I Poli ke i Poli
The City and the City

Vassilis Karaboulas, Angeliki Papoulia
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City by Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
GRC 2022, Encounters
© Homemade Films

Vassilis Kanakis
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City by Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
GRC 2022, Encounters
© Homemade Films

Alexandros Vardaxoglou
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City by Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
GRC 2022, Encounters
© Homemade Films

Vassilis Kanakis
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City by Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
GRC 2022, Encounters
© Alexandra Riba / Homemade Films

Vassilis Kanakis, Niki Papandreou
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City by Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
GRC 2022, Encounters
© Homemade Films
Filmmakers Christos Passalis and Syllas Tzoumerkas, who previously collaborated as director and actor respectively on The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, were both born in Thessaloniki in 1978. For this unique project, which initially saw the light of day as a museum installation in their native town, they have created an enigmatic, multi-character narration. As we wander through a blend of last century and contemporary Thessaloniki, we discover echoes of a lost, multi-cultural Eden and the intense pain that today’s inhabitants have inherited. If embraced, this is a shattering experience.
With
- Vassilis Kanakis (Leon)
- Alexandros Vardaxoglou (Maurice)
- Angeliki Papoulia (Sarina)
- Argyris Xafis (Avraam)
- Niki Papandreou (Nina)
- Vassilis Karaboulas (Isaac)
- Themis Bazaka (Matika)
- Marisha Triantafyllidou (Clerk)
- Maria Filini (Mother)
- Laertis Malkotsis (Camping Owner)
Crew
Written and Directed by | Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas |
Cinematography | Simos Sarketzis |
Editing | Yorgos Zafeiris |
Sound Design | Persefoni Miliou, Costas Varybopiotis |
Sound | Nikos Exarchos, Dimitris Kanellopoulos |
Production Design | Christos Passalis |
Costumes | Marli Aliferi, Vassilia Rozana |
Make-Up | Ioulia Sygrimi, Evi Zafiropoulou |
Assistant Director | Miltos Ntzounis |
Production Managers | Yannis Karadanis, Yorgos Zervas |
Producer | Maria Drandaki |
Executive Producers | Orestis Andreadakis, Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas |
Co-Production | Greek National Opera Athen |
Produced by
Homemade Films

Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
The directors in conversation with the audience.
I Poli ke i Poli · Encounters · Feb 15, 2022

Carlo Chatrian, Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
The Artistic Director of the Berlin International Film Festival introduces the directors at the premiere.
I Poli ke i Poli · Encounters · Feb 15, 2022

Angeliki Papoulia
The actor at the Photo Call.
I Poli ke i Poli · Encounters · Feb 15, 2022

Vassilis Kanakis, Niki Papandreou, Alexandros Vardaxoglou, Angeliki Papoulia
The actors at the Photo Call.
I Poli ke i Poli · Encounters · Feb 15, 2022
Christos Passalis, Syllas Tzoumerkas
I Poli ke i Poli | The City and the City
Encounters · Berlinale Meets | Interview · Jan 24, 2022
Christos Passalis

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1978. He has appeared as a film actor in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Dogtooth, Syllas Tzoumerkas’ Homeland and The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, in Vardis Marinakis’ Black Field and in Fiona Tan’s History’s Future. He is co-founder of the blitz theatre group and has worked with them as a writer, director and actor. The group has been invited to play at theatres including the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris and the Schaubühne in Berlin as well as at various theatre festivals. Since 2019, he has been co-directing with Angeliki Papoulia at the Luzerner Theater in Switzerland.
Filmography
2022 I Poli ke i Poli (The City and the City); co-director: Syllas Tzoumerkas
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022
Syllas Tzoumerkas

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1978, he writes, directs and acts for both film and theatre. His debut feature film Homeland premiered in the Critics’ Week at Venice and went on to screen at international festivals. His second feature A Blast premiered at Locarno and was selected for over 80 festivals around the world. He is co-writer of the script for Argyris Papadimitropoulos’ 2016 film Suntan and of Ahmad Ghossein’s 2019 film All This Victory. In 2019, his own film The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea screened in Panorama.
Filmography
2001 Ta Mátia pou Tróne (The Devouring Eyes); short film 2002 Vrohí (Rain); short film 2010 Hóra Proélefsis (Homeland) 2014 A Blast 2017 A Manifesto for the Un-Communal; short film 2022 I Poli ke i Poli (The City and the City); co-director: Christos Passalis
Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022