In addition to directing, he also wrote, produced, translated, and designed dozens of stage play and opera productions.

He received many other international accolades, including the Technical Grand Prize from the Cannes Film Festival, as well as six Palme d'Or nominations.

His father, Sir Panayotis Loizou Cacoyannis, had been knighted in the 1936 Birthday Honours by the United Kingdom government for public services in Cyprus.

[7][8] He was offered the chance to direct Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando in the film Reflections in a Golden Eye, but he declined.

[citation needed] Between 1959 and 1967, he was in a relationship with Yael Dayan, a progressive Israeli politician and author.