April 12 – 20, 2024

5th Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth – Cyprus 2019

PRESS RELEASE NO. 2

Welcome young superheroes!

5th  Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth – Cyprus 2019

12 -20 April | Nicosia – Limassol

Packed with amazing films starring young superheroes, and featuring important workshops, the 5th Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth Festival aims to bring the best of youth cinema from the 12th to the 20th of April. Like every year, the Festival happens within the framework of Cyprus Film Days International Festival – Cyprus 2019, and is being organised by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre.

Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth is especially curated for young children from 9 to 14 years old, and aims to enhance the pereption, aesthetics and intellectual maturity of young viewers. By introducing young audiences to quality world cinema the Festival gives children the chance to enjoy films and to participate in workshops led by acclaimed film professionals; an initiative which aims to become an inspiration source and to develop children’s imagination and their emotional world.

On Saturday, 13th April, the children will have the chance to participate in a workshop led by actor Andreas Tselepos entitled «Acting for the camera». On a second workshop, which will take place on the 13th and 14th of April, BBC director – producer Laura Gaynor will educate participants on using smartphone cameras (with interpretation in Greek). This workshop will include filming techniques, directing and editing films shot on mobile phones «Smartphone as a camera», while on the 14th of April a third workshop is being organised, entitled «Storytelling  in VR», led by educator Doros Polydorou.

Moreover, the Festival launches a collaboration with the youth section of Animafest Cyprus. This first ever collaboration will include a presentation entitled, «Introduction to the art of Animation», which will be followed by a workshop aimed at young children aged 9-11. The children will create their own short film with help from a team of professionals from Animafest Cyprus. Animafest Cyprus’s artistic director Yorgos Tsangaris will be in charge of the coordination of the workshop and presentation. The following awarded Cypriot animation professionals will be participating: Michalis Papanicolaou, Katerina Pantela, Andreas Rossides, Paschalis Paschali and Rebecca Stylianou. Michalis Papanicolaou and Katerina Pantela will explore the creative process behind animated music films that they created for Yiorgos Hadjipieri’s songs O Tembelis Drakos. The presentation and workshop will take place at Ayioi Omologites workshop in Nicosia, on Sunday 14th April.

The workshops are expected to be particularly successful just like previous years, as children will have the unique chance to come in contact with the entire process of creating a film up until its screening.

The Festival also organises screenings for Primary Schools and High Schools as well as two screenings open to the public. The Festival has secured the rights for five exceptional and multi-awarded films from important festivals aimed at children and youth. The selection of this year’s films took in mind the common thematics of superhero children amongst us. Children who fight against illnesses, and who boldly deal with difficult situations in their families, fight against hardships in their daily lives, discrimination, bullying or their own phobias.

The Festival aim is for the children to enjoy the films, to gain important skills and memorable life examples. It is important to note that the screenings will be followed by short presentations by film professionals and that the young viewers will have the chance to vote for the films.