Steve Krikris
Super Paradise
In the 1970s, Mykonos was “paradise-on-earth”, and for some, it still is.
SYNOPSIS
During the 1970s, Mykonos became a symbol of hope, freedom, and self-expression. The island paved the way for a sexual revolution that reverberated across the globe. Its magnetic quality made it an international hotspot, attracting people from all corners of the world. Celebrities and tycoons, fishermen and freaks, debutantes and drop-outs—together with the open-minded locals—created a paradise where the rules of everyday life were suspended. SUPER PARADISE takes viewers behind-the-scenes, providing an intimate view of a complicated and fascinating island through the eyes of the founders of world-renowned bars and clubs, the locals who witnessed the phenomenon, and the international jet-setting crowd. It will be filled with music and rich archive material, which will help re-construct the myth of a time that existed before the arrival of mass tourism. A variety of cinematic tools are used in dynamic ways, creating an immersive 75-year journey, from poverty-stricken Mykonos to the halcyon days of the 1970s, to the island today, a symbol of excess and consumerism. Archival photos and videos, iconic music, Super 8 re-enactments, drones, animation, and cell phone footage, we energetically mash up different formats because that reflects the Mykonian experience, which ranges from the peaceful calm of an idyllic beach to an all-night rager at Scorpios, one of the most exclusive clubs in the world.
DIRECTOR
Steve Krikris
PRODUCERS
Paul Typaldos
Dafni Kalafati
Steve Krikris
CO-PRODUCER
Titus Kreyenberg
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Nicholas Alavanos
EDITOR
Marios Kleftakis
PRODUCTION COMPANY
FILMIKI Productions
CO-PRODUCTION COMPANY
unafilm
COUNTRIES
Greece
Germany
LENGTH
90 minutes
Steve Krikris
STEVE KRIKRIS was born in the United States, raised in Greece, and spent several summers in 1980s Mykonos as a young adult. He has a degree in Film Studies from the San Francisco Art Institute and has over 35 years of professional experience as a director. He began his career in New York, directing and producing music videos and TV commercials, and then relocated to Greece where he has directed short and feature films. His feature film, THE WAITER (2018), has won 8 awards and been nominated for 18 others at film festivals all over the world, including the Beijing International Film Festival, Raindance, and the Thessaloniki Film Festival. It was the first Greek film acquired by Netflix Europe, which distributed it in 23 European countries, and it was also sold to MUBI. His short film, THE LAST JOURNEY (2022), premiered at the Drama International Film Festival and was shown at Raindance. Steve is part of the development team at FILMIKI Productions and is currently writing his second fiction feature film, LAVA LOVE, which will be co-produced with Iceland and France.
I went to Mykonos for the first time in 1979 and immediately fell in love with the island. I went every summer for the next six years. It was there that I felt what freedom means for the first time, and what it's like to be with people from all over the world who feel the same way; it was there that I began to transition from still photography to filmmaking and decided to study in San Francisco. The young people I met back then were pioneers; they personified the 1970s. In a twist of fate, 40 years later, they are the main characters of our film. These characters have not just borne witness to the radical transformations that have defined Mykonos over the past fifty years; in fact, many of them were active participants who played significant roles in its development and over-development. The film goes beyond the simple documentation of unique personas, examining not only their personal interests, but also the socio-political and economic factors that played important roles in the island's history. The film is an immersive, cinematic journey, transporting viewers through space and time. My objective is to describe what happened in Mykonos in the past, what is happening today, and to deploy every cinematic tool at my disposal to make an emotional connection with the viewer, transmitting what it feels like to be ravaged by raw beauty and touched by divine light.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Paul Typaldos
PAUL TYPALDOS has produced short films, music videos, and several feature films, including THE BAD INTENTIONS (2011), an award-winning Peruvian film that premiered at Berlinale and was Peru’s nomination for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. He also produced TOMORROW COMES TODAY (2013), a Taiwanese feature that premiered at the Taipei Film Festival. He recently produced THE LAST JOURNEY (2022), a short film that was written and directed by Steve Krikris, and the short films MIDNIGHT SKIN (2023) and PHOEBE (2024). He has a B.A. in French and International Relations from Georgetown University and studied film at the Universidad del Cine in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Dafni Kalafati
DAFNI KALAFATI studied Education and Photography and then pursued an M.A. in Art Therapy. In 2008, she founded an independent production company, supporting young directors to tell stories that matter. She is a member of the 1000 Mentors Network, a Fulbright alumna, and her works include THE NEW PLASTIC ROAD (2020), a documentary shot in a mountainous region of Tajikistan, MALDIVES (2022), the first feature film by Daniel Bolda, STATION ATHENS (2023), a documentary by Yolanda Markopoulou, and the hybrid film IN THE BREATH OF TIME (2024), shot in the Amazon basin, by Despina Economopoulou. Her film ONEIRONAUTS (2009) won the Best Experimental Documentary Award at the HotDocs Festival. Currently, she is producing the feature film MAYA AND SAMAR, a Greek-Canadian co-production.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
SUPER PARADISE is a story about the transformation of a small island. It unfolds in Mykonos, a symbol of modern excess, luxury, and mass tourism. Over 50 years have passed since its “golden age,” and there has never been a better time to tell a multi-dimensional and universal story that tackles issues like gender, self-expression, community, utopias, unbridled consumerism, greed, and frenzied over-development. These themes are filtered through the eyes of the “Mykonian Pioneers”, a neglected generation. We are giving time, space, and agency to the people who helped create this unique paradise, but also planted the seeds for what it eventually became. The film is built on three pillars that could make it appealing to international audiences, distributors, and streamers like Netflix, Amazon, and HBO. The place (Mykonos), the time (1970s), and the subject (tourism) are brand names—they are recognizable, marketable, and evocative. The project is structured as an international co-production between Greece and Germany. We have participated at the pitching and work-in-progress forums at the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival, DOCS Barcelona, and MEDIMED Anti-Pitch. The film is supported by the Greek Film Center, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), EKOME (Greek Cash Rebate Program), and ARTE (Germany). We are in the late stages of post-production and are looking to close the €100,000 financing gap, which will be used for music and archival rights clearance.
Production company profile
FILMIKI is a full-service production house that has been turning creative ideas into fascinating screen material for over 35 years. With some of the country’s most talented producers onboard and deep insight into the Greek cinematic landscape, the Athens-based company brings a wide range of international content to life. From award-winning commercials and feature films to celebrated TV series and documentaries. Filmiki won the Production Company of the Year Ermis Award in 2022. Is a member of PACT, CFP-E and SAPOE (Audiovisual Producers’ Association of Greece).
Where are we at?
PRODUCTION BUDGET
439.820 €
NEEDED FOR COMPLETION
100.000 €
TERRITORIES AVAILABLE
World (excluding Greece and Germany)
EXPECTED RELEASE
Spring 2025
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