Ilias Malandris was born in Athens and is of Kasos descent. He studied theatre at the Athens Conservatoire and Theatre, Film and Television at New York University. Since 1987, he has worked in radio and television and has directed adaptations of numerous theatrical productions for both media. He has created films and documentaries and has also been active in theatrical and literary research, maintaining a long-standing career as a director, writer, columnist and theatre scholar.