ABOUT US
Antonis Tsonis
Writer | Director
ANTONIS TSONIS is a Greek born, writer/director, who studied law and history and received his Doctorate in Jurisprudence from the University of Melbourne, Australia. Antonis’ narrative and visual inspiration comes from Italian neorealist cinema, the French poetic realists and the independent American new wave movement of the 1970’s.
A contemporary filmmaker, Antonis is especially focused on stories about characters struggling on the fringes of society. His themes are contemporary, and his style is timeless – his stories could be set in any language or in any city.
Antonis, is celebrated as one of Greece’s most successful independent short filmmakers. His body of work has received critical acclaim and has also resonated particularly well in Italy and within the U.S. independent film circuit. His short films have played in over 100 film festivals and have received many awards and nominations worldwide. In 2013, his independent short film, The Firebird, received many awards and won Best Dramatic Short at the Manhattan Film Festival. In 2016, 3000 participated in over 70 International Official Selections and awards festivals, won 18 awards and received 18 nominations for Excellence in Film.
In 2024, Antonis brings to the screen his debut feature film, BRANDO WITH A GLASS EYE.
Tia Spanos Tsonis
Producer
Tia Spanos Tsonis is a producer from Melbourne, Australia and the co-founder of Ficino Films. Tia has produced and distributed four short films; together they share in over 130 Official Selections and 85 nominations and awards including Best Short Film from many festivals across America and Europe. Two of her short films, The Firebird and 3000 also achieved limited theatrical release in the USA and Indonesia. In 2024, together with the team at Bronte Pictures, EKOME, the Post Lounge and the Greek Film Centre, Tia produced a feature film entitled, BRANDO WITH A GLASS EYE. The film had its World Premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in Utah, USA and its European Premiere at the Sofia International Film Festival, Bulgaria.
Tia works on PR & Marketing campaigns in the entertainment, hospitality and publishing industry and her inspiration to produce comes from her desire to share stories that are unrelenting in their expression of the human condition.
PROJECTS
Brando With A Glass
Released 2024: SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL Official Selection Narrative Features
Language: Greek with English Subtitles 122 mins (Debut Feature Film)
Synopsis: Athens, Greece. A method actor commits a heist that goes wrong. He befriends the critically injured victim and tries to reconcile his guilt before his one shot audition in New York.
3000
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Released 2016: 70 Official Selections; 90 Worldwide Honorary Screenings with the Drama International Short Film Festival’s Winner’s tour; 2 US Awards Festivals; 2 Out of Competition Film Festivals; 2 Film Markets; 18 Awards; 18 Nominations; Limited Theatrical Release in Los Angeles USA. Acquisition by ERT TV, The Greek National Broadcaster.
Notable screenings: 57th Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece & 34th Sulmona International Film Festival, Italy. 40 Official Selections in the USA including the 43rd Athens International Film & Video Festival Ohio USA.
Notable awards: include Special Jury Prize for Antonis Tsonis at the 39th Drama International Short Film Festival, Greece; Best Screenplay Lyon International Film Festival, France; the Ron Tibbett Award (overall festival winner) at the Magnolia Independent Film Festival, Mississippi USA.
Language: Greek with English Subtitles
Synopsis: When Leon’s best friend Ari shares tragic news about his battle with cancer, unemployed and desperate to help, Leon secretly decides to become a criminal to pay for more cancer treatments. Against the backdrop of contemporary Athens, Greece, Leon’s actions to save his best friend have irreversible consequences.
The Firebird
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watch the trailer
Released 2013: Over 35 Official Selections, Awards Festivals and Markets. 17 Nominations, 17 Awards. Limited Theatrical Release in Los Angeles USA & Jakarta Indonesia.
Notable Screening: Focus on World Cinema – Montreal World Film Festival.
Notable awards: include Best Director Levante International Film Festival, Italy; Best Dramatic Short Film Manhattan Film Festival, USA.
Language: English and Farsi with English Subtitles
Tagline: From the depths of political exclusion an artist is born.
Synopsis: As a child, Omid is forced to flee his homeland due to political unrest and his father’s revolutionary poetry for freedom. To survive and endure the consequences of mandatory detention and deportation from Australia, Omid trusts in the wisdom of the great poets and his father’s words to avoid internal surrender.