the category of Greek short Documentary in Ikaria, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at the Byblos International Film Festival for the category of ‘International Short Animated Film Award’ in Byblos, Lebanon.
2025, Official Selection at Chania Film Festival and Chania Film Festival Edu in the categories of ‘GREEK Documentary Short Film under 30 mins’ and ‘GREEK Documentary Animation’ in Chania, Crete, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at ANIMASYROS 2025, in Syros island, in Greece.
2025, Official Selection at Animator Fest/ European Youth Festival of Animated Film in the
Cultural Centre Jagodina, Serbia.
2025, Official Selection at 9th Chaniartoon 2025 – International Comic & Animation Festival in Chania, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at Athens International Film Festival- Νύχτες Πρεμιέρας 2025, in
competition for Greek Short Stories, at ΑΣΤΟΡ cinema, Athens, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at Balkans Beyond Borders Short Film Festival 2025, in Istanbul,
Turkey.
2025, Official Selection at DOTS International Documentary Film Festival in ΠΛΥΦΑ,
Athens, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at TAF Thessaloniki Animation Festival ,in Thessaloniki, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at Kinovertikal – the International Festival and Competition for Films
directed by Children and Young Adults in Saratov, Russia.
2025, Official Selection at 16th (IFFL) International Film Festival of Larissa – Thessaly, in
Larissa, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at 20. Festival Animanie, in Pilsen, Czech Republic.
2025, Official Selection at Nafplio International Film Festival – Bridges, in Nafplio, Greece.
2025, Official Selection at 19th DocFest- Greek Documentary Festival, in Chalkida, Greece.