Foundation IHOS Amsterdam alters expectations of what is possible artistically.

Founded in 1990 in Hobart, Tasmania, and based in the Netherlands since 2013, Foundation IHOS Amsterdam emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinarity across film, live performance, and music in particular. Working with a diverse group of directors, writers, visual artists, sound designers, and others in fields as far ranging as architecture and digital technology, the Foundation approaches its subject matter in unconventional—and unexpected—ways. Its visually arresting, immersive work addresses the most urgent issues of our time.

Creative Director and Founder Constantine Koukias is a film producer, opera director, and composer of Greek ancestry based in Amsterdam since 2013.

A seasoned producer with a career spanning over three decades, Koukias is deeply passionate about social justice, human rights, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and artistic collaboration with a diverse group of artists, including those with disabilities. Spanning film, opera, and large-scale multimedia experiences, his critically acclaimed work resists simple classification.  

A Day in June (2018): Directed by Peter Sieben, this short film-opera explores the inner journey of a traveler as he confronts his dreams and illusions before embarking on a new adventure. With music composed by Marion von Tilzer and words by Gerard Harleman, the film is visually enriched by painted portraits by artist Ludo Winkelman and draws inspiration from a poem by Fernando Pessoa.

A Deep Black Sleep (2021/3): Developed and filmed in Amsterdam, this noir-influenced film-opera set in an authoritarian climate follows a composer caught between his artistic values and political expediency. In 2023, an operatic version of the film was presented at the MONA FOMA Festival in Australia.

The Pain of Others (2024): A boy, whose mother is a psychotherapist, spends his childhood exposed to the pain of others. Their home resembles a soul repair factory. Through a domino effect of empathy, his childhood is transformed by a single visit that heralds the arrival of something new. Outside the walls of their apartment, people start vanishing.

Eros & Thanatos (2025): In a haunting tale of hope and despair, a young couple seeking asylum in Europe finds themselves trapped in a timeless limbo, forcing them to confront their deepest fears and desires as they struggle to escape before their spirits break.

Shaped by Trees (2026/7): A collaboration between director/composer Constantine Koukias and writer Biasino William Pezzimenti, this poignant film-opera follows Eva across three stages of her life, exploring themes of love, survival, and memory.

PRIMORDIAL (2025–2029): A documentary film and live-performance series, this international project will explore 11 Ediacara fossil sites worldwide. Featuring on-location field recordings by pianist Gabriella Smart, it will merge film and music to create a unique cinematic experience.