Draft:Hello Anatolia
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| Hello Anatolia | |
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| Directed by | Chrysovalantis Stamelos |
| Written by | Chrysovalantis Stamelos |
| Produced by | Chrysovalantis Stamelos |
| Music by | Yannis Saoulis |
Production companies | Crescent Street Films, LLC |
Release dates |
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Running time | 90 minutes |
| Languages |
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Hello Anatolia is a 2013 American documentary film written, directed, and produced by Greek-American filmmaker Chrysovalantis Stamelos. The film follows Stamelos as he leaves his corporate job in New York City and moves to İzmir (Smyrna), Turkey, to reconnect with his ancestral roots in Asia Minor.[1] The documentary explores his journey of self-discovery through the exploration of neighborhoods, interviews with Greeks living in Turkey, and an immersion into the region's art and culture.[1]
Synopsis
[edit]Hello Anatolia documents the personal journey of Chrysovalantis Stamelos, a Greek-American who, after losing his corporate job in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, decides to trace the footsteps of his great-grandparents in their native land.[2] In early 2010, he left New York and moved to İzmir, Turkey.[3]
The film depicts his reconnection with his Asia Minor ancestry, exploring the city's neighborhoods, interviewing Greeks still living in Turkey, and investigating the local art and culture.[1] Stamelos describes the film as "the journey of going back to the land of my great-grandparents, trying to discover their past through language, architecture, faith and culture."[1]
The documentary features appearances by Greek music legend Glykeria, who discusses the shared roots of Greek and Turkish music.[4] It also includes interviews with singer Fide Koksal and chef Maria Ekmekcioglu.[5] Stamelos stated that he chose the title Hello Anatolia because the meaning of "hello" was about starting "new relationships with a fresh mind."[2][3] His goal with the film was to "break down barriers between two cultures with a history of feuding, as well as build a bridge from the Aegean to the US."[1]
Production
[edit]Pre-production for Hello Anatolia began in the spring of 2010, when Stamelos officially moved to İzmir. Over the course of ten months, locations were scouted, and remnants of the surviving Greek-speaking communities of Asia Minor were located.[5] Upon development, the Greek America Foundation launched a grassroots fundraising campaign on Kickstarter.com, which raised more than $6,400.[5]
Production took place between 2011 and 2013.[3] Filming occurred throughout the city of İzmir, including historical locations such as the home of Aristotle Onassis, the office of the Consulate General of Greece in Smyrna, and the historical village of Çeşme, where Stamelos reconnected with his family's roots.[5] The team also filmed in Istanbul, capturing footage of historic landmarks including the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Saint George, the Apogevmatini Istanbul-Greek newspaper headquarters, and the Hellenic Cultural Center in Pera (Beyoğlu).[5]
Post-production took place with three teams in Turkey, Greece, and New York.[5] The film's soundtrack was produced by international musician and composer Yannis Saoulis, based in Thessaloniki, Greece.[5] The film was produced by Crescent Street Films, LLC, and executive produced by Gregory Pappas with the support of the Greek America Foundation.[6]
Release
[edit]Hello Anatolia premiered at The American College of Greece on March 19, 2013, as part of the celebration of Founders Day 2013.[6] It had its New York City premiere on October 4, 2013, at the Museum of the Moving Image as part of the New York City Greek Film Festival.[2][3] The screening sold out, and a second show was added.[7]
The film has screened at numerous festivals and venues internationally, including:
- The American College of Greece – Deree (Athens)[6]
- Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival (2013)[8]
- Transatlantyk Film Festival in Poznań, Poland (2013)[8]
- New York City Greek Film Festival (2013) – Official Opener[8]
- Sismanoglio Megaro of the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul (March 14, 2014)[8]
- French Cultural Center in İzmir (September 18, 2014)
In 2015, the film made its television debut on PBS Chicago affiliate WTTW.[7] It later aired on Greece's Cosmote History Channel.[5] The film was also selected for screenings by Harvard University, Yale University, and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, Stamelos' alma mater.[5]
Reception
[edit]Hello Anatolia received a rating of 9.4 on IMDb.[9] The film has been described as "several parts travelogue, documentary, with a dose of reality TV."[10] Critics praised it as a "thoughtful blend of interviews, neighborhood exploration and artistic immersion."[4] Stamelos has described the film as a "time capsule," capturing the reality of İzmir and its diverse heritage during the period from 2010 to 2012.[4]
The documentary was acclaimed for its efforts to build a bridge between Greek and Turkish cultures. One review noted that "without rancor to either side, Hello Anatolia is a reaction to the official version of Greek and Turkish history and identities."[4] The film was described as a "heartfelt attempt to build a bridge between two peoples."[10]
Home media
[edit]In January 2016, the film became available online on Vimeo On Demand.[11] In June 2021, the Greek America Foundation made the documentary available to stream for free online.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Hello Anatolia". macmillan.yale.edu. Yale University. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c "Stamelos Presents Hello Anatolia". GreekReporter.com. 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c d "Greek-American director says 'hello' to Anatolia". Hürriyet Daily News. 2013-09-16. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c d Billinis, Alexander (2015-10-26). "Hello Anatolia: a belated review, and a chat…". Neo Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Acclaimed Documentary Hello Anatolia Streaming Free Online". Greek America Foundation. 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c "Hello Anatolia". The American College of Greece. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b "Documentary Hello Anatolia Debuting on PBS Chicago". The Pappas Post. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b c d "Documentary screening in Sismanoglio Megaro: Hello Anatolia!". mfa.gr. Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ "Hello Anatolia (2013)". IMDb. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ a b "Hello Anatolia". Neos Kosmos. 2015-11-09. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
- ^ "Watch 'Hello Anatolia': One Greek's Journey to Reconnect in Izmir". GreekReporter.com. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2026-06-26.
External links
[edit]- Hello Anatolia at IMDb
- Official website (Crescent Street Films)(Offline)