French cinematographer praises Greece: "A real natural jewel of the planet"

Greece continues to draw in international projects to its shores.

One of the latest filming productions focuses on the unique wildlife of the Mediterranean and is being produced on the Greek island of Amorgos.

"Greece is the point of the Mediterranean where most of the wild coasts exist. Thousands of kilometres of beaches and many of them without human presence. It is the Mediterranean region most protected from the invasion of human activities. As a result, the variety of these coasts and islands make it a real natural gem of the planet. And a reservoir for a biodiversity under pressure. Species that have become extinct elsewhere still survive in Greece: such as the monk seal and the loggerhead sea turtle. I believe that Greece is one of the most beautiful countries in the world," renowned French cinematographer Fred Fougea told AMNA.

The 6 hour documentary 'Mediterranean-Life Under Siege' aims to highlight the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, the threats it faces and the hopes that remain for its preservation. It will be split into 4 episodes and be aired by French public national television channel, France2. It is also expected to be showed in Italy and the UK.

As the director explains, "this is an island of rare beauty with exceptional relief. It also has many wild beaches. There is also a personal aspect, I came to Amorgos 10 years ago with the woman of my life and I have wonderful memories. I love this island for its charm, the kindness of the hospitable people and the good food."

During filming, all the necessary safety protocols were observed.

Rea Apostolides, producer for Anemon Productions in Greece worked with the French production team.

The local community of Amorgos which embraced the project, also played a decisive role in the smooth conduct of the filming. "The cooperation with the local authorities, as well as with the inhabitants of the islands was excellent....A special thank you to the deputy mayor of Amorgos, Mrs. Despotidi and the abbot of the Monastery of Hozoviotissa for their help. Locals also took part in the shooting, such as fishermen and shepherds with great enthusiasm!" she said.

It is worth noting that documentary films are also popular in Greece. "Greeks watch documentaries! Recently, in fact, we participated in the pan-European survey conducted by the Moving Docs network about who watches documentaries. The results were impressive. Specifically, the survey found that 97% of respondents believe that they have been influenced by documentaries. More than 60% say that the documentary has changed the way they see the world, or has given them specific information on a subject," Apostolides added.