The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many as the Greek Golden age of Cinema . Directors and actors of this era were recognized as important historical figures in Greece and some gained international acclaim : Mihalis Kakogiannis , Alekos Sakellarios , Melina Mercouri , Nikos Tsiforos , Iakovos Kambanelis , Katina Paxinou , Nikos Koundouros , Ellie Lambeti , Irene Papas etc . More than sixty films per year were made , with the majority having film noir elements . Notable films were '' Η κάλπικη λίρα '' ( 1955 directed by Giorgos Tzavellas ) , '' Πικρό Ψωμί '' ( 1951 , directed by Grigoris Grigoriou ) , '' O Drakos '' ( 1956 directed by Nikos Koundouros ) , '' Stella '' ( 1955 directed by Cacoyannis and written by Kampanellis ) . Cacoyannis also directed '' Zorba the Greek '' with Anthony Quinn which received Best Director , Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Film nominations . Finos Film also contributed to this period with movies such as '' Λατέρνα , Φτώχεια και Φιλότιμο '' , '' Η Θεία από το Σικάγο '' , '' Το ξύλο βγήκε από τον Παράδεισο '' and many more . During the 1970s and 1980s Theo Angelopoulos directed a series of notable and appreciated movies . His film '' Eternity and a Day '' won the Palme d'Or and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival
1998 Cannes Film Festival
1998 Cannes Film Festival
Culture of Greece