1984, Athens, GR

Education

2007-2012 PhD in Fine Art, Doctoral of Philosophy, University of Leeds, GB. Mapping Mobility Through The Moving Image:New Geographies, Migratory Movements and Urban Spaces in Contemporary Video Practices

2006-2007 MA in Fine Art, School of Fine Art History of Art & Cultural History, University of Leeds, GB.

Residencies
2017/2018 Kunstlerhaus Villa Concordia, Bamberg GE.
2013/2014 Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, NL.

Fellowships

2020 ARTWORKS Artist Fellowship Program, S.Niarchos Foundation, NL.
2020-2024 Mondriaan Fonds, Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent Award, NL.
2015-2019 Mondriaan Fonds, Werkbijdrage Bewezen Talent Award, NL.
2013-2014 Alexander S. Onassis Foundation, GR
2013-2014 Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten, Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, NL.
2007-2010 AHRC Doctoral Award. Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), GB.
2006-2007 AHRC Postgraduate Award. Research Preparation Masters Scheme, Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), GB.

Funds

2020 Script Development, Netherland Film Funds, NL.
2020 Mondriaan Fonds, Projectinvestering Kunstenaar en Bemiddelaar, NL.
2018 Mondriaan Fonds, Projectinvestering Kunstenaar en Bemiddelaar, NL.
2017 De Verbeelding, Netherland Film Funds & Mondriaan Fonds, NL.
2016 AFK Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, NL.
2015 AFK Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, NL.
2014 Netherlands Film Fonds, NL.
2013 AFK Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst, NL.

Film Awards
2021 Best Film, Sundsvall FF, SW.
2021 Best Director, Los Angeles Greek.
2021 Best Film, Berlin Greek FF.
2021 Best Director, Los Angeles Greek.
2020 Best Location, Thessaloniki IFF.
2020 Best CinematographyBlack Canvas CFF Mexico.
2020 Special Mention, Hong Kong IFF.
2020 VEVAM Fonds Prize, Netherlands Film Festival.

2020 Best Film, Beach FF.
2020 KNF Award, Tiger Comp., IFF Rotterdam.
2017 Feature Expanded Distribution Award, Lo Schermo dell' Arte and HOME.

Solo Εxhibitions
2023 Janis Rafa: Feed me. Cheat me. Eat me.
EYE Filmmuseum, NL.
2023 Riddles for resilient tonguesOPBO studio, GR.
2019 Eaten by Non-Humans: Janis RafaCentraal Museum Utrecht, NL.
2018 Internatinales Kunstlerhaus Villa Concordia, GE.
2016 Martin van Zomeren Gallery, Amsterdam, NL.
2014 Martin van Zomeren Gallery, Amsterdam, NL.
    
Group Exhibitions
2022
59th International Art Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, IT. 
2021
Ekrani I Artit (screening), Art House, Shkoder, AL.
Mascarilla-19 Codes of Domestic Violence, Fundacio Antoni Tapies, SP.
Farewell to research, Bucharest Beinnial, RO. 
Floating Cinema -Unknown Waters (screening), Microclima, Venice, IT.
Everything is In a State of Change, , Goethe-Institute Athen, GR.
Martin van Zomeren gallery, NL. 
Shaking the Habitual, Huidenclub, NL.
Waiting For the Time to Pass (online program), EYE Filmmuseum,
2020
Mascarilla-19 Codes of Domestic Violence, Museo MAXXI, Roma, IT.
Utters excess in between, State of Concept Athens, GR.
2019
Dub Toasted Time, Martin van Zomeren Gallery, Amsterdam, NL.
2018
Silence and Rituals, Museo Del 900, Firenze, IT.
Silence and Rituals, Museo MAXXI, Roma, IT.
Martin van Zomeren Gallery, Amsterdam, NL.
Buitenplaats Doornburgh, Aan de Vecht, NL.
Shelter, Catherijne Convent, Utrecht, NL.
5x5x5, Manifesta 12, Palermo, IT.
Beyond Words, Mardin Biennial 4, TR.
2017
Stage of Being, Museum Voorlinden, NL.
Beyond Future is Past, Kunsthalle Munster, GE.
Directing the Real: Artist's Film & Video in the 2010s, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence, IT.
At the Borderline of Vitality, Credo Bonum Art Gallery, Sofia, BG & Corridor Project Space, Amst., NL.
Nameless - TILT Platform, Loutraki, GR.
Athen Photo Festival, Benaki Museum, GR.
Centre d'art contemporain Chanot (CACC), FR.
2016
Collectors View, Capital C, NL.
The Prophecy of Bees, Kunstfort Vijfhuizen, NL.   
Les Recontres Internationales, Paris/Berlin.
Close-Up: A New Generation of Film & Video Artists in the Netherlands, EYE Film Institute, NL.
2015 
Palazzo StrozziFirenze, IT.
Arcadia, Kunstvereniging Diepenheim, NL.
Into the Great Wide Open, Vlieland, NL.
1st Research Pavilion, Venice Biennial, IT.    
Art Rotterdam Projections, Art Rotterdam, NL.
2014
RijksakademieOPEN, Rijkskakademie van beeldende kunsten, NL.
Ce que raconte la solitude, part of ART-O-RAMA, Le Cartel , Marseille, FR.
AO, Martine van Zomeren Gallery, Amsterdam, NL.
2013
RijksakademieOPEN, Rijkskakademie van beeldende kunsten, NL.
2011 
Project Space Leeds, GB.
Cheapart, Athens, GR.
Animacall, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki, GR.
2010  
Rencontres Internationales, Centre Pompidou, Reina Sofia, National Museum, Haus der Kulturen der Welt. 
No Soul For Sale, Tate Modern, London, GB,
2009 
Multiculturalism: Same Place-Different Times, Thessaloniki Biennial of Contemporary Art #2, GR.
Other Asias: Redo Pakistan, Karachi, Lahore, Dhaka and London, PK/BG/GB.
195 Miles, Whitechapel Gallery & Project Space Leeds, GB.
2008 
Independent Liverpool Biennial, Tate Liverpool, GB.
Passing Through, Leeds City Art Gallery, GB.

Workshops 
2021 Torino FilmLab
2009 Thessalon2017 Feature Expanded program, Manchester/Florence.
2009 Thessaloniki Biennial #2, International Young Artists Workshop

Selected Articles
2021
MoMA Interview on Kala azar
2020 
Screen Daily, Review Kala azar
Cineuropa, Review Kala azar 
Cineuropa, Interview 
The Film Stage, Review Kala azar
IFFR, Interview
2019
Publication: Eaten by Non-Humans | Janis Rafa, Centraal Museum.
2014
Catalogue: Ce que raconte la solitude, ART-O-RAMA, ISBN 978-2-9549935-0-8.
2011 
10 Mahkuzine: Journal of Artistic Research/ As The Academy Turns, Earn and Manifesta.

______


Film Festivals [awards]

2021

Sundsvall IFF, [Stone City Award], SW.

FIDMarseille, FR.

New Directors/ New Films, MoMA & Lincoln Center, US.

Los Angeles Greek FF, [Best Director], US.

Berlin Greek FF, [Best Film], GE.

Thessaloniki IFF, Competition [Best Location], GR.

Netherlands FF, [VEVAM Award], NL.

Crossing Europe FilmFestival, AU.

New Horizons IFF, PL.

Ljubljana IFF, SL.

Exground FF, GE.

FIDOCS Santiago IDF, CH.

FICCALI, CL.

Journees Cinematographic, FR.

Barcelona DAFF, SP.

Days of EU Film, CR.

Anonimul IFF, RU.

Filmfest Sundsvall, SW.

2020

IFF Rotterdam, Tiger Competition [KNF Award],NL.

Hong Kong IFF, Young Talent Competition [Special Mention], HK.

Black Canvas, [Best Cinematography], MX.

Lo Schermo del’arte FF, Florence, IT.

Andrey Tarkovsky IFF, RU.

New Zealand IFF, NZ.

Galway IFF, IR.

Beach FF, [Best Film], NM.

Melbourne IFF, AU.

Vancouver IFF, CN.

La Roche-sur Yon FF, FR.

Mostra de Valencia FF, SP.

Sao Paolo IFF, BR.

2017

Recontres Internationales Paris|Berlin.

2016

Internationale Kurzfimwoche Regensburg, DE.

FUSI-Annual de Video Arte International de Lisboa, PR.

Moscow Experimental Film Fest, RU.

2015   

Netherlands FF, Gouden Kalf Competition, NL.

Viennale IFF, AU.

IFF Rotterdam, NL.

IndieLisboa IIFF, PT.

2012   

BFI London, GB.