Eventlist

Lecture Synopsis

Mr. Yiannoudes will explore the History of Greek Cinema in Australia. He will also be screening a documentary about Greek Cinema in Australia and exhibit Greek film posters and other memorabilia of Greek cinema.

Biography

Panayiotes Michael Yiannoudes (Peter) was born in Cyprus in 1935. As a young man in 1950, Peter worked at various cinemas in Limassol as ticket seller and assistant projectionist, in order to support himself. In July 1956, alone he immigrated to Australia.

When he arrived in Australia by day he worked for a clothing manufacturing company and by night attended Taylors College studying Business Administration. In order to support himself he also worked as an assistant projectionist at Hoyts Cinemas in Melbourne. During this time, due to the influx of Greek migrants one could attend approximately four or five different venues which on a Saturday night which screened Greek films.

With his experience and numerous contacts in the industry Peter was able to gain exclusive rights to the films of Greece’s largest production company FINOS FILMS. He then began importing Greek films to Melbourne. In 1958 Peter, together with Andreas Papadopoulos and Stathis Raftopoulos formed a film company called Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures Pty. Ltd. This company became one of the main film distributors in Australia and New Zealand. He went on to own and operate that 11 Greek Cinemas in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

He was a pioneering member of the Australian Greek Chamber of Commerce, a member of AHEPA, the Executive Committee of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne & Victoria and Cinema Pioneers, was the President of the Cyprus Community of Melbourne & Victoria and is a justice of the peace.