DEMETRIOS KATIS
Internationally awarded composer, EMI platinum recording artist, film director and producer, screenwriter, journalist and cultural founder. Founder, President and Artistic Director of MUSES FILM AWARDS – Levadia International Film Festival.
International Career at a Glance
Born in Athens, Greece, Demetrios (Dimitrios / Δημήτρης) Katis has built a multidisciplinary career across music, cinema, broadcasting, journalism and international cultural exchange.
Beginning in recording and performance during the 1980s, his work has extended across Greece, the United States and other international markets, including significant periods living and working in Los Angeles and New York. His artistic language brings together epic orchestral writing, Hellenic and European historical themes, rock and metal instrumentation, dramatic storytelling and contemporary film-scoring approaches.
Katis is associated with gold- and platinum-selling EMI releases, orchestral recordings, concert and theatrical productions, television and radio work, and independent cinema. He established MUSES FILM AWARDS – Levadia International Film Festival to connect international creators with audiences, emerging filmmakers and cultural organisations in Greece.
Internationally Recognised Composer
EMI gold and platinum-era recordings, orchestral works, songwriting distinctions and music for stage and screen.
Filmmaker & Storyteller
Writer, director, producer, composer and editor across feature films, music films and AI-assisted screen projects.
Television, Radio & Journalism
Creator and host of music programmes, cultural journalist and member of professional journalism organisations.
Festival Founder
Founder, President and Artistic Director of MUSES FILM AWARDS – Levadia International Film Festival.
Major International Distinctions
Civic, Diplomatic & Hellenic Honours
City of Athens — Mayoral Award of Honour
Recognition for promoting Hellenic spirit and Greek cultural heritage internationally. Published biographies differ on the exact year.
Artemis Award
Euro-American Women’s Council distinction presented at the Zappeion Megaron, Athens.
U.S. Ambassador — Special Music / Cultural Award
Presented by Ambassador Daniel V. Speckhard at a Euro-American Women’s Council event at the Zappeion Megaron.
Hellenic Post — Commemorative Stamps
A series of ten commemorative and collectable stamps marking Katis’s orchestral work, including “300 Spartans” and “Europe – Hymn and Duty”.
Hellenic Journalists’ Cultural Foundation
Honorary tribute for international musical achievements, presented at Karantza Hall, Athens.
International Cultural Recognition
Certificate of Appreciation from the World / International Philosophical Forum and cultural recognition associated with the Greek Embassy in Azerbaijan.
Further recognitions are reported from municipal authorities in Chalandri, Vrilissia and Levadia, Delaware County Council, Greek-American community organisations, Hellenic News of America and Hermes Expo International. Exact titles and dates should be confirmed from original certificates or programmes before republication.
Signature Stage Productions
300 Spartans: The Symphonic Rock Opera
“300 Spartans” combines epic symphonic composition, rock and metal power, Greek and European choral idioms, historical storytelling and theatrical choreography. The production profile describes a presentation of approximately 75 minutes, with dramatic sets and costumes. It premiered at an event at the Zappeion Megaron in Athens in May 2009 and was subsequently associated with performances throughout Greece.
Euripides’ The Bacchae — United States Theatrical Tour
In 2008, Katis composed and arranged original music for U.S. productions of Euripides’ “The Bacchae”, directed and produced by Leonidas Loizides. Reported performance activity included Pennsylvania, Texas and Michigan, connecting ancient Greek drama with English-speaking audiences through contemporary music and staging.
Orchestral Music, Television & Radio
ERT — “Epic Harmonies” (2023)
The ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra recorded and performed a dedicated programme of Katis’s original compositions, released on the ERT Echo platform on 29 June 2023. The sessions took place at ERT Studio B in March–April 2023, conducted by Giorgos Aravidis, with orchestral adaptation by Achilleas Wastor.
The programme included “The Sword of the Victor / The Descent of the Hero”, “Glory and Honor”, “Time for Heroes”, “A Knight’s Dream / William Prince of Orange”, “Winner’s Dance”, “Kano Mia Efchi / Wishmaker” and “Anna (Part II)”.
ERT — Paros Commemorative Concert, 15 September 2026
For the 1,700-year celebrations of Panagia Ekatontapyliani, the ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra presented a further tribute to Katis at the historic sanctuary in Paros. The concert was conducted by Stathis Soulis and co-organised by the Municipality of Paros and the South Aegean Region.
- In 2007, the Kyiv Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra recorded “Arrogance and Fear” under conductor Robert Ian Winstin.
- Katis created and hosted “Metalmania” on Greek public television (1990–1993) and later presented “Star Club” on ET2.
- He created and presented “The Dance of the Danaans” on Athens 9.84 FM.
- His journalism and cultural writing has been associated with Greek media, including Apogevmatini.
Film Direction & International Festival Recognition
Broken Circle — Feature Film (2022)
Katis wrote, directed, produced, photographed, composed and edited the 139-minute philosophical fantasy / historical drama “Broken Circle”, which reimagines themes of ancient Greek tragedy. Its published festival record lists more than 50 awards, finalist placements, nominations and official selections. These categories are distinct and should not be treated as equivalent.
Adolph Zukor International Film Festival
First Prizes for Best Music and Best Production Design (2022).
Hollywood Gold Awards
Gold Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Original Score.
Brussels International Film Festival
Recognition for Best Original Score and Best Production Design.
Further Festival Results
Published listings include distinctions at festivals in India, Italy, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Canada, Romania and other countries.
Other Screen Projects
- HELICON (2026): a feature-length science-fiction film written, directed, composed and edited by Katis, developed through a generative-AI-assisted visual-production workflow. The project reached finalist status at TINFF@10 and AI London Film Festival in 2026.
- WAVERIDER — Demon’s Claw proof of concept (2026): a 13-minute-49-second Bronze Age Aegean screen project made in collaboration with Emmy Award-winning animation filmmaker Nassos Vakalis. The stated credit reads: “Written by Nassos Vakalis, Directed & A.I. Crafted by Demetrios Katis.”
- Story of a Hero: a music film featuring actor Alexis Georgoulis, screened in the Tony Curtis International Film Festival’s 2024 programme.
- Deep Blue Star: an original song from 2011 revisited as a music video filmed in Budapest in 2025 and released publicly in 2026.
International Cultural Exchange
Tony Curtis International Film Festival — Hungary
Katis has served as VIP Cultural Ambassador and Honorary Jury Member. The festival’s 2024 programme screened “Story of a Hero” and included a public discussion with him as director and jury member. In September 2025, he delivered a one-hour masterclass titled “How to Make Our Voice Heard — From Music and Film to International Recognition”.
Other International Activities
- Baku, Azerbaijan (9 March 2018): EXORISTOI performance at The Landmark, with cultural recognition associated with the Greek Embassy in Azerbaijan.
- Kyiv, Ukraine (2007): symphonic recording of “Arrogance and Fear”, subsequently published in the United States and broadcast on NPR.
- United States (2007–2011): award ceremonies, theatrical activity, recordings, publishing collaborations and Greek-American cultural engagement.
MUSES FILM AWARDS — Levadia International Film Festival
Founder, President and Artistic Director
Established around the cultural identity of Mount Helicon and Central Greece, MUSES FILM AWARDS creates a meeting point for filmmakers, producers, cultural representatives, musical performers and local associations. The first edition took place on 4–6 April 2025 and presented 155 films from 36 countries. The second edition followed on 7–10 May 2026 with international guests, screenings, awards, masterclasses and cultural events.
22–25 April 2027
The third edition is planned to continue the festival’s international programme and cultural partnerships.
Festival guests and contributors in 2026 included visual-effects professional Jay Worth, film producer Mark Foligno, editor László Hargittai and Hungarian Hollywood Council president Balázs Bokor. The festival has also incorporated AI filmmaking categories alongside conventional narrative and documentary work.
Selected Compositions & Representative Works
Kano Mia Efchi / I Make a Wish
Popular Greek-language song associated with EXORISTOI and the EMI platinum era.
Europe — Hymn and Duty
Musical project inspired by European history; the subject of a personal commendation from European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen.
Fiery Journey — From Genesis to Europe
Epic-lyrical work cited by ERT as approved for inclusion in Greek-school educational collections.
Arrogance and Fear
Recorded by Kyiv Philharmonic musicians under Robert Ian Winstin and released in the United States.
Gathering of the Tribes / Running Wild
Billboard World Song Contest second-prize and first-prize works, respectively, in 2008 and 2011.
300 Spartans / Broken Circle / HELICON
Representative stage and screen projects bringing together music, historical themes and cinematic storytelling.
Professional Roles & Affiliations
- Founder, President and Artistic Director — MUSES FILM AWARDS / Levadia International Film Festival, Greece.
- President — APOLLON Cultural Association.
- Board Member — Athanasios Botsis Foundation for the Advancement of Journalism.
- Member — ASCAP (United States), ESIEA and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
- VIP Cultural Ambassador and Honorary Jury Member — Tony Curtis International Film Festival, Hungary.
- United States EB-1A / E11 extraordinary-ability arts classification granted in 2012. This is an immigration classification, not a music award.