Socrates Alafouzos

Sokratis Alafouzos is a film and theater director, actor, screenwriter, and educator with a prolific career that spans over 30 years. His extensive and diverse body of work has earned him international recognition and numerous accolades for his accomplishments as a director, screenwriter, and performer.

His knowledge of theater and acting complemented his passion for film and the moving image. He applied his expertise in acting and stage direction, along with play and character analysis, to the world of film. To develop a holistic approach to directing and teaching, he also expanded his skills in photography, cinematography, lighting, sound, and film editing.

Alafouzos balances his creative endeavors with a strong commitment to education. He firmly believes that "Knowledge is power. Knowledge shared is power multiplied." To put this belief into practice, he actively teaches in academic settings, where he shapes and inspires the next generation of filmmakers and artists in the performing arts.

Sokratis is an invaluable asset to any collaborative project or institution, with a strong track record of success and numerous achievements. His dedication to excellence, paired with a deep understanding of the artistic and educational fields, enables him to lead initiatives effectively while fostering a culture of innovation and accomplishment that inspires those around him. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his integrity and ethos, establishing him as a trusted leader and collaborator.

Professional Experience

Director and Producer Film and Theater Productions

• Directed, produced, and edited 'A Clown Girl,' an award-winning feature documentary film. (2025).
• Directed "The Mortician's Wife" for the OC-Centric New Play Festival in CA. (Summer 2023.)
• Directed "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime," Waltmar Theater (Winter 2023)
• Directed and produced "Theater Nights With," an online TV show for Theatron. (Dec. 2022)
• Directed "From Byzantium to Modernism," a video presentation of Greek Poetry. (July 2021)
• Directed the music video "Your eyes are Mytilini" (June 2020)
• Directed the pilot short film for the future Documentary "Women Behind the Wall" (2019)
• Directed, wrote, and produced the award-winning short film "Between Black and White" (2015)
• Directed and produced the TV commercial for the NGO The Arch of the World (2015)
• Directed the pilot episode of the show "What Have You Just Said" for Greek television. (2014)
• Directed, wrote, and produced the award-winning short film 'Little King' (2012)

Actor He became one of Greece's most prominent actors, with extensive experience in theater, including leading roles in productions of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Anouilh, Shaffer, Camus, Cocteau, Euripides, and more, as well as leading roles in films and TV series.

Selective TV credits

• I Lampsi - 500 episodes (1998-2000)
• Aerines Siopes, Mega Channel - 98 episodes (2001-2003)
• 10th Commandment - 11 one-hour episodes (2004-2007)
• Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, (April 2017)
• AJ and the Queen, (January 2020)

Selective Theater Credits

• Hecuba, Stanford Repertory Theater at Cacoyannis Foundation, Lead. (2018)
• This Child, by Joel Pommerat at Badminton Theatre, Lead. (2011)
• Equus, by Peter Shaffer at Proskinio Theater, Lead. (2008-09)
• Taming of the Shrew, by W. Shakespeare at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Lead (2004)
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Athineon Theater, Dir. Gregory Valtinos (2002)
• Edward the Second, by C. Marlow at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Lead (2000)
• Caligula, by A. Camus at the New World Theater, Dir: T. Sarantos, Lead (1999)
• Filumena Marturano by Eduardo De Filippo, Dionysia Theater, Dir. J. Margaritis (1997)
• The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie, on tour, Dir. Manousos Manousakis (1996)

Selective Film Credits

• The Two Faces of January, a full-feature film by Hossein Amini (2014)
• Little King, a short film as an actor-director-writer. (2011)
• The Mating Game, a full-feature film by O. Malea. (1999)
• Landscape in the Mist, a full-feature film by Theo Angelopoulos. (1988)
• The Noose, a full-feature film by K. Koutsomitis. (1987)

Theatron of the Americas (2019 - Present) Founder and Artistic Director

• Established an arts organization in Los Angeles aimed at celebrating and promoting theater in the Americas.
• Curated and hosted international events showcasing Ancient Greek Drama and poetry, with participation from notable actors and scholars, like the world-renowned Deepak Chopra, British actor Julian Sands, and more.
• Created "Theater Nights With," an interview show featuring acclaimed theater professionals. The first honorary guest was actor and director Apollo Dukakis.

Academic Appointments

Chapman University, California Presidential Fellow in Greek Theater

• He was honored to be appointed as a Presidential Fellow. (Jan 2022-June 2023)
• Developed a new course based on his research on Sophocles' "Antigone" and taught it for two semesters in the Honors Department.
• Taught a course on Theater Directing and directed the production of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" for the Department of Theater.
• Taught Advanced Directing Performance Techniques for the Film Department.

Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, California Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer

• Teaching graduate courses in Film Directing and Directing Performance Techniques since August 2023.

California State University - Fullerton Adjunct Faculty/Lecturer

• Taught a Theater Course, 'Fundamentals of Acting', for The Department of Theater & Dance

(Jan 2025 - June 2025)

Additional Teaching Experience

Lecturer

• He conducted two professional workshops on filmmaking at a special event in Athens, organized by ECU - The European Independent Film Festival. (Feb. 2014)

Lecturer

• He gave a series of acting and career seminars under the titular theme "Acting and Career" at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens, Greece. (Nov 2013-May 2014)

Professor

• Taught acting at the Theater of Changes in Athens, Greece. Three semesters in the 2010-2011 academic year and two semesters in the 2011-2012 academic year.

Honors and Awards

• Honorary Award by Eliza's President, Marina Karella, for contributions to the Elisa Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. (Nov. 2015)

Film Festivals and Competitions:

Notable Selective Awards

• Best Documentary - London Greek Film Festival, London, U.K. (2025)
• Best Script - Kinofilm International Short Film Festival, Manchester, U.K. (2016)
• Jury Award - Be Epic London International Film Festival, U.K. (2016)
• Rising Star Award - Canada International Film Festival. (2016)
• Grand Jury Prize - Tangier Mediterranean Short Film Festival. (2015)
• Best International Short - Salento International Film Festival, Italy (2015)
• Best International Short - Manhattan Film Festival. (2012)
• Best International Short - Salento International Film Festival, Italy. (2012)
• Best Greek Film & Audience Award - Cyprus International Film Festival. (2012)
• Audience Award - 60N OS International Film Festival, Norway.

Acting Awards:

• Best Actor - Madrid International Film Festival for his performance in Little King (2012)
• Best Actor - Korfiatika Awards for the TV series Air Silences (2002)
• Acting Award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival for the film The Noose (1987)

Scholarships and Special Recognitions:

• Fulbright Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies in Acting and Directing in the U.S. (1991)
• Honored by AWOG - American Women's Organization of Greece. (2003)
• Honorary Award for his film Little King by the Greek Institute of Arts in New York (2012)
• Honorary Award for his achievements by NGO Korifogrammi. (2013)

Education

• BA in Performing Arts - Professional Theater School of Athens "Nikolaos Binas." (1982-85)
• Dance Studies at the Cay Holden Dance Academy (Oct 1983- May 1987)
• Film Directing courses - Hatzikou Film School. (Sep 1987- May 1988)
• Fulbright Scholarship, U.S. (1991-1992)
• Postgraduate studies in Acting and Directing at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. (1991-94)
• Film Directing Seminars, 'Directors on Directing'- American Film Institute. (1994)
• Participated in the Reykjavik International Film Festival Talent Lab in October 2015.

He attended masterclasses both as a professor and as a student with Anthony Hopkins, David Cronenberg, Oliver Stone, William Friedkin, Martha Coolidge, Alexander Payne, Chloe Zhao, Emerald Fennell, Brendan Fraser, Daniel Scheinert, Ke Huy Quan, Asghar Farhadi, Ben Stiller, Gus Van Sant, John Badham, Margarethe von Trotta, Helga Stephenson, Valdis Oskardottir.

Jury Experience

• Juror, ECU - The European Independent Film Festival, Paris (2013-2015).

Community Engagement

• Good Will Ambassador, Elisa - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (2014-2020).