List of Greek Academy Award winners and nominees explained

This is a list of Greek Academy Award winners and nominees. It details the performances of Greek filmmakers, actors, actresses and films that have either been nominated for or have won an Academy Award.

Best Picture

Academy Award for Best Picture
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1963Elia KazanAmerica, America
1964Michael CacoyannisZorba the GreekCacoyannis is Cypriot-born Greek.
1995George MillerBabeMiller is an Australia of Greek descent.
Shared with Doug Mitchell and Bill Miller.
2011Alexander PayneThe DescendantsPayne is American-born Greek.
Shared with Jim Burke and Jim Taylor.
2013Anthony Katagas12 Years a SlaveKatagas is an American of Greek descent.
Shared with Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner & Steve McQueen.
2015George MillerShared with Doug Mitchell.
2018Yorgos LanthimosThe FavouriteShared with Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney and Lee Magiday.
2023Poor ThingsShared with Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, and Emma Stone.

Best Director

Academy Award for Best Director
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1947Elia KazanGentleman's Agreement
1951A Streetcar Named Desire
1954On the Waterfront
1955East of Eden
1963America, America
1964Michael CacoyannisZorba the Greek
1969Costa-GavrasZ
1974John CassavetesA Woman Under the Influence
2004Alexander PayneSideways
2011The Descendants
2013Nebraska
2015George Miller
2018Yorgos LanthimosThe Favourite
2023Poor Things

Best Actress

Academy Award for Best Actress
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1960Melina MercouriNever on SundayOnly person nominated for a Greek-language role.

Best Supporting Actor

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone
1961George ChakirisWest Side StoryChakiris is an American of Greek descent.
1962Telly SavalasBirdman of AlcatrazSavalas is an American of Greek descent.
1967John CassavetesThe Dirty Dozen
1975Chris SarandonDog Day AfternoonSarandon is an American of Greek descent.

Best Supporting Actress

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1943Katina PaxinouFor Whom the Bell TollsFirst Greek person to win an Oscar.[1]
1987Olympia DukakisMoonstruckDukakis is an American of Greek descent.

Best Original Screenplay

Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1968John CassavetesFaces
1992George MillerLorenzo's OilShared with Nick Enright.
2002Nia VardalosMy Big Fat Greek WeddingVardalos is a Canadian of Greek descent.
2015Yorgos Lanthimos
Efthimis Filippou
The Lobster

Best Adapted Screenplay

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1963Elia KazanAmerica, America
1964Michael CacoyannisZorba the Greek
1969Costa-GavrasZShared with Jorge Semprún.
1982MissingShared with Donald E. Stewart.
1990Nicholas KazanReversal of Fortune
1995George MillerBabeShared with Chris Noonan.
1999Alexander PayneElectionShared with Jim Taylor.
2004Sideways
2011The DescendantsShared with Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Best Production Design

Academy Award for Best Production Design
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1964Vassilis FotopoulosZorba the GreekBlack & White category.
1974Dean TavoularisThe Godfather Part IIAmerican of Greek descent.
Shared with Angelo P. Graham and George R. Nelson.
1978The Brink's Job
1979Apocalypse Now
1988Shared with Armin Ganz.
1990The Godfather Part IIIShared with Gary Fettis.

Best Cinematography

Academy Award for Best Cinematography
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
2013Phedon PapamichaelNebraska
2020The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Film Editing

Academy Award for Best Film Editing
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
2018Yorgos MavropsaridisThe Favourite
2020Yorgos LamprinosThe Father
2023Yorgos MavropsaridisPoor Things

Best Costume Design

Academy Award for Best Costume Design
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1960Theoni V. AldredgeNever on SundayAmerican-born Greek.
Black & White Category
1962Phaedra
1974The Great Gatsby
2006Patricia FieldThe Devil Wears PradaAmerican of Greek descent.
2010Mary ZophresTrue Grit
2016La La Land
2018The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
2022Babylon

Best Original Song

Academy Award for Best Original Song
YearNameFilmSongStatusMilestone / Notes
1960Manos HatzidakisNever on SundayFor the song "Ta Paidia Tou Piraia" ("Never on Sunday").
2017Sufjan StevensCall Me by Your NameFor the song "Mystery of Love".

Best Original Score

Academy Award for Best Original Score
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
1981VangelisChariots of Fire
2006Alexandre DesplatThe Queen
2007Marco Beltrami3:10 to Yuma
2008Alexandre DesplatThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2009Marco BeltramiThe Hurt LockerShared with Buck Sanders.
2009Alexandre DesplatFantastic Mr. FoxFrench of Greek descent.[2] [3]
2010The King's Speech
2012Argo
2013Philomena
2014The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
2017The Shape of Water
2018Isle of Dogs
2019Little Women

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling!Year!Name!Film!Status!Milestone / Notes
2014Elizabeth Gianni-GeorgiouGuardians of the GalaxyShared with David White

Best Animated Feature

Academy Award for Best Animated Feature
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone
2006George MillerHappy Feet

Best Documentary Feature

Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone
2009Louie PsihoyosThe CoveAmerican of Greek descent.
Shared with Fisher Stevens.
2017Agnès VardaFaces PlacesShared with JR.
Rosalie Varda

Best Documentary Short Subject

Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject
YearNameFilmStatusMilestone / Notes
2016Daphne Matziaraki4.1 Miles

Best Live Action Short Film

Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film!Year!Name!Film!Status!Milestone
2000Christina LazaridiOne Day CrossingShared with Joan Stein Schimke.

Best Sound

Academy Award for Best Sound Editing!Year!Name!Film!Status!Milestone / Notes
2016Mildred IatrouLa La LandShared with Ai-Ling Lee
2018First Man

Best Visual Effects

!Year!Name!Film!Status!Milestone
2021Nikos KalaitzidisFree GuyShared with Swen Gillberg, Bryan Grill, and Daniel Sudick.

Best Dance Direction

Academy Award for Best Dance Direction !Year!Name!Film!Status!Milestone
1935Hermes PanTop HatFor "Piccolino" and "Top Hat".
1936Swing TimeFor "Bojangles of Harlem".
1937A Damsel in DistressFor "Fun House".

Special Achievement

!Year!Name!Status!Milestone / Notes
1961Petro VlahosRecipientTechnical Achievement Award: "For a camera flicker indicating device."
1965RecipientAcademy Award: "For the conception and perfection of techniques for Color Traveling Matte Composite Cinematography."
Shared with Ub Iwerks
1993RecipientMedal of Commendation: "In appreciation for outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences."
1994RecipientGordon E. Sawyer Award
1995RecipientAcademy Award: "For the conception and development of the Ultimatte blue screen compositing process for motion pictures."
1998Elia KazanRecipientHonorary Award: "In appreciation of a long, distinguished and unparalleled career during which he has influenced the very nature of filmmaking through his creation of cinematic masterpieces."
2017Agnès VardaRecipientHonorary Award: "Whose compassion and curiosity inform a uniquely personal cinema."

Best International Feature Film

See also: List of Greek submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
YearFilmDirector(s)StatusMilestone / Notes
ElectraMichael Cacoyannis
The Red LanternsVasilis Georgiadis
Blood on the Land
IphigeniaMichael Cacoyannis
DogtoothYorgos Lanthimos

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.grreporter.info/en/trail_greek_filmmakers_who_won_oscar/4070 On the trail of Greek filmmakers who won an Oscar
  2. News: Alexandre Desplat Movie Scores - Film - Report. Burlingame. Jon. 2007-01-07. The New York Times. 2019-07-30. en-US. 0362-4331.
  3. News: Thinking in Colors and Textures, Then Writing in Music . Jon . Burlingame . . 7 January 2007 . 31 August 2011.