Where the blinding light of the Aegean fades away, an unknown world is revealed.
A rare documentary about the uncharted ecosystem of the Cyclades.
In the Aegean Sea, at depths exceeding 100 meters, where light begins to fade, a world invisible to humans emerges; a hidden ecosystem of coralligenous formations created by encrusting coralline algae, known locally as “traganes,” providing shelter to countless marine species.
The documentary unveils this almost unknown, uncharted underwater world of the Cyclades through scientific research and the lived experiences of the people of the sea. Scientists document and analyze, while fishermen remember and recount their stories. Through this encounter, a hidden form of life comes to the surface – one that has always existed beneath the waves, yet remained unseen.
At the heart of the narrative lies the “Kakos Topos” (“Bad Place”), an area named by fishermen because of its rugged and inaccessible seabed. But as the camera descends deeper, the meaning of the name begins to change. Is it truly a hostile place? Or simply a place humanity never truly knew?
With striking imagery from the unexplored depths of the Aegean, the documentary becomes a cinematic exploration of life in a realm where humans rarely look – and almost never reach.
The documentary is expected to be released in Autumn 2026.
Produced with the support of the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and the Athina I. Martinou Foundation.
Synopsis
In the Cyclades, at depths where light begins to fade and an unseen world emerges, vast coralligenous formations created by encrusting coralline algae –known locally as “traganes”– stretch across the seabed. As the research ventures deeper into these uncharted underwater landscapes, the narrative leads to the “Kakos Topos” (“Bad Place”), an area named by fishermen because of its rugged and inaccessible seabed. But how “bad” is this place, really?
About the Director
Stathis Galazoulas studied artistic photography and film directing in Athens, where he currently lives and works as a Director of Photography and documentary filmmaker. He has directed films broadcast by ERT and COSMOTE TV, while his work has been screened and awarded at Greek and international film festivals.
Contributors
Featuring: Giorgos Papatheodorou, Maria Geraga, Dimitris Christodoulou, Xenofon Dimas, Alkis Kontos, Aris Tziatzopoulos, Captain Giorgos Marianos “Sargos”, Giorgos Marianos
Production Crew
Written & Directed by: Stathis Galazoulas
Producer: Kyriaki Virou
Director of Photography: Stathis Galazoulas
Production Manager: Konstantinos D. Papadopoulos
Sound Recording: Antonis Koutelias
Original Score: Haris Neilas
Post-Production Supervisor: Michalis Papadopoulos
Editing: Io Andrikopoulou, Stathis Galazoulas
Sound Design & Mixing: Anastasios Katsaris
Color Grading: Vangelis Panagiotakopoulos
Mastering: Tamarisk
Supported by: Athanasios C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation, Athina I. Martinou Foundation
Produced by: AbFab Productions
Contact / Press
[email protected] · AbFab Productions
