Zaphiris is a prominent filmmaker in Greece and a founding member of the Greek Society of Cinematographers. He grew up in Thessaloniki and graduated from the Stavrakos Film School and the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. After working in Hollywood for five years as a camera assistant, he returned to Greece to work on various projects. He collaborated with Panos Koutras in his first film, The Attack of the Giant Moussaka (1999), and with Maria Douza in The Tree and the Swing (2012), and Listen (2022).
With Pigi Dimitrakopoulou in the TV series I aithousa tou thronou (1999), and with Katerina Athanasiou in Taxim (2000). He also worked on commercials all over the world. In addition, he has designed lighting for theatrical productions for Stathis Livathinos at the Experimental Stage of the National Theatre, Roula Pateraki at the National Theatre of North Greece, and Olia Lazaridou at the Municipal Theatre of Piraeus. Zaphiris covered the refugee crisis in Lesvos twice in 2015 with the International Rescue Committee, with David Miliband. His passion for travel and visual storytelling has led him to embark on many adventures behind the camera.
2022
Documentary “OUR CHANGING EARTH”
Director: Oliwia Twardowska
Production house: Big Change Productions
Documentary “DESMOND CHILD ROCKS THE PARTHENON”
Director: Heather Winters
Production house: White Dock Films
2021
Feature Film “LISTEN”
Director: Maria Douza
Production house: Steficon, Ars Digital Studio
2020
Documentary “SPETSES 1821-AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY”
Director: Panos Thomaidis
Production house: Inkas Films
2018
TV mini series documentary “A NECESSARY STORY”
Director: Angelos Abazoglou
Production: ARTE, Cyclope Productions
2017
Documentary “STUCK IN THE DOORWAY”
Director: Bill Megalos
Production house: Megalomania
2013
Feature Film “THE TREE AND THE SWING”
Director: Maria Douza
Production house: Steficon
2011
TV Series documentary “LABOR LOG”
Director: Panos Thomaidis
Production house: Path
2010
Documentary “DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD”
The life of Eric Burdon
2008
Documentary “SPIRITED TRAILS”
Director: Stavros Stangos
Production house: Argonauts
2000
TV Series “TAXIM” (7 episodes)
Production house: Studio ATA
1999
TV Series “I AITHOUSA TOU THRONOU” (7 episodes)
Production house: Studio ATA
1995
Feature Film “THE ATTACK OF THE GIANT MUSAKA”
Director: Panos H. Koutras
Production house: 100% Synthetic Films
COMMERCIALS 1995-2017
Director of Photography in more than 500 commercials.
Shot in USA, Russia, Ukraine, Chile, Cuba, China, Bulgaria, Albania, Turkey, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Tunisia, Spain, Portugal, India, Egypt for international brands including BMW, Ford, Toyota, VW, Hyundai, Daihatsu, Isuzu, BP, Becks, Amstel, HSBC, Lenovo, Vodafone, Siemens, and Coca-Cola.
PRODUCTION HOUSES:
Made in China, Silbersee Hamburg, Radioaktive Ukraine, Pacific Films Moscow, Gwantsi Hong Kong, The Talkies Dubai, Made in Lisbon, Made in USA, Silvergrey Saudi Arabia, Media Studio Cyprus, CGS Tunis.
DIRECTORS HE WORKED WITH: Oliwia Twardowska, Maria Douza, Panos H. Koutras, Claus Dowie, Patrick Van Hautem, Henri Basil, Alejandro Toledo, Jean Luis Carasco, Laurie Casteli, Mark Wilkins, Duncan Robson, Antonio Alexio.
STUDIES: AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE 1992