4-12 April 2025

Past Editions

2023

Screen 2023

Dear cinephiles,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to our beloved venues, Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace in Nicosia, for our first year as Artistic Directors of Cyprus Film Days International Festival.

We want to thank all of you–regular festival attendees as well as new arrivals–for honouring us with your presence, and for joining us on this nine-day-long cinematic journey filled with a kaleidoscope of images and stories from around the world.

When we started working on this edition, we set ourselves a question: ‘what now?’ In a world that so often–and so brazenly–disregards the value of individual and collective life, succumbing to humanity’s destructive instead of its creative impulse, how can we use the power of cinema to help us imagine a better, and radically different future? Now what? What does the future of collectivity, including collective viewing experiences, hold, when the very technological advances that enable us to connect to millions of unfamiliar people and places online seem to also be encouraging physical and emotional isolation, and social disconnects?

A work of film is a work of collective effort: it depends as much on its experienced director or producer as it does on its first-time production assistant. It should likewise be an effort of collective celebration. The cinematic arts have a magnetic power of pulling people together. The experience of watching cinema brings us into contact with a wealth of other realities, showing us the vastness and diversity of our world, while also reminding us of how small, and simultaneously precious, each life is.

Our selections for this year’s programme have been guided by these questions and concerns, and together the films touch upon a broad spectrum of issues, while employing a range of formal approaches, from the naturalistic to the surreal. This eclectic selection aims to position the festival as a catalyst for stimulating conversation and reflection on broader social and cultural conversations happening in Cyprus and beyond: including climate change, the suppression of democratic rights, questions of migration and refugeedom, the aggressive militarisation of borders and landscapes, gender-based violence, queer and non-binary identities, and the status of culture in an increasingly bigoted environment that prizes profit and influence above all other endeavours.

This year, Cyprus Film Days is proud to present a diverse selection in its two main sections: Glocal Images, the international competition section of our festival features bold cinematic visions from up-and-coming filmmakers who dare to grapple with pressing social issues by often pushing the boundaries of fiction; and Viewfinder, which includes some of the best-known, multi-award-winning, and most impactful films from the international festival circuit. Complementing these, is a parallel programme titled Cyprus Collaborates, a special section of Cypriot co-productions that aims to showcase the many ways in which the Cypriot filmmaking industry continues to transcend boundaries, claiming a place on the international scene (and screen!)

In addition to CFD’s main programming we are also thrilled to be hosting the CFD Children and Youth Festival, under the artistic direction of Stavros Pamballis, proposing a rich programme of screenings for kids and teenagers, as well as a series of hands-on workshops focused on VR, filmmaking, and sustainability. Furthermore, the Festival’s reach continues to expand thanks to the growing impact of Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days, headed by Danae Stylianou. Now in its fourth edition, Dot.on.the.Map–the Festival’s co-production, training and networking platform–brings producers, directors and scriptwriters from the Mediterranean region together with international film professionals, here in Limassol.

It is our wish to continue developing Cyprus Film Days into a hive of creative exchange, diverse contributions and open discussions, and for this reason we are particularly excited to bring a number of collaborators into the fold this year: from artist Dimitris Chimonas, whose meta-cinematic vision—inspired by Sessions, an ongoing project of collective queer happenings—graces the opening and closing ceremonies of the festival; designers Clio Hadjigeorgiou and Lisa Rebeca, who brought our ideas for a re-imagined visual identity for the festival to life; the editorial team of Becoming magazine, Polymnia Tsinti and Nicholas Herzberg; as well as the curators and featured artists of the exhibition we can only begin to notice at the Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre; and the Directors Guild of Cyprus.

Further expanding the festival’s international scope—together with its thematic and formal breadth—is one of our main goals for the years ahead, and our jury this year reflects this. The 2023 Cyprus Film Days jury consists of prominent personalities from the international and local film community. The jury president is award-winning French film director Julie Bertuccelli, whose latest film Jane Campion: La Femme Cinéma premiered as part of the Official Selection in Cannes in 2022, accompanied by fellow jury members: Talent Agent Georg Georgi, Managing Director of Berlin-based Das Imperium agency; Sebastian Markt, head of Berlinale’s Generation section; Sophie Cavoulacos, Associate Curator of Film at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; and Cypriot film director Yianna Amerikanou, whose film .dog won CFD’s Best Cypriot Film and Best Director Award last year.

We want to thank our predecessors, Tonia Mishiali, Costas Constandinides, and Marios Stylianou, for their invaluable work and for building the festival into one of the island’s most important cultural events. We also want to thank Dr. Elena Christodoulides, Acting Director of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture, as well as Georgia Doetzer, Chief Executive of the Rialto Theatre for their continuous support. Moreover, we would like to thank the Mayors of Limassol and Nicosia, as well as the members of the small yet effective festival team for their tireless efforts. A huge and special thanks also to the volunteers, partners, sponsors, and supporters of Cyprus Film Days, without whom the success of this year’s edition would not have been possible.

A queer love story that tries to escape the patriarchal hierarchy of a Pakistani family. A Borgesian travelogue that defies genre. The bittersweet recollection of a fragile parent-child relationship during the summer holidays. An afro-futurist musical in defence of non-binary and labour rights set in Burundi. The nostalgia for an environmentally secure past in the Italian Alps. A rumination on animal life in an era of mass consumption. The struggles for artistic and political freedom in Iran. These are just a few of the topics, landscapes, and relationships that this year’s programme holds in store for you.

We hope the formally daring, emotionally moving, and politically stirring works of film screened this week will encourage conversations about the state of filmmaking today, as well as the present and future of our society, encouraging us to become more attuned to each other, and to the multiple lived experiences of people, animals, and nature, around the world.

Enjoy the festival!

Argyro Nicolaou & Marios Lizides

“GLOCAL IMAGES” INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION:

Glocal Images International Competition Section consists of films that showcase the “colours” of a local culture while highlighting, in an innovative way, issues that concern the global public opinion.

An independent International Jury will award the following prizes:

The Glocal Images Best Film Award accompanied by the amount of €6,000, paid in half (ex aequo) to the Producer (€3,000) and the Director
The Glocal Images Special Jury Award is accompanied by the amount of €3,000, paid in half (ex aequo) to the Producer (€1,500) and the Director (€1,500) of the film.
The Glocal Images Best Director Award is accompanied by the amount of €1,000.
Authorwave Award accompanied by €4.000 for Post Production.
The Jury may also give up to three Honorary Distinctions. These distinctions are not accompanied by a money award.

AUDIENCE AWARD:

Audience Award €500 sponsored by the Limassol Municipality. For this award are competing all the films of GLOCAL IMAGES plus the three special screenings: TEL AVIV BEIRUT, AU REVOIR SLUMDOGZ, SNOW WHITE DIES AT THE END.

NOTE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
OF CYPRUS FILM DAYS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

A teenage girl is uprooted from her island due to climate change, while another must find a home among strangers. A child copes with the loss of a parent, while two school friends defy their conservative community to participate in the most exciting scientific event of the century.

Like so many children all over the world, the young protagonists in this year’s selection are all trying to figure out where they belong, and how to belong there. They are children who must make choices. Who must act, for the sake of themselves, their families, or their communities.

And ultimately, against all odds, their choices and actions have an impact. Sometimes positive, other times not so much… but the important thing is the making of the choice itself: the taking of responsibility.

At a time when young people are facing societal, environmental and technological challenges that their parents can barely understand, much less deal with, this year’s programme is dedicated to ACTION. It’s a call to activism, personal responsibility and empathetic engagement with the world and the people around us.

Only if we allow ourselves to care about the people and the world around us, and only if we dare to do something about it, can we change our world. This, ultimately, is the eternal message of cinema: that we can be, and should be, the protagonists of our own story. That our actions can, and should, have a positive impact. That no-one is going to make things better for us, other than us.

Beyond the big screen, we are once again thrilled to be offering a selection of hands-on creative workshops that are calls to cinematic activism for young people of all ages. With a select group of Workshop Leaders and with subjects ranging from hand-drawn animation to the creation of VR characters, and from environmental protection to cinematic self-expression, our message to young people is clear: Creativity in the audiovisual sector is a field accessible to all; a means to express oneself, and a powerful tool, even in the youngest of hands, to build a better world.

Stavros Pamballis

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth is organising a series of workshops led by film professionals.

To participate, fill in the form: https://forms.gle/RFB8fhFJwafiZkXF7
www.cyprusfilmdays.com | www.facebook.com/CFDchildren | www.instagram.com/cyprusfilmdaysyouth | cyprusfilmdaysyouth@gmail.com | 70008242
Workshops are held in Greek.


#1 Cinematic Self-Expression, Now!
A collaborative hands-on filmmaking workshop (for teens 13-18).

We see the world through our phones, becoming passive consumers of information. Even when we express ourselves, through selfies, memes and TikToks, we are still being restricted by the rules of social media. What happens when we decide to use a video camera, and cinematic narrative to tell our story? We instantly get a whole new way of seeing ourselves, those around us, and communicating ourselves with the world.

Athena Xenidou is a director, producer and screenwriter in film and theatre. Athena has been a Jury Member for the International Emmy Awards since 2001, and was selected to represent Cypriot filmmakers at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. She is currently serving as the treasurer of the Symphonic Orchestra and a member of the board of the Director’s Guild of Cyprus. Athena chooses to enrich her skills as an educator at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she attends their yearly workshops. Passionate for teaching, she founded The Film and Stage Studio in 2008.

22/04 SAT | 10:00-15:00
@Directors’ Guild of Cyprus, Nicosia

The workshop is organised in collaboration with the Directors’ Guild of Cyprus


#2 Back to the Loop!
A hand-drawn animation workshop (for children 8-12).
With Yiorgos Τsangaris

After last year’s storming success, the Loop returns, to introduce children to the magical world of hand-drawn animation. During this workshop, young participants will have the opportunity to draw an object or animal that expresses their feelings or concerns, and will get the chance to discover the art of animation by making hand-drawn, animated 5-second loops. Α hands-on workshop on hand-drawn animation in collaboration with Animafest.

Yiorgos Tsangaris is a graphic artist, film curator and lecturer of Animation and Printmaking at the University of Nicosia. He is the Director of Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum and the founder and artistic director of Animafest Cyprus, the official International Animation Film Festival of Cyprus and one of the island’s oldest film festivals (2002). Since 1999, he has been a prominent member of the film and graphic arts community in Cyprus, with an important contribution in the development of graphic arts, independent animation and the promotion of local filmmakers in the area of animation internationally. He was invited to participate in many international jury committees at festivals around the world and his creative work has received multiple awards in Cyprus and internationally. Ηis debut film Rites of Spring (2021) was selected to screen at some of the most prestigious film festivals across the world.

22/04 SAT | 10:00-15:00
@ Hambis Printmaking Museum, Nicosia

The workshop is organised in collaboration with ANIMAFEST

#3 Framing for Future
A workshop on climate storytelling, sustainability and environmental activism (for teens 13-18).
With Emma Doxiadi

Calling all climate-conscious young filmmakers! Throughout the workshop, we look at why and how social and environmental sustainability finds its way into storytelling and production. Then, participants will be given time to work on a one-paragraph pitch that integrates the climate crisis storytelling into their narrative, and discuss the manners in which the production can lower its footprint, reaching its first version to be shared with fellow participants as a pitch during and after the festival.

Emma Doxiadi is a Greek-Australian filmmaker. She studied at the NYU Tisch Graduate Film Program. Her work has screened at Cannes Film Festival, Berlinale, SXSW, NYFF – Film at Lincoln Center and more. She is also the founder of Everybodies, a multimedia storytelling production company focused on communicating the climate crisis, and sustainability servicing firm for the creative industries. Most recent projects include: the Evia Film Project by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, the Production Designers Gathering, the 63rd Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the 25th Thessaloniki International Documentary Festival.

29/04 SAT | 10:00-15:00
@Directors’ Guild of Cyprus, Nicosia

The workshop is organised with the support of Ocean Card, from the Bank of Cyprus and in collaboration with the Directors’ Guild of Cyprus

#4 VR Film Studio
A hands-on virtual reality film production workshop (for children 8-12).
With Alexandros Andreou

A hands-on introduction to immersive reality/technology and 360° cinematography. Participants will have a unique opportunity to discover the new technology of immersive reality and 360° cinematography by shooting their own film in groups. Children can be part of this fascinating new world and, together, make a short fantasy film!

Alexandros Andreou is the CEO of Silversky 3D Virtual Reality Technologies Ltd. He has earned his MSc in Business Administration from the Open University of Cyprus. He previously obtained a degree in Psychology from the University of Cyprus. He is an expert in a variety of design software and platforms including Unity, Unreal, 3Ds max, Substance and Photoshop. He has extensive experience in managing app development teams for a breadth of sectors including architecture & design, education, sports, shipping, military, advertising and psychology, as well as for a wide spectrum of endpoints including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), mobile apps and platforms.

29/04 SAT | 10:00-15:00
@ CYENS, Λευκωσία / Nicosia

The workshop is organised in collaboration with CYENS Thinker Maker Space

 

All workshops are free and include a tasty lunch!

Supported By: Pizza Hut and Mediawhat

ATHINA XENIDOU

Athena Xenidou is a director, producer and screenwriter. She is currently the president of the Director’s Guild of Cyprus and Vice President of the Symphonic Orchestra. Athena has been a Jury Member for the International Emmy Awards since 2001. Her films have received awards by festivals such as Worldfest Houston, Rome Short Film and Stockholm Film Festival and haw directed tv series and reality shows like Survivor 1 and 2 in Greece. Athena teaches TV Studio Production and Audio Production at UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire)Mentored by Olympia Dukakis and enriching her skills as an educator at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Athena founded The Film and Stage Studio in 2008, the only film school in Cyprus.

2022

Screen 2022

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Glocal Images Best Film Award
Utama
Alejandro Loayza Grisi, Bolivia/ Uruguay/ France

Glocal Images Special Jury Award
Sisterhood
Dina Duma, North Macedonia/ Kosovo/ Montenegro

Glocal Images Best Director Award
Milica Tomovic
Celts, Serbia

Honorary Distinctions
Yuni
Kamila Andini, Indonesia/ Singapore/ France/ Australia
Broadway
Christos Massalas, Greece/ France/ Romania

Audience Award
Utama
Alejandro Loayza Grisi, Bolivia/ Uruguay/ France
_____________________________________________________________

The Glocal Images Best Film Award
The Glocal Images Best Film Award went to Utama by Alejandro Loayza Grisi, a Bolivia/Uruguay/France co-production “for its masterful filmmaking combined with great sensitivity, which results in giving us one of the most beautiful, memorable and rich cinematic experiences one can possibly imagine”. The award, accompanied by the amount of €6,000, was presented to the filmmaker by the president of the Rialto Theatre’s Board of Directors, Mrs Daphne Pitta-Diogenous.

The Glocal Images Special Jury Award
The Glocal Images Special Jury Award went to Sisterhood by Dina Duma, a North Macedonia/Kosovo/Montenegro co-production “for its skillful combination of an atmospheric coming-of-age film and a captivating drama from a first-time filmmaker, who engages the audience in the teen lives of its characters from the very first minute”. The award is accompanied by the amount of €3,000. The director of the film virtually “received” the award, sending a thank you video to the festival.

Glocal Images Best Director Award
The Glocal Images Best Director Award went to Milica Tomovic for her film Celts from Serbia “for her rich artistic vision of a party-gone wrong, presented through a unique and engaging cultural impression built on a brilliant ensemble work”. The award, which is accompanied by the amount of €1,000, was received by the director herself.

Honorary Distinctions
1. Honorary Distinction went to the film Yuni by Kamila Andini, a co-production from Indonesia, Singapore, France and Australia “for its tender and at times funny portrayal of a courageous teenage girl who defies cultural norms of her home country and the patriarchy itself”. The Indonesian filmmaker sent a video to the audience of Cyprus, which was projected on Rialto’s big screen.
2. Honorary Distinction was given to the film Broadway by Christos Massalas, a co-production from Greece, France, Romania “for creating a modern urban fairy tale with a happy ending, which gives us true healing power through its complex queer characters”.

Audience Award
The Audience Award goes to the film “Utama” by Alejandro Loayza Grisi.

NATIONAL COMPETITION

Best Cypriot Film Award
.dog
Yianna Americanou, Cyprus

Best Director Award in a Cypriot Film
Yianna Americanou
.dog, Cyprus

Best Actress Award in a Cypriot Film
Angeliki Papoulia
Patchwork
Petros Charalambous, Cyprus

Honorary Distinctions
Dimitris Kitsos (actor)
.dog
Yianna Americanou, Cyprus
The man with the answers
Stelios Kammitsis, Cyprus
_____________________________________________________________

Best Cypriot Film Award
The Best Cypriot Film Award went to .dog by Yianna Americanou “for its brave aesthetics blending realistic elements and rich symbolism while creating a true ensemble film in which each and every character matters”. The award, accompanied by the amount of €4,000, was presented to the winner by Dr Elena Christodoulidou, Senior Cultural Officer – Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and President of the Cyprus Cinema Advisory Committee. The Best Cypriot Film Award was received by Yianna Americanou, director of the film, and Monica Nicolaidou, film producer.

Best Director Award in a Cypriot Film
The Best Director Award in a Cypriot Film also went to Yianna Americanou for her film .dog: “for her bravery and passion allowing her to go into the most unexpected of directions while staying in control of the plot, even in the most challenging of scenes”. The Best Director Award in the Cypriot Films Competition Section, accompanied by post-production services worth of €4,000, is sponsored by Authorwave. The award was presented to Yianna Americanou by Mrs Eleni Bellou, Business Development Partner of Authorwave.

Best Actress Award in a Cypriot Film
The Best Actress Award in a Cypriot Film went to Angeliki Papoulia for her performance in Petros Charalambous’ Patchwork: “for a complex performance built on trauma, insecurity and the need for love, and for beautifully carrying the film throughout”. The award, accompanied by the amount of €500, and sponsored by Limassol Municipality, was received, on behalf of the actress, by the director of the film. The award was presented to the winners by Dr Nadia Anaxagorou, Head of the Cultural Services of Limassol Municipality.

Honorary Distinctions
1. Honorary Distinction “for the raw and honest acting by a newcomer who manages to deliver a subtle yet believable performance”, went to Dimitris Kitsos for his performance in the film .dog by Yianna Americanou.
2. Honorary Distinction was given to The man with the answers by Stelios Kammitsis “for the courage to present a gay love story in an entertaining manner while delivering a true crowd pleaser for Cypriot audiences and beyond”

ADDRESS BY CULTURAL SERVICES
BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL SERVICES - MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, CULTURE, SPORTS AND YOUTH

Overcoming the challenges imposed by the ongoing pandemic, and in full compliance with all applicable measures, the 20th Cyprus Film Days 2022 returns on Rialto Theatre’s big screen in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia, in the physical presence of the spectators and the organisers alike, celebrating this year its twentieth anniversary!

The Festival’s supporters and enthusiasts, as well as all those who have seen it grow from its beginnings, twenty years ago, cannot help but notice its evolution through time, thriving and expanding, offering today an increased number of screenings. At the same time, it has incorporated a children and youth section, workshops for film professionals and amateurs, as well as other events. Despite its limited budget, the CFD offers a comprehensive and remarkable programme, while devotedly serving the audience of two cities, Limassol and Nicosia.

This year’s edition proposes an eclectic programme of fiction feature films, including world-acclaimed films (Viewfinder section), a very promising competition section (Glocal Images) showcasing films that feature extensive thematic, stylistic and genre characteristics, with a national competition section including this year four Cypriot film productions, aspiring to capture the spirit of independent art house cinema.

For the third consecutive year, the Festival organises an on-site event for film professionals, the 3rd Dot on the Map Industry Days, a co-production, training and networking platform, organised online in collaboration with AGORA Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece. Through this event, the Festival makes an important leap forward by encouraging film collaborations and synergies between producers, directors and screenwriters from Mediterranean countries.

I wish to congratulate the Artistic Committee, film director Tonia Mishiali, director/producer Marios Stylianou and film scholar Dr Costas Constandinides, for their untiring efforts in the enrichment of the Festival; filmmaker Stavros Pamballis, the newly appointed artistic director of Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth; and Danae Stylianou, head of Dot on the Map Industry Days. Moreover, I wish to thank Georgia Doetzer and Yiota Constanti, for their invaluable collaboration, as well as my colleague at the Cultural Services Dr Elena Christodoulidou, all our supporters, sponsors and collaborators, and, last but not least, the distinguished members of the International Jury.

We truly hope that the Festival becomes a real celebration of the Art of Cinema for children and adults alike, as well as an incentive for social involvement and quality entertainment, always respecting the applicable protective measures, and ensuring the safety of both the audience and the festival workers.

Dr Kyprianos Louis
Deputy Director of Cultural Services

 

PRESIDENT OF THE RIALTO THEATRE’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

In the shadow of the pandemic and, regrettably, of an ongoing war and a major humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in the heart of Europe, Cyprus Film Days 2022 reaches this year its twentieth edition.

Together with the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, the Rialto Theatre and its team are immensely proud of this organization, of the festival’s achievements and success throughout the years. Our international film festival has grown today into a key pillar for the audience of Limassol and Nicosia, as well as into a reference point for the world of Cinema in Cyprus, for Cypriot and international film industry professionals alike.

Cyprus Film Days owes its continuing success, artistic value and extroverted character to its artistic directors and partners who devotedly serve the mission and objectives of the CFD, expanding and enriching its programme with parallel events, tributes, as well as with a section for children and youth.

On this occasion, I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to the Festival’s artistic directors, namely Tonia Mishiali, Marios Stylianou and Costas Constandinides, as well as to the artistic director of Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth, Stavros Pamballis. Moreover, I wish to congratulate Danae Stylianou for hosting and implementing Dot on the Map Industry Days, the festival’s dynamic co-production, training and networking platform.

Additionally, I would like to congratulate the Organising Committee, presided by Dr Elena Christodoulidou on behalf of the Cultural Services, and Georgia Doetzer on behalf of the Rialto Theatre, and to thank all our partners, sponsors and collaborators. In this celebratory edition, the sponsorship of RCB, which we truly thank, is indeed immensely important.

In conclusion, I would like to express my appreciation to the personnel of the Rialto Theatre for implementing yet another event of great significance.

Daphne Pita Diogenous

 

THE MAYOR OF NICOSIA

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 20th edition of Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2022, the greatest film event of our country.

We are, yet again, looking forward to discovering the rich and diverse selection of films that give the opportunity to the viewer to encounter the work and concerns of talented filmmakers, as well as to follow in their footsteps through the big screen.

Cyprus Film Days 2022 is a milestone of artistic creation; the annual spring rendez-vous of filmmakers and festival goers of all ages, promises to its audience yet another unique experience. Its success throughout the years, completing this year its second decade, while constantly evolving and developing, constitutes the strongest evidence of its high quality, and of the multitude of emotions experienced by the viewers while watching the films.

The Municipality of Nicosia holds the Festival under its auspices, being a strong supporter and one of its loyal partners. Besides, the support of our Municipality in general towards cultural events that enhance the artistic creation and expression, is indeed solid and multifaceted.

Especially at these challenging times, during which the global health crisis has negatively affected our mental health and has dramatically changed our daily life, Art has been providing the “oxygen” and the way out. We are all in need of “escaping” through the art of cinema, of becoming moved, laughing heartily, travelling mentally, reflecting and, last but not least, becoming better people.

I wish to congratulate the organisers of this event, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Rialto Theatre, as well as all those who have contributed to the implementation of the Festival. Let’s enjoy together this fascinating experience.

Constantinos Yiorkadjis
Mayor of Nicosia

 

THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL

Dear fellow citizens,

During these first days of Spring, the Municipality of Limassol is delighted to welcome and support the 20th edition of Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2022, which is undoubtedly the most important film event of Cyprus, co-organised by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and the Rialto Theatre. The latter has been traditionally contributing to the cultural agenda of our city by hosting and organising a multitude of interesting events.

Cyprus Film Days IFF is a greatly significant festival, showcasing and promoting the independent local and world cinema, while also constituting a meeting hub for cinephiles and filmmakers alike. Cyprus Film Days IFF is an institutional event of great importance that enhances and supports Cypriot film productions, while being a creative platform for local artists who are film industry professionals, such as film directors, actors, screenwriters, composers and other related professions.

The films screened in this year’s edition promote Cinema as a form of Art and an excellent tool of intercultural dialogue. I would be remiss not to mention the truly inventive Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days, a newly established co-production, training and networking platform that aims at encouraging collaborations with producers, directors, screenwriters and experts in the international film industry.

An invaluable element of this celebratory edition is Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth that opens up new channels of communication, enabling young people to discover this form of Art via the local and international film productions, as well as via a diverse programme of workshops.

This year, the audience will have the chance to watch more than twenty fiction feature films, screened in their original dialogues with English and Greek subtitles.

The Municipality of Limassol actively and practically encourages the Festival, both by supporting the events held around Heroes’ Square and the neighbouring area, as well as by sponsoring the Best Actor/Actress Award in the Cypriot Films Competition Section.

I would like to wish every success to this year’s edition and extend my congratulations to the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth and the Rialto Theatre for co-organising a truly invaluable cultural event that highly contributes to the development of Cinema.

Nicos Nicolaides

 

THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Dear friends of Cinema,

Welcome to the 20th edition of Cyprus Film Days International Festival!

The Festival celebrates this year its 20th anniversary! During these past two decades, the CFD became home to the independent, alternative, artistic fiction feature film. It began its journey as an event showcasing international multi-awarded films and gradually took on the form it has today: an international film festival with an official competition section, a Cypriot films competition section, a section for children and youth, as well as a section for film industry professionals in addition to the multiple events taking place annually as part of the Festival’s collaboration with film organisations of other countries.

Today, Cyprus Film Days is considered to be one of the island’s most important cultural events and, for this reason, we must express our gratitude to all those who have contributed to its creation and further development, as well as to all the filmmakers who have shared their stories with our audience. Last but not least, we would like to thank you, the viewers, since the expression “celebration of Cinema” would have been meaningless if it weren’t for your support.

We are truly happy to be hosting for the first time this year Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days in the physical presence of the participants. This development significantly enhances the international character of the festival, since Dot.on.the.Map will be hosting a great number of film industry professionals from abroad. The platform intends to become a starting point for synergies and co-productions that aspire to become successful film productions. In this way, the Festival wishes to contribute in a dynamic way to the development and mobility of film projects originating from the Mediterranean region.

This year’s international jury consists of prominent personalities from the international and local film community. The jury president is the Artistic Director of Karlovy Vary IFF, Karel Och, accompanied by fellow jury members: Producer Alise Gelze, whose filmography as a producer includes Mellow Mud, directed by Renars Vimba who received the Best Director Award at Cyprus Film Days in 2016; Actress Daphne Alexander who became known to our audience as the lead actress in Stavros Pamballis’ Siege on Liperti Street; David Martinez, Festival Producer of London’s Raindance Film Festival, whom we met through the collaboration between our festival and Raindance FF at its last edition, which hosted a selection of Cypriot film productions; and Greg Stepniak, Head of the Programming Department of Mastercard OFF CAMERA International Festival of Independent Cinema in Krakow, Poland.

We would like to thank the members of the international jury for accepting our invitation despite the challenging conditions imposed by the pandemic. Moreover, we would like to thank the Deputy Director of the Cultural Services, Dr Kyprianos Louis, and Dr Elena Christodoulidou, Senior Cultural Officer of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth, as well as the Rialto Theatre for their continuous support. Moreover, we would like to thank the Mayors of Limassol and Nicosia, as well as the members of the production, co-ordination, management, communication and hospitality teams for their tireless efforts.

The success of this year’s edition would not have been possible without the invaluable contribution of the volunteers, partners, sponsors and supporters of Cyprus Film Days.

The Artistic Directors

The awards conferred by the Jury to the films competing in the Glocal Images section, have the shape of a Neolithic human figure. They are replicas of a stone idol found in the Neolithic settlement of Chirokitia around 7000 – 6000 B.C. The dawn of prehistory in Cyprus coincides with the Neolithic period, which extends from the 9th and probably the 10th millenium B.C., up to and including the end of the Chalcolithic period, around 2500 B.C. The first phase of the Neolithic Era lasted up to circa 5200 B.C. and is known as the «Aceramic Neolithic Period». The figurine dates back to this era. The Neolithic Era is considered to be one of the most important periods of the island. It is at that time that the prehistoric man undertakes a series of changes that will improve his life, like the quest for a permanent residence, taming animals (primarily sheep and boars), cultivating land, processing stones and creating vessels. The most representative settlements of the Neolithic Period are those of Chirokitia, Kalavassos and Sotira. Excavations in these settlements have given us a lot of interesting facts regarding the everyday life and occupations of the Neolithic inhabitants of the island. Archaeologists have unearthed many elements regarding the adulation of the fertility goddess, burial rituals, as well as the rudimentary organisation of the residents of that time. The cult of the fertility goddess was artistically reflected by the creation of small statues, known as idols. These idols represent the first known attempt to recreate the human form. The “sculptors” of the time made these figurines from stone that bore “simplified and rudimentary characteristics” to man. The Neolithic settlement of Chirokitia, where the particular idol was found, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Notes by the Artistic Director

What good is “a film” when the World is collapsing? What good is “quality cinema” when everything seems so chaotic and uncertain? What can you find in a theatre that you cannot find on Netflix? Does “a filmmaker” know better about your life and concerns than your favourite Youtuber, Twitcher or TikToker?

If I were a child or a teenager today, these would be the first questions that would come to my mind if I heard about some film festival for children and youth. Therefore, while setting up this year’s programme, I tried to find the answers.

Several months later, looking at the programme of screenings and workshops, which we prepared together with my colleagues, Anna Kouma and Christiana Varda, I remembered something I had totally forgotten about after years of working in the film industry: 

Good films are never didactic. They don’t give Answers, they ask Questions.

Cinema is an invitation to dialogue, a bridge of communication enabling the filmmaker and the viewer to listen to, and understand each other; their worries and concerns, to become relieved and comforted, to be reassured that they are not alone. To gain strength and continue their search. To question, to express all those things that might have once seemed inexpressible. At a time when everyone is so full of their own truth and eager to impose it on others, Cinema is the rejection of absolutes. It’s the celebration of “searching”.

Hence, our programme this year is dedicated to “The Search”: for understanding, for empathy, for the alternative point of view, of ourselves.

In this context, we reach out to all teenagers aged 15-18, and present two films that are strictly addressed to viewers aged 15+. Both films, I Never Cry (Piotr Domalewski, Poland) and Vacarme (Frederick Neegan Trudel, Canada), are directorial debuts revolving around the quest of identity through two engaging stories that portray a difficult coming of age. Honestly and outspokenly, without beautifying filters, the films feature outstanding performances from their lead actresses.

For the rest of our viewers, children and adults alike, we are screening two newly released gems: Petite Maman (Céline Sciamma, France) and Mezquites Heart (Ana Laura Calderón, Mexico), two beautiful stories supported by the strong performances of two young girls who, after losing a relative, search for a way out of their sorrow amidst the magic of imagination and music respectively.

Moreover, the Festival also organises a series of workshops for young cinephiles, led by film professionals. In collaboration with actress Daphne Alexander and film director and instructor Athena Xenidou, we have prepared two workshops on self-expression, self-determination, and the understanding of the opposite opinion, outside the barriers of social media.

In parallel, for children under 13, we are co-organising two hands-on workshops, the first one on traditional animation (continuing our collaboration with Animafest), and the second one on immersive reality, for the first time in collaboration with the CYENS centre of Innovation, and Silversky3D. Through these workshops, children who are searching for alternative ways of communicating their creativity, will understand that they already possess the skills to express their ideas, stories and feelings, as well as the courage to share them with others.

And this is what happens when we encourage children to Search: we lay the foundations for more searching, more courage, and more tolerance. The more we search out each other’s point of view, the more we understand and respect each other. Perhaps this is what quality cinema has to offer. And perhaps this is enough.

Stavros Pamballis

WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The Festival is organising a series of workshops led by film professionals, addressed to children aged 9-13 and teenagers aged 14-19.


#1 THE BIGGEST PICTURE – For children aged 9-13

Participants will have a unique opportunity to discover the new technology of immersive reality and 360° cinematography by shooting their own film in groups. Children can be part of this fascinating new world just by using the tools and devices they already dispose of at home.
A hands-on introduction to immersive reality/technology and 360° cinematography.

Led by: Alexandros Andreou
Alexandros Andreou is the CEO of Silversky 3D Virtual Reality Technologies Ltd. He has earned his MSc in Business Administration from the Open University of Cyprus. He previously obtained a degree in Psychology from the University of Cyprus. He is an expert in a variety of design software and platforms including Unity, Unreal, 3Ds max, Substance and Photoshop. He has over 7 years’ experience in managing app development teams for a breadth of sectors including Architecture & Design, Education, Sports, Shipping, Military, Advertising and Psychology, as well as for a wide spectrum of endpoints including Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), mobile apps and platforms.

SAT 16/04, 10:00 – 14:00, CYENS Centre of Excellence, Nicosia

In Greek


#2 THE ADVENTURES OF AN ACTRESS – For teens aged 14-19

Acclaimed and experienced actress Daphne Alexander analyses the acting method that enables her to play roles with entirely different views and experiences from her own, explaining how this can become a useful skill in daily life. How does acting help me understand myself, the world I live in and the people I share it with? An improvisational workshop on empathy.

Led by: Daphne Alexander
Daphne Alexander was born in Cyprus and trained at Oxford University and LAMDA. She was cast as regular character Nadia Talianos on BBC’s Casualty (2006-8). Other TV and film productions include: House of Saddam (HBO/BBC), The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (BBC), Polanski’s film The Ghost Writer, Beckett with Luca Guadagnino’s Frenesy Film and The Fourth Kind with Universal Pictures. She played the lead female role in the award-winning short film The Palace by Anthony Maras, and the lead female role in the Cypriot feature film Siege on Liperti Street by Stavros Pamballis, which won five awards at Thessaloniki International Film Festival. Recently, she has played Katina Horton in critically acclaimed Smyrna my Beloved, and stars in upcoming dark comedy thriller Minore. Stage highlights include City Stories at 59E59 in NYC and Hidden in the Sand at London’s Trafalgar Studios. Voice highlights include her portrayal of iconic heroine Modesty Blaise for BBC radio 4.

SAT 09/04, 10:00 – 13:00, Directors’ Guild of Cyprus, Nicosia

In Greek


#3 90° A filmmaking workshop with handheld devices. For teens aged 14-19

We see the world through our phones, becoming passive consumers of information. Even when we express ourselves, through selfies, memes and tiktoks, we are still being restricted by the rules of social media. But no rule is more restrictive than the vertical frame of the screen. What happens when we turn the phone by 90°? We instantly get a video camera, as well as a brand new way of seeing and communicating with the world.

Led by: Athena Xenidou
Athena Xenidou is a director, producer and screenwriter in film and theatre. Athena has been a Jury Member for the International Emmy Awards since 2001 and was selected to represent Cypriot filmmakers at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. She is currently serving as the treasurer of the Symphonic Orchestra and a member of the board of the Director’s Guild of Cyprus. Athena began her studies in Music, Theatre and English Literature at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. She then went on to receive a BA in Film at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Nicosia. Her directorial debut was the awarded short film The Made Guy in 1997 in Los Angeles. In 2020, together with Sophia Tsangaridou, she directed and produced two short films; Saving Joy and Insidious. Her first feature film documentary, Unwitnessed Memories (2001) received multiple awards at international film festivals. Athena worked as a director on Greek reality shows Survivor 1 and 2, The Farm and Celebrity Farm and directed episodes for TV series Roua Mat, The Secret Well and Things You Don’t Know. In 2020, together with her brother Stavros Xenides, she directed and produced Saving the World by Monika, in collaboration with Simos Sarketzis and Yorgos Mavropsaridis. In 2021, she directed Sing for Seafarers, a global campaign for the Ince (an international law firm), raising awareness for the 400,000 stranded seafarers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Athena chooses to enrich her skills as an educator at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where she attends their yearly workshops. Passionate for teaching, she founded The Film and Stage Studio in 2008.

SUN 10/04, 10:00 – 15:00, Directors’ Guild of Cyprus, Nicosia

In Greek


#4 WELCOME TO THE LOOP – For children aged 9-13

During this workshop, young participants will have the opportunity to draw an object or animal that expresses their feelings or concerns, and will get the chance to discover the art of animation by making hand-drawn, animated 5-second loops. Α hands-on workshop on hand-drawn animation in collaboration with Animafest.

Led by: Yiorgos Tsangaris
Yiorgos Tsangaris is a graphic artist, film curator and lecturer of Animation and Printmaking at the University of Nicosia. He is the Director of Hambis Municipal Printmaking Museum and the founder and artistic director of Animafest Cyprus, the official International Animation Film Festival of Cyprus and one of the island’s oldest film festivals (2002). Since 1999, he has been a prominent member of the film and graphic arts community in Cyprus, with an important contribution in the development of graphic arts, independent animation and the promotion of local filmmakers in the area of animation internationally. He was invited to participate in many international jury committees at international festivals around the world and his creative work has received multiple awards in Cyprus and Internationally. Ηis debut film Rites of Spring (2021) was selected to screen at some of the most prestigious film festivals across the world.


SUN 10/04, 10:00 – 15:00, Hambis Printmaking Museum, Nicosia

In Greek

 

To register for the workshops, click here
More information about the application and the screening schedule of the films https://www.cyprusfilmdays.com on the Festival’s Facebook page (facebook.com/CFDchildren) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/cyprusfilmdaysyouth ), at 70008242 or at Cyprusfilmdaysyouth@gmail.com

CALLING ALL YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 12 TO 14: DO YOU LIKE WATCHING MOVIES? DO YOU HAVE STRONG OPINIONS?
AWESOME!

JOIN US FOR SPECIAL SCREENINGS OF THE 3 FILMS NOMINATED FOR THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY’S YOUNG AUDIENCE AWARD, 2022, BECOME AN OFFICIAL VOTER, AND HELP CHOSE THE WINNER!

For the tenth consecutive year, three films – two fiction films and one documentary – have been selected by film experts and teenagers from all over Europe in a two-step awarding procedure to be in the running for the Young Audience Award 2022. The Award honours European films for an audience between 12 and 14 years and has been an official category since 2012. What’s unique about it: The winners are being chosen by young juries in 42 European countries watching the three films in over 60 movie theatres in more than 70 European cities.

On Sunday November 13th, film buffs aged between 12 and14 years old, from 42 European countries, will flood the cinemas of their cities, to watch the three nominated films, discuss them with cinema experts, vote, and share their results, live online, with their peers all over Europe.

In Cyprus the screenings and voting are organized by the Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth Film Festival team, with the support of the Ministry of Education and Culture, and will take place at the Pantheon Cinema in Nicosia, on Sunday, November 13, from 9:30 am until 9 pm.

The event is free, open to all cinephiles between the ages of 12 and 14 and promises to be a unique, full-day experience full of exciting cinema, and lots of lively discussion with our select professional guests – the actresses Christina Papadopoulou and Polyxeni Savva and the Director-Screenwriter Stavros Pamballis.

Tasty meals, snacks and, of course, plenty of popcorn will be served throughout the day!

By actively involving young viewers to take responsibility, act as a jury, and vote for their favourite film, the YAA offers them the opportunity to discover European high-quality films. The Award is a unique opportunity to build bridges between cultures and raise awareness of important social issues. It empowers young film enthusiasts to be catalysts for positive change and supports a greater understanding of their European neighbours. Last but not least, it provides the experience of being an active member of the European community in a democratic voting process.

The three nominees (which will be screened with Greek and English subtitles) for the YAA 2022:

ANIMAL
DIRECTED BY Cyril Dion
France
© CAPA Studio


COMEDY QUEEN
DIRECTED BY Sanna Lenken
Sweden
© Johan Paulin


DREAMS ARE LIKE WILD TIGERS
DIRECTED BY Lars Montag
Germany
© Wild Bunch Germany / NFP

 

Please find more details about the nominated films here.

As space is limited, please follow this link to register and book your seat!
For more information, please contact us by email at cyprusfilmdaysyouth@gmail.com, or by phone at 99072235.

2021

Screen 2021

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Glocal Images Best Film Award
Sole
Carlo Sironi, Italy/ Poland

Glocal Images Special Jury Award
Identifying Features
Fernanda Valadez, Mexico/ Spain

Glocal Images Best Director Award
Zoe Wittock
Jumbo, France/ Belgium/ Luxembourg

Ηonorary distinction
The Last Bath
David Bonneville, Portugal/ France

Audience Award
Senior Citizen
Marinos Kartikkis, Cyprus
_____________________________________________________________

The Glocal Images Best Film Award
For his sensitivity to develop an impossible love story between two lost souls, through an engaging and laconic visual narrative that enchants and captures the viewer, the Glocal Images Best Film Award accompanied by the amount of €6,000 goes to the film Sole by Carlo Sironi.

The Glocal Images Special Jury Award
For a brave film that poetically, yet realistically, portrays the desperate mother’s search of her son, confronted with a devastating truth, the Glocal Images Special Jury Award accompanied by the amount of €3,000, goes to the film Identifying Features by Fernanda Valadez.

Glocal Images Best Director Award
For flawlessly using absurd genre elements woving them into a most humane psychological coming-of-age story, the Glocal Images Best Director Award accompanied by the amount of €1,000, as well as by post-production services, worth of €4,000, offered by Authorwave goes to Zoe Wittock for her film Jumbo.

Honorary Distinction
For beautifully exploring intimacy, desire and faith, and for pushing human boundaries into unexpected paths, an honorary distinction goes to The Last Bath by David Bonneville.

Audience Award
The Audience Award goes to the film “Senior Citizen” by Marinos Kartikkis.

 

NATIONAL COMPETITION

The organisers announced that due to this year’s special circumstances that did not allow the establishment of a National Competition, it was decided that the amount accompanying the Best Cypriot Film Award of €4,000 be distributed equally to the 3 Cypriot films that were included in the festival’s program this year: Ballad of a pierced heart by Yiannis Economides, Senior Citizen by Marinos Kartikkis and Siege on Liperti Street by Stavros Pampallis.

2020

FESTIVAL IS POSTPONED
DOT.ON.THE.MAP INDUSTRY DAYS TO TAKE PLACE ONLINE

The Rialto Theatre and the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth regret to announce that the 18th Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2020 including the Children’s festival section is being POSTPONED, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures that the Cyprus Government has imposed to contain the spread of Coronavirus, for the protection of its citizens.

Meanwhile, the pitching sessions of Dot.on.the.map Industry Days – that were to take place at the co-production and networking forum that was to be launched for the first time in the framework of the Festival, will take place in an online environment.

The organisers and the artistic committee of the Festival are looking at the possibility of postponing the Festival to new dates. More information will follow soon.

Cyprus Film Days International Festival, now in its eighteenth year running, is preparing for a celebratory edition, with screenings of fiction feature films and film events, in Limassol and in Nicosia, from the 3rd to the 11th of April 2020. Like every year, the festival venues are the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema, in Nicosia. The Festival is organised by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth, and the Rialto Theatre. The selection of films and programming of screenings and parallel events, is undertaken by a three-member Artistic Committee, consisting of director – producer Tonia Mishiali, film scholar Dr Costas Constantinides and director- producer Marios Stylianou.

An international competition programme (Glocal Images), premieres of films which have been awarded at inernational festivals (Viewfinder), film tributes, parallel events for children and youth along with music events compose this year’s exciting programme of Cyprus Film Days.

The Jury will be comprised of acclaimed personalities from the international film industry, while invited directors and producers will be attending their film screenings in Cyprus. The Festival’s top-notch line up of films includes awarded titles such as, The Traitor (Marco Bellocchio), Monos (Alejandro Landes), Just 6.5 (Saeed Roustayi), Bacurau (Juliano Dornelles, Kleber Mendonça Filho).

A new industry section is being launched this year, Dot.on.the.map Industry Days. An intiative of the artistic commitee of the Festival, the event will take place in Limassol from the 9th ot the 11th of April. Dot.on.the.map Meeting point is a co-production forum which offers filmmakers with projects originating from the countries of the Mediterranean Sea, the opportunity to pitch to members of the international film industry and to find the right connections to get the projects co-produced, developedand/or distributed. Dot.on.the.map Meeting point is implemented in partnership with Thessaloniki International Film Festival Agora. During the event, a series of specialised Cinema Talks, will be presented by international industry professionals. The cinema talks and the participation in Dot.on.the.map Industry Days is open exclusively to accredited film professionals. Accreditations can be acquired online here.

The organisers aim at the promotion of cinematic creation and film education
With the elevation of the art of cinematic fiction and the further promotion of film education in Cyprus as their vehicle, the organisers aim at establishing the Festival as a “meeting point” for film professionals, artists, and cinephiles from all over the world and Cyprus.

Τhis year’s poster is designed by graphic designer Myria Konnari, to celebrate the 18 years of Cyprus Film Days.

2019

Programme 5

INFORMATION

TICKETS/ ENTRANCE:

€5 per film
€30 festival pass (for all screenings)
Free entrance for students upon display of student card
Free entrance for PwD cardholders
Free entrance for children to the films screened under the Children and Youth section
All screenings, except those scheduled in the Children and Youth section, are suitable only for persons aged 18+.

ONLINE PURCHASE:
https://rialto.interticket.com/

ACCESSIBILITY


RIALTO THEATRE:
BUS: “Andrea Droussioti – Rialto” Bus Stop . From Lambrou Prosfyga Stop EMEL – Town Centre, Bus K200 Cyprus By Bus
By Car: From Mesa Yitonia round about head to the twon centre. After the fourth traffic lights (Pendadromos – Anexartissias) turn second left (at Mango shop). At the end of the road turn right and right again (Heroes’ Square).
Parking: Louis Pasteur – SEK parking space Map:

Accessibility for the disabled: The Theatre has special facilities for disabled persons, such as a ramp at the main entrance on Andrea Droussioti street, specific seats for wheelchairs inside the theatre (Ε1, Ε22) and
toilet at the foyer. Cars carrying disabled persons can park in front of the theatre, and call the Technical Manager for assistance at 99566759

ZENA PALACE CINEMA:
Accessibility from Evagorou Avenue, Nicosia Accessibility for the disabled: Please call Yiangos Hadjiyiannis for assistance at 99407856

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION

Glocal Images Best Film Award
Los Silencios
Beatriz Seigner, Brazil/ Colombia/ France

Glocal Images Special Jury Award
House of Hummingbird
Bora Kim, South Korea

Glocal Images Best Director Award
Dominga Sotomayor
Too late to die young, Chile/ Brazil/ Argentina/ Netherlands/ Qatar

Ηonorary distinction
Marleyda Soto (actress)
Los Silencios
Beatriz Seigner, Brazil/ Colombia/ France

Lifetime Achievement Award
Udo Kier

Cytavision Audience Award
Smuggling Hendrix
Marios Piperides, Cyprus/ Germany/ Greece

_____________________________________________________________

Glocal Images Best Film Award
For giving voice to a silenced community with realism and for portraying in a masterful way the presence of the absence the Best Film Award, accompanied by the amount of €6,000 goes to Los Silencios by Beatriz Seigner.

Glocal Images Special Jury Award
For a film that succeeds to draw its audience into an intimate journey of hope and despair in a delicate and poetic way, the Special Jury Award, accompanied by the amount of €3,000, goes to House of Hummingbird by Bora Kim.

Glocal Images Best Director Award
For creating a world of a primal visual beauty carried from strong performances and telling a story of a lost paradise, the Best Director Award, accompanied by the amount of €1,000 goes to Dominga Sotomayor for her film Too late to die young.

Honorary Distinction
For a convincing and fascinating performance, an honorary distinction goes to Marleyda Soto for her performance in the film Los Silencios by Beatriz Seigner.

Lifetime Achievement Award to Udo Kier
The Festival presented German actor Udo Kier and President of this year’s international jury, a Lifetime Achievement Award. In his early career days, Kier was associated with numerous horror and alternative films, ranging from art house cinema to mainstream movies. The multifaceted and remarkable career of Kier, who participated in more than 200 films, stretches from Europe to Hollywood, and encompasses both TV and film productions. The award was presented to Udo Kier, by the Rialto Theatre President of the Board, Mr Kikis Kazamias.

Cytavision Audience Award
Smuggling Hendrix, by Marios Piperides, won the Audience Award, sponsored by CYTAVISION and accompanied by the sum of €1,000. Mr Lefteris Christou, head of Cytavision & spokesman, presented the winner with the award. 2019

NATIONAL COMPETITION

Best Cypriot Film Awards
Smuggling Hendrix
Marios Piperides, Cyprus/ Germany/ Greece

Best Cypriot Director Awards
Sotiris Christou
Small White Envelopes

Best Cypriot Actor Award
Antonis Katsaris
Small White Envelopes
Sotiris Christou, Cyprus

Student Jury Award
Smuggling Hendrix
Marios Piperides, Cyprus/ Germany/ Greece
_____________________________________________________________

Best Cypriot Film Award
For exposing the absurdity of the ongoing division of the island of Cyprus with humanity and humour, the Best Cypriot Film Award accompanied by the amount of €4,000 goes to Smuggling Hendrix by Marios Piperides.

Best Cypriot Director Award
With the Best Cypriot Director Award, the jury would like to encourage this first time director for his film, which succeeds to entertain its audience through a story with a local colour. The Best Cypriot Director Award, accompanied by DCP Mastering – Deliverables – Subtitling
services worth €3,500, sponsored by Authorwave, goes to Small White Envelopes by Sotiris Christou.

Best Cypriot Actor Award
For his subtle and authentic performance, the Best Actor Award accompanied by the amount of €500, sponsored by Limassol Municipality goes to Antonis Katsaris for his performance in Small White Envelopes by Sotiris Christou.

Student Jury Award
The student jury award as voted by the Student Jury Award of the University of Nicosia, was awarded to Smuggling Hendrix, by Marios Piperides.

Masterclass with Hayet Benkara: “Strategizing for a better journey: Tips for screenwriters, directors and producers”.

14/4, 11:00 – 12:30, Zena Palace Cinema, Nicosia

What should you think of during your film’s development period? What is packaging? When should you present your script? When should you go to a Lab? When should you contact a Sales Agent? When should you contact a film programmer? In this masterclass, Hayet Benkara will give tips on strategies creators need to think of in order to create better awareness and positioning of their films.

Masterclass with Haris Zambarloukos and screening of Murder on the Orient Express

20/4, 10:00 – 13:30, Rialto Theatre

Discussion and Q&A on Murder on the Orient Express with Cinematographer Harry Zambarloukos BSC, GSC. The masterclass will explore shooting on 70mm and modern process work, while the speaker will look at the fact that the film was entirely shot in the UK and on a stationary train. The discussion will also focus on various aspects such as working with a director who is also the lead actor and with an ensemble cast.

Masterclass “Smartphone as a Camera” with Laura Gaynor

In collaboration with Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth.

NIC 13/4, 09:00 – 10:30, Colour-coded Amphitheaters (Millennium Building), University of Nicosia.

Laura Gaynor, an independent producer who has worked with the BBC, will educate participants on using smartphone cameras. This seminar will include filming techniques, directing and editing films on mobile phones.

With Greek interpreting.

2018

Cyprus Film Days International Festival, the largest international film event in Cyprus dedicated exclusively to contemporary world cinema and fiction feature length films, continues for its 16th consecutive year.

The Festival will be premiering on the 19th April and concluding on the 28th of the same month, 2018, at Rialto Theatre, in Limassol and at Zena Palace Cinema, in Nicosia.

The selection of films and programming of screenings and parallel events, is undertaken by a three-member Artistic Committee, consisting of Tonia Mishiali (director and producer), Dr. Costas Constantinides (film scholar) and director-producer Marios Stylianou.

With a film programming schedule that is packed with the best in new cinema productions from the newest breakthrough independent film creators to established auteurs, the Festival is preparing an exquisite ten days with screenings, parallel events, Q&A sessions, and film workshops for professionals. The Festival will showcase two main programmes of screenings: Viewfinder: A Close-Up of Contemporary World Cinema – which includes awarded films that have been celebrated internationally during the festival year, and Glocal Images, which is the international competition section of the Festival. All films in these two programmes are Cyprus premieres. This year, audiences will have the chance to watch a number of Cypriot films as part of the Cypriot Films Competition Section.

A five-member International Jury will award the Glocal Images Best Film Award, accompanied by the amount of €6.000, the Glocal Images Special Jury Award, accompanied by the amount of €3.000 and the Glocal Images Best Director Award, accompanied by the amount of €1.000 and technical services DCP Mastering – Deliverables – Subtitling (worth €3.500), sponsored by Authorwave.

For the Cypriot Films Competition Section, the jury will grant the award for Best Cypriot Film, accompanied by the amount of €4.000, as well as the award for Best Cypriot Director, accompanied by DCP technical services – Mastering – Deliverables – Subtitling (worth €3.500), also sponsored by Authorwave.

The International Jury will be comprised of internationally renowned film professionals, the names of whom will be announced soon.

Continuing its efforts as a developing educational and entertainment platform for film, not only addressing grown-ups but also the younger generation of film audiences, the Festival presents Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth, a series of screenings, workshops and parallel events for young audiences (8 to 18 years). The artistic directors of Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth are director – producer David Hands, and director – producer Andreas Kyriacou.

Additional Information:
Subtitles:
– All films will be screened in their original language, and will be subtitled both in Greek and in English. Admission: Except Program for children & youth, all films are suitable for 18years old and over

– €6 Day pass
– €25 Festival Pass (for all festival screenings)
– Free entrance for students upon display of student card and AmeA cardholders
– Free entrance for pupils (Program for children & youth)

Organised by: Cultural Services – Ministry of Education and Culture & Rialto Theatre.
Under the auspices: Municipalities of Limassol & Nicosia
Media sponsors: Time Out & City Free Press

Co-organisers: Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus and European Parliament Information Office in Cyprus

In collaboration with the University of Nicosia
Sponsor: Italian Embassy in Cyprus
Award sponsor: Authorwave
Technical partners: Event Pro, Rolling Cinema Services

Supported by: Friends of Cinema Society of Nicosia, Cinema Clubs of Limassol and Larnaca- Famagusta, CUT, Directors Guild of Cyprus, DHL, ΕΤΑL, Mediterranean Beach Hotel, University of Cyprus – Alumni Office, Mediazone – University of Nicosia, Lemesos Newspaper

The 16th International Film Festival-Cyprus presents a special section for children and young people, the younger generations of Cypriot cinephiles, titled Film Days Festival for children and young people. In this context, award-winning films for children from different countries, as well as short films made by children of Cyprus and Greece, will be screened. This Festival is done in cooperation with the International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus (International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus) and is organized by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre.

The festival also includes creative workshops for children around film art on the weekend of 21 and 22 April 2018, between 9p.m. 4 meters.m. in collaboration with the Cultural Workshop of Agioi confessors (corner of Agioi confessors & Anchialos 1, Agioi confessors, Nicosia 1080). All workshops will be held at the Cultural Workshop Saints Confessors and they are free (will have priority).

The workshops include the following sections:

1.Animation: basic knowledge of the cartoon and the method “Stop Motion” with Stavros Christoforos. The children who will take part will attend a lecture on the history of “animation” and will take part in a workshop for learning the method “Stop Motion”. In this context they will also have the opportunity to create a short film with the help of trainers.
8 Participants, Ages: 8-14, Workshop Language: Greek

2.Acting in cinema: workshop for basic acting skills for cinema with professional actor and acting teacher Alexia Paraskeva. The second day of the workshop the children will take part in a short film, in collaboration with the participants of the workshop “Short Film”.
8 participants, ages: 8-16, workshop language: Greek and English

3.Introduction to virtual reality cinema: the future of cinema is perhaps in virtual reality. Director Andreas Kyriakou will demonstrate to the participants equipment for video filming at 360 degrees and then help them shoot their own video for use on VR (Virtual Reality) devices.
8 Participants, Ages: 10-18, Workshop Language: Greek

4.Short Film: Short Film Workshop with director David Hans dedicated to the techniques of cinema. The children who will take part will have the opportunity to make their own film, which will be screened at the closing ceremony of this year’s Cyprus Film Days.

8 participants, ages: 10-16, Laboratory language: Greek and English

In the framework of the Festival, are also planned morning screenings for schools of Primary and Secondary Education in Nicosia (Pantheon) and Limassol (Rialto Theatre), all approved by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The program of these screenings will be announced soon.

In addition to the above projections, planned an afternoon screening of the film Wendy Friday, 20 April, 18:00 at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and on Thursday, 26 April, 16:00 to the Movies Xena in Nicosia.

Wendy / 8+

DagmarSeume, 85′, 2017, Germany

12-year-old Wendy , a formidable rider in the past, after a serious accident while riding 2 years ago, never rides a horse again. He meets Dixie, an abandoned horse headed for the butcher. He saves the poor horse and this is the beginning of a deep friendship between the two!

The Artistic Directors of the youth – children Festival are David Hands (director – producer) and Andreas Kyriakou (director – producer).

The Festival takes place this year from 19-28 April, at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and the Movies Zena Palace in Nicosia.

The detailed program of the festival will soon be available on the website www.cyprusfilmdays.com Facebook.facebook. com/cyprusfilmdays/” > on the Festival page on facebook

For more information and reservations, please contact Fanny at hadji.phani@gmail.com / Tel: 99498756 or Sotiris at schristoforou@hotmail.com / Tel: 99581618.

The 16th Cyprus Film Days International Festival, the biggest feature fiction film event in Cyprus, is reaching its end on Saturday the 28th of April at the Rialto Theatre, with its final screenings and the Awards Ceremony.
Once again, the Festival was at the core of cinema in Cyprus, with awarded films from both established and new directors, masterclasses and workshops by international figures, as well as the children’s section.
This year’s programme reaches its end on the 28th of April, at 7 pm at the Rialto Theatre, with the Cypriot feature film Chinatown: The Three Shelters, by Alice Danezi-Knutsen.

Synopsis: Cleo, a Greek-Chinese girl, brought up with love and light in the hills of Cyprus, finds out on her 18th birthday that her long-deceased father was murdered by the Chinese mafia. She swears to take revenge. An old friend of her father’s, Cook Lin, helps her while his young assistant falls in love with her. While Cleo begins to search for the killers, she will soon discover that Cook Lin holds a well-kept secret.

At the Awards Ceremony following the film, the Jury will award the films that were distinguished in this year’s Glocal Images competition section. The Audience Award will also follow, highlighting the most popular film of the Festival, as voted by the audience. The student jury of the University of Nicosia will then announce their Best Film Award as well.

In the same manner, for the Cypriot Film Competition Section the Jury will grant the Best Cypriot Film Award and the Best Director Award.

During the ceremony, a number of short films created by the children who participated in the workshops of the Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth programme will be screened.

The night will close with the music of DJ Felizol & The Boy at the Heroe’s Square outside the Rialto Theatre. The duo consists of filmmakers/musicians Yiannis Veslemes & Alexandros Voulgaris, a highly creative electronic music group, valuing the various subcultures of the ‘80s.

At the Zena Palace Cinema, the screenings will end on Friday the 27th of April, followed by ‘Surreal is Real’, a tryfonic-XRC audiovisual collaboration, with music by Aristodemos & Eugene Skull.

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION

Best Film Award
I am not a witch
Rungano Nyoni, UK/France
Respeto
Alberto “Treb” Monteras II, Philippines

Best Director Award
Rungano Nyoni
I am not a witch, UK/France
Alberto “Treb” Monteras II
Respeto, Philippines

Special Jury Award
Too much Info Clouding over my head
Vassilis Christofilakis, Greece

Honorary Distinctions
More
Onur Saylak, Turkey
Men don’t cry
Alen Drljevic, Bosnia and Herzegovina/ Slovenia/ Croatia/ Germany
The Marriage
Blerta Zeqiri, Kosovo/ Albania

Student Jury Award
I am not a witch
Rungano Nyoni, UK/France

Cytavision Audience Award
Respeto
Alberto “Treb” Monteras II, Philippines
_____________________________________________________________

Best Film Award & Best Director Award
For the Best Film and Best Director Awards, there is a tie between two films. These are accompanied by the combined amount of €7,000 Alberto “Treb” Monteras IIs, which will be divided.
For the humour, irony and surrealism in which the director approaches the story, characters and traditions, the Glocal Images Best Film and Best Director Awards go to I am not a witch by Rungano Nyoni.
For its confident directorial vision and for portraying today’s Philippines with honesty and complexity, the Glocal Images Best Film and Best Director Awards go to Respeto by Alberto
“Treb” Monteras II.

Special Jury Award
For a debut film that introduces us to a promising and daring new filmmaker who describes with humour and irony the complexity of the artistic process, the Special Jury Award accompanied by the amount of €3,000 goes to Too much info clouding over my head by Vassilis Christofilakis.

Honorary Distinctions
1. For its strong cast and cinematography, the jury would like to give an honorary distinction
to the film More by Onur Saylak.
2. For the authentic performances of the cast, the jury would like to give an honorary distinction to the film Men don’t cry by Alen Drljevic.
3. For daring to tackle an important topic in the conservative society of Kosovo, the jury
would like to give an honorary distinction to the film The Marriage by Blerta Zeqiri.

Student Jury Award
The award of the Student Jury of the University of Nicosia was presented by the Festival’s
Artistic Committee. The winner is the film I am not a witch by Rungano Nyoni.

Cytavision Audience Award
The Audience Award goes to the most voted film by audiences in Limassol and Nicosia. This
year the award goes to Respeto by . The award is accompanied by a €1,000 price.

NATIONAL COMPETITION

Best Cypriot Film Awards
Sunrise in Kimmeria
Simon Farmakas, Cyprus

Best Cypriot Director Awards
Christos Georgiou
Happy Birthday, Greece/ Cyprus/ France/ Germany

Honorary Distinction
Vladimiros Subotic (cinematography)
Chinatown – The three Shelters
Aliki Danezi – Knutsen, Cyprus
_____________________________________________________________

Best Cypriot Film Awards
For portraying the complex and multi-faceted society of Cyprus in a local humorous way the Best Cypriot Film Award accompanied by the amount of €4,000, goes to Sunrise in Kimmeria by Simon Farmakas.

Best Cypriot Director Awards
For depicting a difficult relationship between a father and a daughter against the backdrop of modern-day Athens, the Best Cypriot Director Award, accompanied by DCP Mastering – Deliverables – Subtitling services worth €3,500, sponsored by Authorwave, goes to Christos Georgiou for his film Happy Birthday.

National Honorary Distinction
The jury would like to give an honorary distinction to Vladimiros Subotic for his cinematography in the film Chinatown – The three Shelters by Aliki Danezi – Knutsen.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome the 16th International Film Festival – Cyprus Film Days 2018, the island’s greatest official film festival.
Cyprus Film Days has been established as the greatest cinematic event of Cyprus, dedicated to the international contemporary fiction cinema, including a competition section, as well as screenings of awarded European and Cypriot films.

Through its inclusive programme, the Festival is addressed to both children and adults, featuring special tributes, masterclasses and music events.

The 16th edition of the Festival is under the auspices of the Municipality of Nicosia that wholeheartedly supports this initiative.

I am absolutely convinced not only about its success, but also its contribution to the cultural life of the city and the island in general.

The audience has so far embraced the festival with passion, appreciation and enthusiasm, while its continuous presence for the past sixteen years clearly demonstrates the importance and role of this initiative.

We warmly wish that the Festival becomes a genuine celebration of the art of Cinema: an incentive of social action and quality entertainment, as well as a meeting point for film professionals.

The Municipality of Nicosia has always been encouraging events promoting Cinema and is indeed proud to support this unique event, honouring Cyprus internationally.
I would therefore like to congratulate the co-organisers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – for their remarkable efforts, as well as all those who contributed to the implementation of the Festival.

Constantinos Yiorkadjis
Mayor of Nicosia

 

It is with great pleasure that I welcome the 16th International Film Festival “Cyprus Film Days 2018”, the island’s greatest official film festival.

The event brings the audience of Cyprus, as well as local film professionals, in contact with the international film production and high-quality cinema, while including in its programme a series of film workshops, concerts and other events. This year, the programme also includes three Cypriot films that participate in the National Competition Section.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort and strongly believes not only in its success, but also in its contribution to the cultural life of the city and Cyprus in general.

The appreciation and interest of the audience in the festival, as well as its continuous presence for the past sixteen years, clearly demonstrate its importance and role.

I would like to highlight the importance of the festival as an opportunity for young Cypriot filmmakers to showcase their work.

On behalf of Limassol Municipality, I would like to warmly congratulate the Festival’s organisers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – for their efforts and I wish them every success.

Nicos Nicolaides
Mayor of Limassol

Print

SEMINAR “COLOUR MANAGED WORKFLOW” WITH DADO VALENTIC
Saturday 21 April, 11.00-13.00, Directors Guild of Cyprus

In this seminar, Dado Valentic will take the audience through Colour Managed Workflow that has become a standard for all major film productions, Netflix, Amazon and recently the biggest TV channels. As an introduction, Dado will cover fundamentals of digital cinematography and give inside knowledge that will help cinematographers improve their image quality. As a leading developer in the area of colour science for digital film cameras, Dado recently launched a unique software for Look Development and On-Set grading – Colourlab.

Dado Valentic is an award winning master colourist with over 17 years of industry experience. Working on some of the biggest feature films, TV series and commercials across the world, he is today one of the most sought after colourists. Dado Valentic’s approach to communicating colour science has won him a wide audience as a leading instructor for the ICA (International Colourist Academy), Reducation, International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam, National Broadcasting Convention in Las Vegas, British Society of Cinematographers Expo, BAFTA, Creative Week in London and ACES. He is commonly engaged as spokesperson for the leading software companies. He is a regular lecturer at the Dutch Film Academy, London International Film School, Moscow International Film School, SAE Oxford and Edinburgh University of Arts and Berlin Deutshe Film und Fernsehakademie -UP.GRADE. He has brought his method of teaching to TV GLOBO in Brazil and South Korean National Television Foundation.

LECTURE “MYTHOS - ETHOS OR CHARACTER AND PLOT” BY DIMITRIS YIATZOUZAKIS
Sunday 22nd of April, 15.30-17.30, Zena Palace, Nicosia
A lecture by the Mediterranean Film Institute on the characters and the plot, the importance of observation and abstraction, the scriptwriting style and the film’s concept.

Born in Athens, in 1961, Demetrios Yatzouzakis moved to Venice in 1980 where he studied Sculpture and Painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1983 he won a scholarship from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome, where he studied film directing under Gianni Amelio and Marco Leto, and scriptwriting with Furio Scarpelli and Nicola Badalucco. He then worked as a documentary filmmaker until 1991, when he got local and international recognition with his film Saint Phanourios’ Pie, a feature about a little girl and a pie that ends up in the teeth of some mongrels. In 1996 he completed his second feature, titled Touch Me Not. These two films and some of his documentaries got prizes and distinctions in Greece and abroad like Bergamo, Brussels, Rotterdam, Thessaloniki and Toronto. He teaches film theory and practice in professional film schools in Athens and he is a script analyst at MICROFILM, the annual shorts workshop of the Greek public television since 1999. In 2001 he started working as an assistant trainer to Lewis Cole, Nick Proferis and Milena Jelinek in “MFI Script2Film Workshops”. During the past eight years, he has been working as a senior trainer at the same workshop under the umbrella of MEDIA-Creative Europe programme.

MASTERCLASS WITH ABEL FERRARA
Wednesday 25th of April, 16.00-17.30, Zena Palace Cinema, Nicosia
Critically acclaimed film director Abel Ferrara will discuss aspects of his creative process.

Born in the Bronx, in 1951 Abel Ferrara started making films on Super 8 in his teens, in upstate New York with Nicholas St. John – writer of Ms.45, King Of New York, The Addiction as well as The Funeral – and John Mcintyre – creative consultant and key crew member. His career moved to downtown New York City in the mid ‘70s with the movies Driller Killer and Ms. 45. When Ms.45 found distribution at Warner Bros., with the help of William Friedkin, the reviews and international circulation lead to a cult reputation, larger budgets, studio funding and ‘name’ actors – Christopher Walken, Harvey Keitel, Melanie Griffith and Juliette Binoche. King of New York in the beginning of the ‘90s followed by Bad Lieutenant, The Funeral, The Addiction and New Rose Hotel consolidated his position as a director of controversial cinema. His career combines larger budget with no budget features and documentaries, from New York City to Napoli, Alabama, Jerusalem, Los Angeles and back to Roma. The 21st century began with R’Xmas, Mary and his documentary on the Chelsea hotel, Chelsea On The Rocks, continuing into the present decade with 4:44 – Last Day On Earth, his third feature with Willem Dafoe, Welcome To New-York, starring Gérard Depardieu and Jacqueline Bisset and with Pasolini, again starring Willem Dafoe in 2014, about the last days of the Italian director. His new documentary work includes Padre Pio and Piazza Vittorio. Abel Ferrara directs Alive in France, a documentary, also a self-portrait, that follows him and his family actress Cristina Chiriac, daughter Anna and friends and long-time collaborators composer Joe Delia and actor/composer Paul Hipp during a film Retrospective/music tour in France.

MASTERCLASS WITH STEVEN BERNSTEIN
Thursday 26th of April, 15.30-17.30, Zena Palace Cinema, Nicosia
Renowned film director, writer and cinematographer Steven Bernstein will discuss creative aspects of his work followed by a screening of Dominion (2016), Bernstein’s second feature film as a director starring John Malkovich and Rhys Ifans.

Steven Bernstein was born in Buffalo, New York, but grew up in the UK. Although first trained as a writer and director, he became known as a cinematographer in the early 1980s. After winning several awards for his work in commercials, including the prestigious Cannes Golden Lion and the DA&D award, he began shooting independent films as a cinematographer. He was commissioned in 1988 to write a book about film production methods, which became the best seller on the subject for ten years and was translated into many languages. Bernstein’s success naturally meant that Hollywood became interested and after he shot the beautiful landmark film Like Water for Chocolate Bernstein moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1990s. His subsequent body of work includes an extraordinarily eclectic range of narrative film credits, including Monster (which won an Oscar for Charlize Theron), huge action films like Swat and Murder at 1600, important studio films like Dolores Claiborne, independent art films like future Oscar nominee’s Noah Baumbach’s first three films and comedies. He also lectured widely giving talks at Cambridge University, Columbia University, The University of Southern California and many more. He also designed entire training programmes, including the famous Crosswind School in London. In 2016, Bernstein directed the script of Dominion, which received critical acclaim. Today, he lives and works in London and Los Angeles.

2017

Screen 2017

Best Film Award
Rosemarie
Adonis Florides, Cyprus

Special Jury Award
Invisible
Edoardo de Angelis, Italy

Best Director Award
Ralitza Petrova
Godless, Bulgaria, Denmark

Honorary Distinctions
Enzo Avitabile (soundtrack)
Invisible, Edoardo de Angelis, Italy
Makis Papademetriou (actor)
Sundan, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Greece/ Germany
Elli Tringou (actress)
Sundan, Argyris Papadimitropoulos, Greece/ Germany

Student Jury Award
Harmonia
Ori Sivan, Israel

Audience Award
Boy on the bridge
Petros Charalambous, Cyprus
_____________________________________________________________

Best Film Award
For its masterful and nuanced tragic-comic portrayal of a man torn between art and reality, the Best Film award goes to ROSEMARIE by ADONIS FLORIDES. The award is accompanied by the sum of €6,000. The award was handed out to the director by the Head of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Mr Pavlos Paraskevas.

Special Jury Award
For the director’s original visual approach to storytelling which combines anthropology and surrealism, and for the memorable performances by Angela and Marianna Fontana the Special Jury award goes to INDIVISIBLE by EDOARDO DE ANGELIS. The award is accompanied by the sum of €3,000. The award was handed out by the President of the Board of the Rialto Theatre, Mr Kikis Kazamias to the Honorary Consul of Italy in Cyprus, Mr Andreas Zenonos who received the award on behalf of the filmmakers.

Best Director Award
For the bleek and unsettling depiction of human beings who are prisoners of a corrupt society, and for the daring and stark mise-en-scene, the award for Best Director goes to RALITZA PETROVA for GODLESS. The award is accompanied by the sum of €1,000 and post production mastering services, worth of €3,500, offered by Greek company, Authorwave. The prize was handed to the Bulgarian Ambassador in Cyprus, Mr Christo Georgiev by Mrs Ioanna Soultani, from Authorwave Hellas.

Honorary Distinctions
1. INVISIBLE for its soundtrack by Enzo Avitabile.
2. Makis Papademetriou for his performance in SUNTAN by Argyris Papadimitropoulos.
3. Elli Tringou for her performance in SUNTAN by Argyris Papadimitropoulos.

Student Jury Award
The representative of the Student Jury of the University of Nicosia, Maria Larkin, announced
that the Student Jury Award winner is the film HARMONIA, by Ori Sivan.

Audience Award
The Audience Award, as voted by the Festival viewers was won by Cypriot film BOY ON THE BRIDGE, directed by Petros Charalambous. The award is accompanied by the sum of €1,000.

FILM WORKSHOPS & MASTERCLASSES

Aiming at expanding and promoting film education in Cyprus, the Festival organises film workshops and masterclasses for film professionals. These will take place in the English language and the entrance is free of charge.

VENUE: ZENA PALACE CINEMA, NICOSIA , INFO: 25343903, FREE ENTRANCE

MASTERCLASS: “50 YEARS BEHIND THE CAMERA”
PHOTO: PHIL MÉHEUX (CREDIT: DANNY MOLOSHOK)
Saturday, 29.4.2017 / 15:30 – 17:30
Phil Méheux BSC (Casino Royale, Goldeneye, Entrapment) discusses the ins and outs of working as a cinematographer in feature films

Phil Méheux began his cinematography career working for the BBC Television’s Film Unit. He became freelance 1977 and has photographed many successful and award-winning features and television films since, among them two James Bond films: GOLDENEYE and CASINO ROYALE – the latter winning the British Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography of 2006 and a nomination from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award. Phil is a governor of The British Society of Cinematographers and became its longest running President from 2002 to 2006. In 2015 The American Society of Cinematographers presented him with its International Award.

WORKSHOP: “AN A TO Z OF DIRECTING ACTORS” 26 TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR CAST. WITH WRITER/DIRECTOR RICHARD KWIETNIOWSKI
Sunday, 30.4.2017 / 16:00 – 17:30
Director Richard Kwietniowski (who has worked with hundreds of actors including John Hurt, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Minnie Driver) will demonstrate that you don’t need a theatre background or a technical brain to
direct cinema. You just need to know what you want from a scene, and treat your cast as key collaborators. Based on personal experience, this presentation offers 26 modest and occasionally eccentric suggestions to maximize the magical combination of performer and camera.

VISUAL STORYTELLING* A PRACTICAL WORKSHOP FOR FILMMAKERS AND ACTORS WITH: WRITER/DIRECTOR RICHARD KWIETNIOWSKI
Monday, 1.5.2017 / 10:00 – 17:00
The essence of cinema lies in what is not spoken. How should directors and actors approach scenes with little or no dialogue? How can an audience still be engaged dramatically and emotionally? 6 actors and 6 directors will be selected to participate in the practical workshop which includes director planning, scene staging, camera placement, and the specific demands of acting-to-camera. The workshop may be observed by people who do not wish to participate in the practical part. * (application for participation is required at info@cyprusfilmdays.com)

Richard Kwietniowski is a writer-director whose work has been internationally distributed, and received awards from festivals including Cannes and Berlin, the US National Board of Review, New York Film Critics’ Circle, Royal Television Society, and BAFTA. He has taught screenwriting, directing, and acting-to-camera from Poland to Jamaica, and lectures on many higher-degree programmes in London.

 

2016

THE CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS IS NOW CLOSED.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED SHORTLY.

Rules and Regulations

Best Film Award
The Gulls
Ella Manzheeva, Russia

Special Jury Award
Let Them Come
Salem Brahimi, France, Algeria

Best Director Award
Renars Vimba
Mellow Mud, Latvia

Honorary Distinctions
Interruption
Georgios Zois, Greece/ France/ Croatia/ Italy/ Bosnia-Herzegovina
Emil Christov (cinematography)
Losers, Bulgaria
Baba Joon
Yuval Delshad, Israel

Audience Award
Smac
Elias Demetriou, Greece
_____________________________________________________________

Best Film
For its artistically coherent portrayal of human dignity in an unexposed cultural environment; for its visual authenticity and integrity, and for a debut film that introduces us to a promising new filmmaker,» the Best Film award went to THE GULLS by Ella Manzheeva. The award is accompanied by the sum of €6,000.

Special Jury Award
This award went to «an important portrayal of a certain period in history that was largely ignored by the Western world. At the same time, it still reflects our current political climate. For its social sensitivity and courage,» the Special Jury award went to LET THEM COME by
Salem Brahimi. The award is accompanied by the sum of €3,000.

Best Director Award
For a visual style that serves the cohesive narration, for his diligent and focused cooperation with a non-professional actress and for interaction between pace and characterisation, resulting in a successful translation of the director’s vision,» the award for Best Director
was won by Renars Vimba for MELLOW MUD. The award is accompanied by the sum of €1000 and post production mastering services, worth of €3500, and offered by the Greek company, Authorwave. The prize was handed to the winner by Mr Panos Bisdas, Director of Authorwave Hellas.

Honorary Distinctions
For the groundbreaking approach to its subject matter and its intense visual style, in particlar cinematography, art direction and costumes, a special mention goes to INTERRUPTION, by Georgios Zois. For its constructive support of a difficult dramaturgy and its excellent use of black and white, a special mention goes to LOSERS for its cinematography by Emil Christov. For the authentic casting and direction of the young protagonist and the valid portrayal of the patriarchal system in this region, a special mention goes to BABA JOON, by Yuval Delshad.

Audience Award
ΤΗΕ FAMOUS GROUSE» audience award was won by SMAC, by Cypriot director Elias Demetriou. The award is accompanied by the sum of €1,000, sponsored by ACM CHRISTOFIDES Ltd.

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL, MR. ANDREAS CHRISTOU 14TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
CYPRUS FILM DAYS 2016 (15-24 APRIL 2016)
It is with great pleasure that I welcome the 14th International Film Festival “Cyprus Film Days 2016”, which has been upgraded to a festival with an international competition section.
One cannot help but notice that the Festival has acquired a new dimension, bringing Cypriot filmmakers and spectators in contact with the international film production and high quality cinema and, namely, with fiction films.
The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort and strongly believes not only in its success, but also in its contribution to the cultural life of the city and Cyprus in general.
The appreciation and interest of the audience in the festival, as well as its continuous presence for the last fourteen years, clearly demonstrate its importance and role.
The Festival’s organisers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – must be warmly congratulated for this effort.

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR OF ΝICOSIA, MR. CONSTANTINOS YIORKADJIS 14TH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
CYPRUS FILM DAYS 2016 (15-24 APRIL 2016)
It is with great pleasure that we welcome the 14th International Film Festival – Cyprus Film Days 2016 at the Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia.
Cyprus Film Days has been established as the greatest cinematic event of Cyprus.
Absolutely convinced about its success and contribution to the cultural life of the city and the island generally, the 14th Film Festival is under the auspices of the Municipality of Nicosia that wholeheartedly supports this initiative.
We warmly wish that the festival becomes a genuine celebration of the art of Cinema: an incentive of social action and quality entertainment, as well as a meeting point for film professionals.
The Festival enables the audience to watch a variety of films, most of which they would otherwise not be able to watch in Cyprus.
The Municipality of Nicosia has always been a supporter of events promoting Cinema and is thus proud to support this unique event, honouring Cyprus internationally. I would therefore like to congratulate the co-organisers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – for their remarkable efforts, as well as all those who contributed to the implementation of the festival.

Constantinos Yiorkadjis
Mayor of Nicosia

Screen 2016

«THE ART OF FOLEY»
Venue: Zena Palace Cinema, Saturday 16/4, 17:00 – 19:00
Renowned British foley artists of Pinewood Studios, Jemma Riley- Tolch, Peter Hanson and Pete Burgis, will deliver a masterclass about the secret world of foley, with a live, on-stage presentation of their work.

«APPLYING TO INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION MARKETS- AN ANALYSIS»
Venue: Point Centre for Contemporary Art, Tuesday 19/4, 17:00 – 18:30
Jury Member and Mannheim Meeting Place Coordinator, Julek Kedzierski, will analyse the application process to international co-production markets and examine the relevant points of co-production project presentation and philosophy, describing some of the more obvious pitfalls and mistakes. Individual meetings with Mr Kedzierski will follow the masterclass. Interested parties are invited to express their interest for a meeting by emailing info@cyprusfilmdays.com

«COSTUME DESIGNER AND DIRECTOR: CREATING A GOOD COLLABORATION»
Venue: Point Centre for Contemporary Art, Wednesday 20/4, 17:00 – 19:00
Εmmy-Nominated costume designer, and Jury President Jo Katsaras (of Cypriot origin), will analyse the relationship of the costume designer and the director, by demonstrating examples of her own work in cinema.

«ΕYE IN THE SKY AND INTO THE BATTLEFIELD»
Venue:Zena Palace Cinema, Saturday 23/4 17:00 – 19:00
Renowned Cypriot cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos («Cinderella», «Locke», «Thor», «Μamma Mia» κ.α.) will deliver a masterclass about cinematography. He will discuss the cinematography of the film «Eye In The Sky» and the challenges of a location shoot. Ηow a cinematographer has to manage working with a new crew in a new country on an administartive side and how on an aesthetic side to maintain and explore human drama and the human condition in an action / thriller setting.

IN COLLABORATION WITH International Children's Film Festival of Cyprus

FILM DAYS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH – CYPRUS 2016

Cyprus Film Days incorporates a special section with films for young audiences. The Film Days for Children and Youth – Cyprus 2016, organized in collaboration with the International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus, includes screenings of internationally awarded films for young audiences as well as screenings of short films produced by children in Cyprus and Greece. Screenings will take place at Pantheon Cinema in Nicosia during morning hours, from 18 to 22 April.

Additionally, the festival will include film workshops for children, lead by Cypriot and international artists. The workshops will be held on Saturday 9 April and on the weekend of 16-17 April regarding fiction, acting and animation, at the Directors’ Guild of Cyprus Premises in Nicosia, while on Saturday 23 April an additional workshop, “Body and Animation”, will be held at Rialto Theatre in Limassol. Workshops are eligible for children aged 10-15.

All screenings and workshops are free of charge.

The detailed program of the workshops is as follows:

1. Short Fiction Film – Workshop for the production of a short fiction film

In this workshop, lead by director/producer Andreas Kyriacou, children will be introduced to the production process for short films. They will get a chance to prepare their own screenplay, under the guidance of screenwriter Christina Georgiou. Using professional equipment, they will then shoot their film, in collaboration with the participants of the Acting for Cinema workshop. The completed film will be screened at the closing ceremony of the festival on Sunday, 24 April.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, 9 April and on the weekend of 16-17 April, at the Directors’ Union Premises (27 Othellou street, Nicosia – near Famagusta Gate, behind Mitsides factory), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Number of participants is limited to 8 students, and working language will be English and Greek.

2. Acting for cinema – Workshop for Acting on camera

In this workshop, children will be introduced to the art of acting for cinema, under the guidance of actress Alexia Paraskeva. Students will then collaborate with the Short Fiction Film workshop participants as actors in the production of a short film, which will be screened at the closing ceremony of the festival on Sunday, 24 April.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, 9 April and on the weekend of 16-17 April, at the Directors’ Union Premises (27 Othellou street, Nicosia – near Famagusta Gate, behind Mitsides factory), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Number of participants is limited to 8 students, and working language will be English and Greek.

3. Animation workshop

In this workshop, children will be introduced to the art of animation, under the guidance of animator Yiorgos Tsangaris, Artistic Director of Anifest Cyprus with the collaboration of Tamas Patrovits animator and artistic director of PRIMANIMA (Hungary). The animations created in this workshop will be screened at the closing ceremony of the festival on Sunday, 24 April.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, 9 April and on the weekend of 16-17 April, at the Directors’ Union Premises (27 Othellou street, Nicosia – near Famagusta Gate, behind Mitsides factory), from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Number of participants is limited to 8 students, and working language will be English and Greek.

4. Body and Motion Animation: Live animation utilizing objects and body movement

In this workshop, children of 11-13 years old will be introduced to the art of live animation: real-time animation which includes the use of stop-motion, utilizing objects and body movement. The workshop will be lead by Andres Beladiez and Karla Kracht (ZoomWooz team) from Spain.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, 23 April, from 11:00 – 13:00 a.m. at the Old Vinegar in Limassol.

Number of participants is limited to twelve students, and working language will be English.

A light, healthy meal, provided by a licensed caterer, will be served during the workshops.

For more information and reservations please contact Phani Hadjiphani at  hadji.phani@gmail.com or by telephone: 99498756. Reservations should be made before 27 March 2016.

ARTISTIC DIRECTORS OF THE 2016 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL CYPRUS FILM DAYS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

DAVID HANDS
David Hands was born in London in 1969, to a British father and a Cypriot mother and moved to Cyprus at an early age. He began his career as a professional photographer in 1989 and in 1991 he joined Lumiere Services and worked as a Director of Photography for TV commercials.
In 1993, he moved into news and documentaries firstly working for ABC News (US) during the former Yugoslavia war, before moving to Kenya where he worked for four years covering major news stories and documentaries in East and Central Africa, mostly for the BBC and Swiss TV.

After a short time in Australia, where he filmed his first short movie on film, he moved to Jerusalem where he worked for Dutch and German TV as a cameraman and editor.

In 2003, he moved back to Cyprus and became a partner at Crewhouse Media, a film and video production house specializing in documentaries and fiction films. At Crewhouse, David began producing and directing while still maintaining his real passion, being behind a camera. He is a board member of the International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus and a member of the Directors Guild of Cyprus. In 2012 he received a Master’s Degree in Film and Video Production from Cambridge School of Art (UK). Aside from his everyday projects, David also leads training workshops for Media professionals as well as film courses for children. He is the artistic director of the 2016 International Festival Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth.

CHRISTINA GEORGIOU (PH.D)
Christina Georgiou (Ph.D) is a film composer and screenwriter, Member of the European Film Academy. She has composed music for the stage, TV and film. In 2008 she received the Best Soundtrack Award (Monaco IFF) for the film Styx. Genesis 2:26, featuring a screenplay by Christina, received two First Prizes (Videominuto 2012, Italy and Kiev ISFF 2013). She has received the Big Audiovisual Award in the Micrografi screenplay competition (Athens, 2012). In 2014 Christina wrote and produced Afterthoughts, which received the 2nd Prize for Best National Film at ISFFC and she was nominated by the National Theatre for Best Composer Award for the stage play Love Lies. In 2015 Out of Sight, written, directed and produced with David Hands, received the First Prize for Best National Film at ISFFC.

TRIBUTE KAWASE/SZUMOWSKA/HANSEN-LØVE

NAOMI KAWASE
Female directors Νaomi Kawase, Małgorzata Szumowska and Mia Hansen-Løve have been awarded at numerous international festivals and are considered some of the most important female directors today. The success of their latest films, included in this year’s Viewfinder section, and the need to enhance the visibility of stories told by female filmmakers calls for a (re)discovery of their past work. Therefore, this year’s ‘tribute to a director’ is dedicated to contemporary female auteurs Kawase, Szumowska and Hansen-Løve.
Naomi Kawase was born in 1969, in Japan. In 1997, she became the youngest (aged 27) winner of the Camera d’Or at Festival de Cannes with her first feature Suzaku. Kawase became a Festival de Cannes favorite as she returned in 2003 with her third feature Shara and in 2007 ,with her 4th feature The Mourning Forest (2007), which received the Grand Prix and which will be screened at Cyprus Film Days this season. Kawase’s Hanezu (2011), Still the Water (2014) and An (2015) also premiered at Cannes.

THE MOURNING FOREST (2007)
A caregiver at a small retirement home takes one of her patients for a drive to the country, but the two end up stranded in a forest where they embark on an exhausting, yet enlightening, two-day journey.

AN (2015)
An old lady wants to get a job in her favorite canteen, giving the lonely owner the secret recipe for dorayaki, a traditional japanese pancakes stuffed with “an”, a cream made from red beans.

MAŁGORZATA SZUMOWSKA
was born in Krakow in 1973. She made her feature film debut in 2000 with Happy Man, which was nominated for the European Discovery of the Year Award (European Film Awards). She won Silver Leopard at Locarno FF in 2008 with 33 Scenes from Life. Her films Stranger (2004) and Elles (2011), with Juliette Binoche, both screened in the Berlinale Panorama. In the Name of (2011) screened in Competition at Berlin IFF and won a Teddy Award. It was followed by Body (2015), which won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the same festival. We will be seeing both of these films at this year’s Cyprus Film Days.

IN THE NAME OF (2011)
Adam, a Catholic priest, who dedicates his life to helping teens with behavioural problems, embraces celibacy in order to fight his homosexual impulses. Soon he befriends a misfit adolescent who stirs feelings deep within him that are far too powerful to deny.

VODY (2015)
A poetic study on the human body, infused with black humor, and main protagonists a coroner, his anorexic daughter and a physiotherapist living in modern Poland.

MIA HANSEN-LØVE
Directed her first feature All is Forgiven at the age of 26, in 2007. The film was screened at the “Quinzaine des réalisateurs” at the Festival des Cannes and received the Louis-Delluc first film award. Her second film, Father of my Children, which we will be watching at Cyprus Film Days, screened at Festival des Cannes in 2009 in the “Un Certain Regard” section and won the Special Jury Prize. In 2010, Variety ranked Mia Hansen-Løve in the top ten international directors to know. Her third feature, Goodbye First Love, premiered at Locarno International Film Festival in 2011. Hansen-Løve’s fifth feature, Things to Come (2016) – also screening at CFD- won the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlin IFF.

FATHER OF MY CHILDREN (2009)
Grégoire Canvel runs a well-respected independent film company and is torn between the demands of his family and his obsession with his career. Behind this dedication and busy work schedule, he hides a big secret.

ΤHINGS TO COME (2016)
Isabelle Hupert starred in the role of a philosophy teacher. Passionate about her work, married, with two children, she divides her time between her family, her students and her possessive mother. Until the day her husband tells her he’s leaving her for another woman.

ADULT MIDNIGHT SCREENINGS

The Festival will be screening films of adult content after midnight at Tritos Pantheon Gallery, in Nicosia and Oro Club, in Limassol.

 

2015

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

CYPRUS FILM DAYS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2015

Cyprus Film Days IFF is the official competition feature fiction film festival of the island of Cyprus. It is co-organised by the Ministry of Education & Culture and Rialto Theatre. It consists of two main programmes: the International Competition section -Glocal Images- and the non-competitive section -Viewfinder-, which comprises films that have been screened and awarded at major festivals over the past year. The Festival also includes a National Competition Section, exclusively showcasing Cypriot productions. Special tributes, parallel screenings, master classes, workshops and musical events, complete the program of the official International Film Festival of Cyprus. All the films screened at the Festival are Cyprus premieres and 2016 – 2017 productions.

Cyprus Film Days also incorporates a special section with films for young audiences. The Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth, which is co-organised in collaboration with the International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus, includes screenings of international awarded films for young audiences as well as short films produced by children in Cyprus and Greece.

A three-member Artistic Committee is responsible for the selection of films within the programme, while a Jury made up of five internationally recognised professionals, awards films accordingly.

All films are presented in their original language with Greek and English subtitles. The Festival will take place at Rialto Theatre, in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema, in Nicosia, from the 27th April to the 6th May, 2017

Mission of the Festival

Focusing on both local and global, or Glocal perspectives, Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival brings world cinema to local audiences through the process of discovering new trends and talent as well as celebrating filmmaking as an art form.

The Festival aims not only to broaden its appeal within its own borders, but to attract both industry and audiences from abroad by developing itself as a cinematic meeting point for the three continents surrounding Cyprus.

Costas Constantinides

DR COSTAS CONSTANDINIDES

Dr Costas Constandinides is Assistant Professor of Film Studies in the Department of Communications at the University of Nicosia. He holds a postgraduate degree and a doctorate degree from the University of Reading, UK (MA Film and Theatre Studies, 2003; PhD Film Studies, 2007) and an undergraduate degree from the University of Cyprus (BA in English Studies, 2002). He is the author of From Film Adaptation to Post-celluloid Adaptation (Continuum, 2010; Bloomsbury, 2012) and co-editor of Cypriot Cinemas: Memory, Conflict and Identity in the Margins of Europe (Bloomsbury, 2014). He is a member of the European Film Academy.

 

 

 

STELANA KLIRIS

Stelana KlirisStelana Kliris is a South African Cypriot filmmaker with a background in editing and production on international film and commercial productions in Greece and Cyprus. The brands she has worked with include Samsung, T-Mobile, Omega and Infinity Cars.

She recently wrote, directed and produced her first feature film entitled “Committed”. This was an independent feature shot entirely in Cyprus that has been screened at international film festivals, distributed commercially in several territories and has been optioned for an American remake.

Prior to her feature, she directed two short documentaries and two short narrative films including “The Fiddler”, which was produced in Cyprus and awarded at the Drama International Short Film Festival in Greece in 2011.

Stelana graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Rhodes University in South Africa and is inspired by stories with heart and humanity. She has a wealth of tales from her multi-cultural upbringing in countries with complicated political situations, like South Africa and Cyprus. Her current home is Limassol, Cyprus where she is developing new projects.

 

TONIA MISHIALI

Tonia MishialiTonia Mishiali was appointed as one of the Artistic Directors of Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival in October 2014. She also holds the position of Film Representative on the Board of Directors of the Directors Guild of Cyprus since January 2014.

Born in Famagusta, Cyprus in 1973, her love for the moving image from an early age, led her to pursue her dream and become a filmmaker. She studied Media Production in the UK and in 1997 she moved back to Cyprus to start working as a director and producer, also creating her own production company. She has worked on other Directors’ short and feature films as 1st Assistant Director, Production Manager and Executive Producer. She has also exhibited her photography work many times over the years and won various awards in national and international photography competitions.

She loves experimenting with different mediums- in her career she has written, directed and produced for theatre, film, video and television in Cyprus and abroad, dealing with a variety of subjects and adopting original approaches. She has exhibited her work and participated in a big number of national and international film and performance festivals. Particularly, the experimental performance “Inanimate collateral loop” (2011), a collaboration with a choreographer and an applied artist, participated in the group video exhibition “Undefine” at Marl’s Glass-Box Museum in Marl, Germany. Her second short film, “Dead End” (2013), has won 5 awards (2 of which for“Best Director”) and numerous nominations, including the Golden Pardino – Leopards of tomorrow for the film’s official selection at the 66th Locarno Film Festival, where it also made its World premiere. The same film was officially selected in more than 35 International Film Festivals all over the world. Her latest film “Lullaby of the Butterfly” (2014) was officially selected at the 20th Sarajevo Film Festival for its World Premiere and has already won various other nominations and two awards. Tonia is now writing her debut feature film.

Minister of Education & Culture

ADDRESS OF THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE OF CYPRUS MR. COSTAS KADIS

Kadis WebAs we approach the thirteenth edition of our International Film Festival, we cannot help but notice how it has grown over the years, bringing together films from a wide spectrum of the world of cinema, that work both as food for thought and sources of pleasure. The newly founded competition section of “Cyprus Film Days” raises our profile to an important annual meeting of international filmmakers. At the same time, it provides the public of Cyprus with an alternative cinematic option.

This year “Cyprus Film Days IFF” showcases feature films from across the world, in its official competition section entitled “Glocal Images”. This section is intended to showcase films which capture the particular nuances of local cinema and at the same time maintain their affinities, in terms of themes and style, with contemporary international filmmaking.

In its dual nature, on the one hand an escapist form of entertainment which provides access to imaginary worlds and spectacle-driven stories, and on the other hand, a means to seek truth and freedom from the oftentimes torturous human condition, cinema is for many the ultimate form of art.

Moviegoers have responded to this call in great numbers, eager to participate in events other than viewing, such as the audience award and discussions with filmmakers after screenings. This is precisely how the festival’s role has evolved into an opportunity to ponder over the mission of cinema in our time.

This year, the films selected by the Festival’s artistic committee cover the entire width of the world map, with an emphasis on the cinema of countries that surround Cyprus and promote filmmaking both as art and a tool of intercultural dialogue. Cinema’s diachronic influence is a testament to its power but also its potential to communicate messages, promote values, and expose and examine controversial issues.

I wish the best of luck to the festival and extend my congratulations to the artistic committee, director and producer Tonia Mishiali, academic Dr. Costas Constantinides and director Stelana Kliris, for the excellent lineup they have compiled for us this year. Finally, I wish to thank the Mayors of Nicosia and Limassol, Constantinos Yiorkadjis and Andreas Christou respectively, for their valuable support as well as Rialto Theatre and its associates. This event would not have materialized without their contribution. Last but not least, it would be an omission on my part not to thank the sponsors of “Cyprus Film Days”, as part of this presentation is down to them.

MAYOR OF LIMASSOL

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL, MR. ANDREAS CHRISTOU

ChristouIt is with great pleasure that I welcome the 13th International Film Festival “Cyprus Film Days 2015”, which has been upgraded to a festival with an international competition section.

One cannot help but notice that the Festival has acquired a new dimension, bringing Cypriot filmmakers and spectators in contact with the international film production and high quality cinema and, namely, with fiction films.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort and strongly believes not only in its success, but also in its contribution to the cultural life of the city and Cyprus in general.

The appreciation and interest of the audience in the festival, as well as its continuous presence for the last thirteen years, clearly demonstrate its importance and role.

The Festival’s organizers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – must be warmly congratulated for this effort.

MAYOR OF NICOSIA

ADDRESS OF THE MAYOR OF NICOSIA, MR. CONSTANTINOS YIORKADJIS

Nicosia Mayor YiorkadjisIt is with great pleasure that I welcome the 13th International Film Festival “Cyprus Film Days 2015”, which has been upgraded to a festival with an international competition section.

One cannot help but notice that the Festival has acquired a new dimension, bringing Cypriot filmmakers and spectators in contact with the international film production and high quality cinema and, namely, with fiction films.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort and strongly believes not only in its success, but also in its contribution to the cultural life of the city and Cyprus in general.

The appreciation and interest of the audience in the festival, as well as its continuous presence for the last thirteen years, clearly demonstrate its importance and role.

The Festival’s organizers – the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre – must be warmly congratulated for this effort.

Best Film Award
Three Windows and a Hanging
Isa Qosja, Kosovo/ Germany

Special Jury Award
The Goob
Guy Myhill, United Kingdom

Best Director Award
Kyros Papavassiliou
Impressions of a Drowned Man, Cyprus/ Slovenia/ Greece

Best Cypriot Film Awards
Impressions of a Drowned Man
Kyros Papavassiliou, Cyprus/ Slovenia/ Greece

Honorary Distinctions
Difret
Zeresenay Mehari, Ethiopia/ USA
Neveh Tzur (actor)
Valley, Sophie Artus, Israel
Irena Cahani (actress)
Three Windows and a Hanging, Isa Qosja, Kosovo/ Germany

Student Jury Award
Three Windows and a Hanging
Isa Qosja, Kosovo/ Germany

Audience Award
Whiplash
Damien Chazelle, United States
_____________________________________________________________

Best Film Award
For its extraordinarily authentic and honest cinematic approach to a universal taboo and for its powerful and courageous shuttering of the walls of silence and shame”, the Best Film Award- Glocal Images International Competition Section was awarded to Three Windows
and a Hanging, (Kosovo – Germany), directed by Isa Qosja and produced by Shkumbin Istrefi and Mentor Shala. The Mayor of Limassol Mr Andreas Christou presented the director with the award, which is accompanied by the amount of €6,000. Special Jury Award
For a brilliant portrayal of a coming-of-age story, set in the raw and violent world of rural modern day England”, the Special Jury Award was awarded to The Goob, (U.K.) directed by Guy Myhill and produced by Michael Elliott and Lee Groombridge. The Award, accompanied by the amount of €3,000, was received by Chairman of the Board of Rialto Theatre Mr Kikis Kazamias and will be sent to the winner through the British High Commission.

Best Director Award
For his innovative and challenging cinematic idiom and exceptional attention to detail in all aspects of the filmmaking process”, the Best Director Award went to Kyros Papavassiliou, for his film Impressions of a Drowned Man, (Cyprus, Slovenia, Greece). The award is accompanied by the amount of €1,000, and was presented by the former European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Mrs Androulla Vassiliou.

Best Cypriot Film Awards
For its intellectual depth and poetic approach to filmmaking, as well as for its unconventioal story telling”, the Best National Film Award went to the film Impressions of a Drowned Man, directed by Kyros Papavassiliou and produced by Monica Nicolaidou, Yiannis Halkadakis, Kyros Papavassiliou, Giorgos Pantzis and Bojan Mastilovic. The award, accompanied by the amount of €2,000 as well as a sponsorship by Fullmoon Productions, for post production services worth €9,000 for the winner’s next film, was presented to the director by the Minister of Education and Culture, Mr Costas Kadis.

Honorary Distinctions
The Jury also awarded three honorary distinctions to:
• Difret, (Ethiopia – U.S.A.), directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari for illustrating a powerful story about an exceptional issue.
• Actor Naveh Tzur in the film Valley by Sophie Artus,
• and actress Irena Cahani in the film Three Windows and a Hanging by Isa Qosja for their outstanding performances.

Student Jury Award
The Student Jury Award, decided upon by a student committee of the University of Nicosia, was awarded to Three Windows and a Hanging.

Audience Award
Academy Award Nominee Whiplash, by Damien Chazelle, won this year’s Audience Award, sponsored by Kronenbourg beer.

Screen 2015

Information

Subtitles:

All films with greek and english subtitles.

Admission:

€6 Day Pass
€25 Festival Pass (for all festival screenings)
Free entrance for students upon display of student card and AmeA cardholders

TWO - DAY WORKSHOP FOR ACTORS WITH NANCY BISHOP
Venue: Point Centre for Contemporary Art, Nicosia

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – Deadline: 20th March, 2015

CYPRUS FILM DAYS International Film Festival in collaboration with the Directors Guild of Cyprus proudly organise a series of workshops with Emmy-nominated casting director Nancy Bishop C.S.A., who works internationally, casting actors from both Europe and North America. These workshops for actors have limited places so if you would like to participate and you are a professional actor/actress please send your CV and photo together with the completed form to info@cyprusfilmdays.com by the 27th March 2015. The applicants will be selected by the Festival Committee.

Below is a more detailed description of the workshops:

DAY 1 (SATURDAY 18 APRIL 2015)

Fee 10 Euros (to cover lunch)

Screen Acting and Audition Technique for Actors

(12-16 people) 10:00-13:00 / 14:00-16:00

Screen Acting Technique
Actors will participate in a series of exercises that develop effective methods for on camera work. Material covered will include calibrating a performance for close-up vs. wide shot techniques, playing an inner monologue and playing in the eyes.

Strategies for Sight Reading at a Film Audition
Actors will learn strategies for sight-reading a film scene in an audition situation. When getting a new script, it is important to approach the script with spontaneity, but also analysis in order to present new material in a creative and honest way. Actors will practise with short written scenes.

DAY 2 (SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2015)

Presentation for the International Market for Actors

(30 people) 10:00-13:00
This seminar and demonstration is designed for actors who wish to market themselves for international work. Actors will watch and critique actual film castings of successful actors and discuss their success strategies.
A PowerPoint® presentation will include the following marketing topics:

How to organize a professional CV for international work.

How to choose a winning headshot

How to organize a successful website

How to produce an effective show reel

How to make an effective self casting

How to best take advantage of the Internet for actor marketing

How to use social media to forward an international career

*All actors should bring a printed copy of their headshot for critique. This is crucial that it is printed (not on a usb stick). Actors may also bring their show reels and CVs for possible critique (time allowing)

FREE ENTRANCE

In collaboration with the Directors Guild of Cyprus

CYPRUS FILM DAYS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN COLLABORATION WITH THE LONDON FILM ACADEMY PRESENT ‘DIRECTING ACTORS’, A WORKSHOP FOR DIRECTORS.

TIME: 14:00-17:00
VENUE: POINT CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART
DATE: 25 April 2015 (Saturday)

FREE ENTRANCE

(CAPACITY 25 persons) – Registrations will be made upon priority.

The workshop will be conducted in the English language.

Please register for the workshop by sending an e-mail to info@cyprusfilmdays.com, stating:

1. Your full name and contact details
2. Use the words “LFA workshop” in the subject

Directing Actors WORKSHOP
The relationship between directors and actors marks an essential collaborative partnership in the filmmaking process. Clear, precise and meaningful communication between them helps to save time on takes and is imperative to the making of a quality film. This workshop will cover: how to communicate effectively with actors in their own language, what actors expect from directors, working with actors of differing levels of experience, different approaches to acting and how you use them to help your actors, understanding vocabulary you need to get the performances you are looking for.
Www.londonfilmacademy.com

About the Tutor:

Carolina Giammetta
As an actress Carolina has worked with directors including: Mike Leigh, Roger Michell, Julian Jarrold, Armando Iannucci. She has written and directed several acclaimed short films that have been nominated and won several Best Short Film awards. ‘DOOR OPEN’ was a winner in the Kirin Film Competition and ‘MAN UP’ was a finalist in the REED FILM COMPETITION 2012 & VIRGIN MEDIA SHORTS 2012/2013. She has worked as a Director for BBC Comedy COMEDY SNACKS.
Selected for numerous TALENT LABS: EIFF 2012, BFI Think- Shoot- Distribute 2012, THE BUREAU SOS 2013/2014 with her feature ‘PIZZA FACE’ and nominated for the 2013 IMDB ‘ Script to Screen’ award. She took part in Screen Yorkshire’s TRIANGLE 2013 with ‘THE CLEANERS’, which was selected for the BFI/Film London Micro Market 2013.
Recent work includes short film ‘I DON’T CARE’ (Film London/SPOOL FILMS) award winning ‘NIGHT ARMOUR’, BP viral ‘BUMP’, a competition winner for MoFilm. This summer she directed a series of 28 short films about the British Civil War involving CGI, VFX. SFX.

In collaboration with London Film Academy

ABOUT

FILM DAYS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH – CYPRUS 2015

This is the first time that Cyprus Film Days will incorporate a special section with films for young audiences. The Film Days for Children and Youth – Cyprus 2015, which is co-organised in collaboration with the International Children’s Film Festival of Cyprus, includes screenings of international awarded films for young audiences as well as short film screenings of films produced by children in Cyprus and Greece.

The festival will include a series of screenings of international award winning films, as well as film workshops for children. The screenings and workshops are free.

The screenings will take place at the Zena Palace in Nicosia between Tuesday 21st of April and Friday 24th of April during the morning hours as well as a screening for the whole family in the afternoon of the 25th of April. (See below the screening program)

Additionally on the weekend of the 18-19 April, there will be three separate film workshops for children which will take place at the Artos Foundation in Nicosia covering the topics of, fiction film making, acting and animation.

For more information and reservations please contact Phani Hadjiphani at hadji.phani@gmail.com or by telephone 97668003

A CONVERSATION WITH KRISTI ZEA

23/4/2015, 6P.M., POINT CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, NICOSIA
Cyprus Film Days brings a touch of Hollywood to the island in the form of two-time academy Award nominee Kristi Zea. She will be acting as president of our Jury and will also participate in an exciting session entitled “A Conversation with Kristi Zea” where she will discuss her work.
Kristi Zea is a multi-faceted filmmaker known most notably for her accomplishments in producing, production design and costume design.

She received her first Oscar nomination for producing James L. Brooks’ As Good As It Gets (1997) and was nominated a second time for her production design on Sam Mendes’ Revolutionary Road (2008). Her production design credits include outstanding films like Martin Scorcese’s Goodfellas andDeparted, Jonathan Demme’s Silence of the Lambs and Oliver Stone’s Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

She has worked with iconic directors on classic films and we look forward to discussing her experiences.

2014

Establishment Year: 2001

 

This Festival, being organized by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the RIALTO Theatre, is being established as the most successful organization that highlights the feature films, bringing together the Cypriot audience and the International independent cinematography.

The Festival’s aim is to promote the International and Cypriot cinematography, to support and project the work of independent creators, to highlight new talents, while also to constitute the focal point for the cinematography of the three continents that surround Cyprus.

A 3 member committee is responsible for the films’ selection, and the program elaboration for the screening and the parallel events, while a Jury consisted of International recognised professionals, is awarding for the Competition Section of the Festival, called Glocal Images. Awards are given for the Best Film, Special Jury Award, Glocal Images Award, etc. The audience also gets the chance to vote for the most popular film that will also be awarded.

Besides Glocal Images, the festival’s 2nd program is the Viewfinder (a glance into contemporary International cinema), which presents films that have already been awarded in the past festival year. All films, of both Glocal Images and Viewfinder sections, are being screened in Cyprus for the first time.

Special tributes, parallel screenings, workshops and musical events, complete the program of the official International film festival of Cyprus.

All films are presented in their original dialogues with Greek and English subtitles.

The Festival is taking place in Limassol and Nicosia.

ADONIS FLORIDES

Film and theatre director, screenplay writer and playwright He lives and works in Limassol and has written and co-directed the films «Kalabush» and «Espresso» which have won various awards and distinctions in film festivals around the world. He has written and directed the plays «Yahari Tuhari» (for Hari’s Sake) and «Pesta se Mena» (Tell me) in collaboration with «Epitheseos» Theatre Company. Both plays were selected for the on-line catalogue of the European Theatre Convention. He has directed for the Limassol based “Company of Theatrical Development” (ETHAL). His latest work was writting and directing “The Good Dragon of Hong Kong”, based on the work of the Greek poet Nikos Kavvadias. He has worked as a TV director, screenplay writer and producer and currently teaches screenplay at the Screenplay Workshop. He is the initiator of the programme «Ideodrome» which explores the use of digital video as a means of artistic expression and is the vice-chairman of the cultural platform NeMe. He has presented his cinematographic work and has lectured at various educational institutions, conferences, seminars and workshops both in Cyprus and abroad.

 

COSTAS CONSTANDINIDES

Dr. Costas Constandinides is a Lecturer in the Communications Department at The University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Undergraduate studies at the University of Cyprus (B.A in English Studies, 2002); Graduate studies at the University of Reading, UK (MA Film and Theatre, 2003, Ph.D in Film Studies, 2007), where he taught film studies in the Department of Film, Theatre and Television. He is the author of the non-fiction book From Film Adaptation to Post-celluloid Adaptation: Rethinking the Transition of Popular Narratives and Characters across Old and New Media (New York/London: Continuum, 2010) and he is a member of the Association of Adaptation Studies and a member of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS).

 

CONSTANTINOS SARKAS

He was born in Limassol in 1979. After graduating from South Bank University in London with a BSc in Media & Society he enrolled as a postgraduate student at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne from where he graduated in 2002 with an MA in Film Studies. From 2003 until 2005 he was a permanent member of the editorial team at Time Out Athens magazine where he also contributed articles to the Film team led by Greek film critic Thodoris Koutsoyianopoulos. Since 2005 he has been the Film Editor at Time Out Cyprus magazine and he also contributes regular articles to Madame Figaro magazine and City Free Press newspaper.

 

Best Film Award
Stratos
Yiannis Economides, Greece/ Germany/ Cyprus

Special Jury Award
Funeral at Noon
Adam Sanderson, Israel

Glocal Images Award
Standing Aside watching
Giorgos Servetas, Greece

Student Jury Award
Life Feels Good
Maciej Pieprzyca, Poland

Audience Award
Life Feels Good
Maciej Pieprzyca, Poland
_____________________________________________________________

Best Film Award
A slow burning crime and punishment drama and an explosive study of moral decay, set in Greece in times of crisis. Director Yiannis Economides and his powerful cast, led by the unblinking main character Vangelis Mourikis, introduce to us to an unmerciful contract killer, who is trying to make this mean, cold and ugly world he lives in a better place and for a few moments he actually succeeds.
THE BEST FILM AWARD GOES TO STRATOS, BY YIANNIS ECONOMIDES.

Special Jury Award
A dramatic and painful story depicted in one of the most beautiful and poetic ways with just a few actors. A unique way of expression, raising questions about hidden and invisible realities in our lives. THE SPECIAL JURY AWARD GOES TO FUNERAL AT NOON BY ADAM SANDERSON FROM ISRAEL.

Glocal Images Award
For the allegorical vision of its director, rooted in Classical tragedy and in the codes of the Western genre.  For the powerful story through which the film unearths an austere and un-caring landscape and reveals the inhuman face of contemporary Greece. For the strong metaphors of the community’s troubling power relations and for the fierce central character that defies the male dominated structures that have corrupted the world she lives in. THE GLOCAL IMAGES AWARD GOES TO THE FILM STANDING ASIDE WATCHING, BY GIORGOS SERVETAS.

Student Jury Award
The Student Jury Award was awarded to the film Life Feels Good by Maciej Pieprzyca.

Audience Award
The film Life Feels Good by Maciej Pieprzyca won the Audience Award.

LIMASSOL

BATUKINIO

LIMASSOL 04/04/14, RIALTO THEATRE 19:30
The percussion group Batukinio was formed in 2009 and, to date, it consists of 35 members. The group draws inspiration from Afro-brazilian music, such as Samba Batucada and Samba Reggae. Batukinio performed for the first time during the opening ceremony of the Games of the Small States of Europe that took place in Cyprus in June 2009. Later on, they participated in various events such as: the Football Awards of Antenna Channel, the Ayia Napa Jazz Festival, the Ayia Napa Medieval Festival, the Cyprus Rally, the 1st Nicosia Marathon and during the celebrations of the Limassol Carnival 2010 and 2011, as well as during other cultural events.

LATIN TOUCH

04/04/14, ART STUDIO 55 – OPENING PARTY 22:00

Five talented musicians got together to form the «Latin Touch», a band that fills the air with vibrant music from different styles with a Latin spirit.

Sandra Vasquez  –  Vocals, percussions

Gino Abou Chabke – Guitar,  Vocals

George Morfitis – Keyboard

Andreas Rodosthenus – Bass

George Koullas – Drums

With «Latin Touch», you will enjoy an amazing music journey beginning with slow jazz, building to a crescendo of pop and Latin.

TRIO FRISSON

Trio Frisson, consisting of Byron Athinodorou (Bass, Backing Vocals), Jamie Paul (Vocals, Keys) and Stelios Xydias (Drums), have been capturing the attention of their audience since their formation in 2012 and steadily creating hype and interest around their music. Described as Hip-Soul, the band introduces a new wave of sounds and a genre of music never heard before in the live music scene of Cyprus, uniquely blending the sounds of Funk, Soul and Hip.

NICOSIA

04/04/14, ZENA PALACE CINEMA, 19:30

Tat – n – Bar

4/4/14, Zena Palace Cinema, Opening Party 22:00

Lukasz Walewski: Τρομπέτα/Trumpet

Aleksandar Jotovic: Μπάσο/Bass Guitar

Peter Rathbone: Drums

Vasilis Samaras: Πλήκτρα/Keyboards

Kostas Dionisis: Κιθάρα/ Guitar

CROWDFUNDING FOR FILM PROFESSIONALS:SUCCESS, MYTHS AND POSSIBILITIES

05/04/14, ART STUDIO 55 (LIMASSOL), 16:00

In this panel discussion filmmakers  Iva Radivojevic (Evaporating Borders) and Stelana Kliris (Committed) discuss why they turned to crowdfunding and what makes a successful crowd funding campaign. The panelists will go over what works and why, what platforms to choose, share examples of successful campaigns and talk about their own fundraising experiences.

Topics include :

* what gets funded and why

* defining your campaign

* understanding the ingredients of the campaign

* researching your budget

* making an effective pitch

* making the video

* setting a smart funding goal

* considering your networks

* working toward a smart outreach

Supported by Directors Guild Cyprus

2013

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL, MR ANDREAS CHRISTOU

FOR THE 11TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - CYPRUS FILM DAYS 2012 (19 - 28 APRIL 2013)

It is with great pleasure that I welcome this year the 11th Film Festival ‘Cyprus Film Days – 2013′ which has been upgraded to an International competition festival.

The festival has now entered an exciting new phase which brings Cypriot creators and audiences in contact with the international film production and specifically with creative fiction cinema.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort being certain not only of its success but also of its contribution to the city’s and Cyprus’ cultural events.

The appreciation and interest with which the audience has held this event as well as the fact that it has a continuous presence for ten years, shows its importance and its role.

The Festival’s organizers – the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the RIALTO Theatre – deserve congratulations for this effort.

Best Film Award
Night of Silence
Reis Celik, Turkey

Special Jury Award
Block 12
Kyriakos Tofarides, Cyprus

Glocal Images Award
La Pirogue
Moussa Tourré, France/ Senegal

Honorary Distinction
The passion of Michelangelo
Esteban Larrain, Chile

Student Jury Award
Boy Eating the Bird’s Food
Ektoras Lygizos, Greece
The Queen
Mohammad Ali Bashe Ahangar, Iran

Audience Award
The Angels’ Share
Ken Loach, U.K., France, Belgium, Italy
_____________________________________________________________
Best Film Award
The Best Film Award was awarded to the film Night of Silence by Reis Çelik for the beautiful simplicity of a story told in a strong and tender cinematic way. The film reveals powerful emotions presenting two human beings forced to spend a life together. Special Jury Award The Special Jury Award was awarded to the film Block 12 by Kyriakos Tofarides for taking up the challenge of portraying a society at a moment of severe crisis with a good dose of humour and sympathy. The filmmaker, who was present during the ceremony, received the award and wholeheartedly thanked the audience, the organizers of the festival and the jury.

Glocal Images Award
The Glocal images Award was awarded to La Pirogue by Moussa Tourré: A well-written script telling the story of a group of people ready to risk everything for a better future. The film takes us on a journey full of perils, led by strong and well-defined characters and provides an insight to the big issue of migration nowadays. The award was received by the managing director of Alliance Française de Limassol, Mr. Bertrand Baldet.

Honorary Distinction
The honorary distinction for telling the true story of the rise and fall of an enigmatic young boy being used as an instrument of a totalitarian regime was awarded to The passion of Michelangelo, by Esteban Larraín.

Student Jury Award
The Student Jury Award was awarded equally to the films Boy Eating the Bird’s Food by Ektoras Lygizos and Queen by Mohammad Ali Bashe Ahangar.

Audience Award
The film The Angels’ Share by Ken Loach won the Audience Award

2012

Cfd2012 Banner

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL, MR ANDREAS CHRISTOU

FOR THE 10TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - CYPRUS FILM DAYS 2012 (20 - 29 APRIL 2012)

It is with great pleasure that I welcome this year the 10th Film Festival ‘Cyprus Film Days – 2012′ which has been upgraded to an International competition festival.

The festival has now entered an exciting new phase which brings Cypriot creators and audiences in contact with the international film production and specifically with creative fiction cinema.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort being certain not only of its success but also of its contribution to the city’s and Cyprus’ cultural events.

The appreciation and interest with which the audience has held this event as well as the fact that it has a continuous presence for ten years, shows its importance and its role.

The Festival’s organizers – the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the RIALTO Theatre – deserve congratulations for this effort.

Limassol

Screen Limassol 2012

Nicosia

Screen Nicosia 2012

ON THE OPENING NIGHT, THE FESTIVAL LAUNCHES A PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION INSPIRED BY THE DOCUMENTARY FILM ‘CYPRUS IS AN ISLAND’, WHICH WAS SHOT ON THE ISLAND IN 1945, COMMISSIONED BY THE BRITISH MINISTRY OF INFORMATION. THE BLACK AND WHITE FILM, WHICH RUNS FOR 34 MINUTES, RECORDS CYPRUS THROUGH A COLONIAL POINT OF VIEW. HOWEVER, IT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE FEW CINEMATOGRAPHIC RECORDS WE HAVE FOR CYPRUS OF THAT PERIOD.

Exhibition Poster 150x300The director and producer of the film is Ralph Keene, an important British documentary maker and film producer of the decades 1930- 1960 (Journey into Spring,1958, Under Night Streets, 1958, The people’s land, 1943 etc.).  The scriptwriter was poet and author Laurie Lee, who would later become famous for his novels and poetry (Land at war, 1945, The Firstborn,1964, Two Women. 1983 etc.). The production company was Greenpark Production.

Three Cypriots participated in the making of the film as assistants: Michael Cacoyannis, taking his first steps in filmmaking appears perhaps for the first time in the credits of a film, Polys Constantinides and Ahmet Jemal. The film score was taken by “Greek Suite”, written by Greek composer Petros Petrides. All the participants featured in front of the camera are Cypriots while the main subject of the film is Cypriot landscape and life in Cyprus in the mid 1940s.

In 1947, upon completing the shooting of the documentary, Ralph Keene and Laurie Lee published a book/ journal with detailed descriptions of the pre- production and the filming process, along with photographic material. The book is entitled “We made a film in Cyprus”.

The exhibition, also entitled ‘We Made a Film in Cyprus’, will present photographs from this book/ journal written by the filmmakers.

The exhibition is curated by photographer Vassos Stylianou and producer/ director Adonis Florides.

The exhibition will be inaugurated by the Mayor of Limassol Mr Andreas Christou, on April 20th at 7 p.m. The opening ceremony will include a presentation of the book/ journal by photographer Vassos Stylianou, who will emphasise on the content of the photographs featured in the book. The documentary film “Cyprus is an island” will be screening in a loop throughout the festival at Art Studio 55.

Special thanks to Pearson Education, UK for granting permission to reproduce images from the book «We made a film in Cyprus»

ADONIS FLORIDES

Film and theatre director, screenplay writer and playwright He lives and works in Limassol and has written and co-directed the films «Kalabush» and «Espresso» which have won various awards and distinctions in film festivals around the world. He has written and directed the plays «Yahari Tuhari» (for Hari’s Sake) and «Pesta se Mena» (Tell me) in collaboration with «Epitheseos» Theatre Company. Both plays were selected for the on-line catalogue of the European Theatre Convention. He has directed for the Limassol based “Company of Theatrical Development” (ETHAL). His latest work was writting and directing “The Good Dragon of Hong Kong”, based on the work of the Greek poet Nikos Kavvadias. He has worked as a TV director, screenplay writer and producer and currently teaches screenplay at the Screenplay Workshop. He is the initiator of the programme «Ideodrome» which explores the use of digital video as a means of artistic expression and is the vice-chairman of the cultural platform NeMe. He has presented his cinematographic work and has lectured at various educational institutions, conferences, seminars and workshops both in Cyprus and abroad.

 

COSTAS CONSTANDINIDES

Dr. Costas Constandinides is a Lecturer in the Communications Department at The University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Undergraduate studies at the University of Cyprus (B.A in English Studies, 2002); Graduate studies at the University of Reading, UK (MA Film and Theatre, 2003, Ph.D in Film Studies, 2007), where he taught film studies in the Department of Film, Theatre and Television. He is the author of the non-fiction book From Film Adaptation to Post-celluloid Adaptation: Rethinking the Transition of Popular Narratives and Characters across Old and New Media (New York/London: Continuum, 2010) and he is a member of the Association of Adaptation Studies and a member of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS).

 

CONSTANTINOS SARKAS

He was born in Limassol in 1979. After graduating from South Bank University in London with a BSc in Media & Society he enrolled as a postgraduate student at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne from where he graduated in 2002 with an MA in Film Studies. From 2003 until 2005 he was a permanent member of the editorial team at Time Out Athens magazine where he also contributed articles to the Film team led by Greek film critic Thodoris Koutsoyianopoulos. Since 2005 he has been the Film Editor at Time Out Cyprus magazine and he also contributes regular articles to Madame Figaro magazine and City Free Press newspaper.

 

THE AWARD

Award2 668x1024

Award

Best Film Award
Combat Girls
David Wnendt, Germany

Special Jury Award
Loverboy
Catalin Mitulescu, Romania

Glocal Images Award
Fish n’ Chips
Elias Demetriou, Cyprus/ Greece

Special Jury Mention
Restoration
Yossi Madmoni, Israel

Honorary Distinction
Marios Ioannou (actor)
Fish n’ Chips, Elias Demetriou, Cyprus/ Greece
Sasson Gabay (actor)
Restoration, Yossi Madmoni, Israel

Audience Award
Fish n’ Chips
Elias Demetriou, Cyprus/ Greece

2011

ADDRESS BY DR ANDREAS DEMETRIOU

MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND CULTURE

On the way to the ninth installment of what can aptly be called a mini International Film Festival, we cannot but notice how well it has grown over the years, bringing together films from a wide spectrum of the world of cinema, that work both as food for thought and sources of fine pleasure.
The new and renewed form bestowed as of this year on ?Cyprus Film Days? through its newly founded competition section raises its profile to an important annual meeting of international filmmakers. At the same time, it provides the public of Cyprus with an alternative option, one that has always been expected of the State.
This year Cyprus Film Days IFF features movies from across the world, running for the first time in official competition. Titled ?Glocal Images?, the competition section is intended to showcase those movies which capture the particular ?nuances? of local cinema and at the same time maintain their affinities, in terms of themes and style, with contemporary movie making. Another innovation brought forward by the festival this year is the international jury panel, assigned with viewing the movies and proclaiming the winners.

 

In its dual nature, on the one hand an industry of escape from the daily problems faced by man and society, namely an escape into painless imaginary dreams; and on the other hand, a means to seek truth and catharsis from the oftentimes torturous human condition, the cinema is for many the utter form of art in this day and age.

Moviegoers have responded to this call in great numbers, eager to participate in events other than mere viewing, such as the people?s choice, and discussions with movie makers at the end of screenings. This is precisely how the festival?s role has evolved into an opportunity to ponder over the mission of cinema in our time.

The response of cinema goers, especially young people, to this cinematic celebration which works as a pole of attraction for substantial civilization, has been the motive the Ministry was waiting for in order to upgrade the institution.

This year, the film selections of the Festival?s artistic committee cover the entire width of world map, with an emphasis on the cinema of countries that surround Cyprus and promote filmmaking both as an art and a tool of intercultural dialogue.

Cinema?s diachronic influence attests its power but also its potential to communicate messages, promote values, expose and disparage problematic situations.

I wish the best of luck to the festival and extend my congratulations to the artistic committee, director Adonis Florides, academic Costas Constantinides and cinema theoretician and journalist Constantinos Sarkas, for the excellent lineup they have compiled for us this year. Finally, I wish to thank the Mayors of Nicosia and Limassol, Eleni Mavrou and Andreas Christou respectively, for their valuable support as well as the Rialto and its associates: without their contribution, this event would not have materialized. Last but not least, it would be an omission on my behalf not to thank the sponsors of ?Cyprus Film Days?; part of this presentation is owed to them.

Dr Andreas Demetriou
Minister of Education and Culture

 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF NICOSIA ELENI MAVROU

FOR THE 'CYPRUS FILM DAYS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2011'

Cinema has the power, especially in our days, to have a great influence over people on a massive scale. Its power exceeds geographic boundaries and cultural frameworks, and breaks borders and traditions shaping ways of thinking and creating awareness.

Throughout its history cinema was and still is considered to be an art form; from the first years of its invention, cinema was also informing audiences on the existing trends and views in societies. Although a film might be a point of view on reality and not reality itself, the fact that it is inspired by human beings, makes it more accessible to us all.

It is, therefore, with great pleasure that we have seen during the past years that a series of events have emerged, which focus on cinema. The annual festival ‘Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival 2011’ which will be presented in Nicosia and Limassol in April with the support of the Municipality of Nicosia, is perhaps the most celebrated cinematic event, as the addition of the International Competition Section entitled Glocal Images and creates a new dynamic and a new interest.

‘Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival 2011’ presents filmmaking that is sincere and, often, bravely addresses social, political, and other issues that exist in contemporary societies. We are certain that cinephiles and new audiences will embrace the festival, as in previous years, and enjoy the magic of cinema.

 

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR OF LIMASSOL, MR ANDREAS CHRISTOU

FOR THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - CYPRUS FILM DAYS 2011 (8-17 APRIL 2011)

It is with great pleasure that I welcome this year the 9th Film Festival ‘Cyprus Film Days – 2011’ which has been upgraded to an International competition festival.

The RIALTO Theatre’s initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture acquires a new dimension and has now entered an exciting new phase which brings Cypriot creators and audiences in contact with the international film production and specifically with creative fiction cinema.

The Municipality of Limassol wholeheartedly supports this effort being certain not only of its success but also of its contribution to the city’s and Cyprus’ cultural events.

The appreciation and interest with which the audience has held this event as well as the fact that it has a continuous presence for nine years, shows its importance and its role.

The Festival’s organizers – the Ministry of Education and Culture as well as the RIALTO Theatre – deserve congratulations for this effort.

Nicosia

Screen Nicosia 2011

 

Limassol

Screen Limassol 2011

Organizers
Ministry of Education and Culture
Elena Christodoulidou
Senior Cultural Officer

Rialto Theatre
Georgia Doetzer
Artistic Director

Film Selection Committee
Adonis Florides
Constantinos Sarkas
Dr. Costas Constandinides

General Coordinator
Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Public Relations, Guest Office
Stephanie Lambrou

Movie Traffic
Andreas Triantafillou

Audience Award Design
Yiorgos Pitsilides

Translation, Adaptation, Editing of Subtitles
Giota Ganeli, Stephanos Kostopoulos, Danae Ferri, Ioannis Soulos

 Subtitles Projections
Ioannis Soulos, Giota Ganeli, Doros Athinodorou

TV Spot
Square Egg Studios

Catalogue Coordination

Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Supervision of Catalogue
Costas Papathanasiou

Translations of Text
Costas Papathanasiou, Yiola Kleitou, Ioannis Soulos

Design and Art Direction of Poster and Print Material
Square Egg Studios

Festival Logo
Yiorgos Tsaggaris

Design, Art Direction & Updating of Website
Zenios Tselepis (Euphoria New Media)

Printing of Catalogue
Lithofit Press

We warmly thank

Andreas Makariou (Art Studio 55)
all the volunteers
to everyone who helped organize the festival

Best Film Award
Knifer
Yannis Economides, Greece

Special Jury Award
Tuesday, After Christmas
Radu Muntean, Romania

Honorary Distinction
Shelter
Dragomir Sholev, Bulgaria

Audience Award
The Illusionist
Sylvain Chomet, France
_____________________________________________________________
Best Film Award
The Best Film Award, accompanied by €7,000, was given to the film “Knifer” by Yiannis Economides. The Jury’s statement was: Knifer is a dark, poetic, complex and original film. Yiannis Economides’ elaborate framing results to unforgettable cinematic moments, with
strong performances and a distinctive visual style. With his uncompromising stylistic methods, his symbolism and his daring, powerful story, Economides’ film manages to create a modern film noir while at the same time stimulates thought.

Special Jury Award
The Special Jury Award, accompanied by €3,000, was given to the film Tuesday After Chrismas by Radu Muntean. The Jury’s analysis was that: Tuesday After Christmas allows a vieer to track every flicker of emotion and thought within the inner world of the characters.
The filming style is naturalistic, precise, delicate, sensitive and modest. It reveals how often the banality of life is sometimes the overall truth of human existence. The Directing and the screenplay shapes the characters in such an effective way that the characters can be described as fine tuned music instruments voicing the perfect sound.

Honorary Distinction
Dragomir Sholev’s film Shelter, earned the Honorary Distinction Award and the Jury felt that it “describes a day in the life of a family falling apart and deals with the issue of family in a sensitive and unique way. The script is outstanding, mature and precise. The realistic directorial approach is the product of a very talented and a very promising director.”

Audience Award
Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist won the Audience Award, having conquered the hearts of cinema goers during this year’s Cyprus Film Days Festival

ADONIS FLORIDES

Film and theatre director, screenplay writer and playwright He lives and works in Limassol and has written and co-directed the films «Kalabush» and «Espresso» which have won various awards and distinctions in film festivals around the world. He has written and directed the plays «Yahari Tuhari» (for Hari’s Sake) and «Pesta se Mena» (Tell me) in collaboration with «Epitheseos» Theatre Company. Both plays were selected for the on-line catalogue of the European Theatre Convention. He has directed for the Limassol based “Company of Theatrical Development” (ETHAL). His latest work was writting and directing “The Good Dragon of Hong Kong”, based on the work of the Greek poet Nikos Kavvadias. He has worked as a TV director, screenplay writer and producer and currently teaches screenplay at the Screenplay Workshop. He is the initiator of the programme «Ideodrome» which explores the use of digital video as a means of artistic expression and is the vice-chairman of the cultural platform NeMe. He has presented his cinematographic work and has lectured at various educational institutions, conferences, seminars and workshops both in Cyprus and abroad.

 

COSTAS CONSTANDINIDES

Dr. Costas Constandinides is a Lecturer in the Communications Department at The University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Undergraduate studies at the University of Cyprus (B.A in English Studies, 2002); Graduate studies at the University of Reading, UK (MA Film and Theatre, 2003, Ph.D in Film Studies, 2007), where he taught film studies in the Department of Film, Theatre and Television. He is the author of the non-fiction book From Film Adaptation to Post-celluloid Adaptation: Rethinking the Transition of Popular Narratives and Characters across Old and New Media (New York/London: Continuum, 2010) and he is a member of the Association of Adaptation Studies and a member of the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS).

 

CONSTANTINOS SARKAS

He was born in Limassol in 1979. After graduating from South Bank University in London with a BSc in Media & Society he enrolled as a postgraduate student at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne from where he graduated in 2002 with an MA in Film Studies. From 2003 until 2005 he was a permanent member of the editorial team at Time Out Athens magazine where he also contributed articles to the Film team led by Greek film critic Thodoris Koutsoyianopoulos. Since 2005 he has been the Film Editor at Time Out Cyprus magazine and he also contributes regular articles to Madame Figaro magazine and City Free Press newspaper.

 

Events

TRIBUTE TO JACQUES TATI

As part of the Festival’s parallel screenings, Cyprus Film Days will also be hosting a tribute to Jacques Tati, one of the best comedic actors and directors of the 20th century. Screenings will include his three most important films, including one of his greatest successes, Mon Oncle (1958), where Mr. Hulot is a good-hearted father-in-law in a family of industrialists. Les Vacances de M. Hulot (1953) and Play Time (1867) will also be screened. The Illusionist, an excellent example of traditional animation produced in 2010, based on a script by Tati, also forms part of this tribute. The film is directed by the maker of Les Triplettes de Belleville, Sylvain Chomet. A French illusionist is forced to accept assignments in the north of Great Britain to make a living out of his art. Young Alice is charmed by his tricks and follows him to Edinburgh. This tender, melancholic and gently humorous film is the winner of the European Award for Best Animation and was nominated for Best Animated Feature at both the Oscars and the Golden Globe Awards.

13.4.2011 Wednesday – 16:00 – 18:00

Lemesos
Art Studio 55

Workshop: “Costumes in Film” by costume designer Miranda Theodoridou. The workshop shall include period costume presentation.
Co-organised with the Screenplay Workshop of Adonis Florides.

Free Participation

15.4.2011 Friday – 18:00 – 22:00
16.4.2011 Saturday
 – 10:00 – 13:30 & 14:30 – 17:00
17.4.1011  Sunday – 
10:00 – 13:30 & 14:30 – 17:00

Nicosia
ΑRTos Foundation

Cinematography Seminar: A three day seminar on cinematography by the renowned Greek Director of Photography Giorgos Frentzos. The seminar is organized in collaboration with the Film and Television Directors’ Guild of Cyprus.

Participation Fee: 50 Euros

THEMATIC SCREENINGS

Cfd2011Curated by Dr. Markos Hadjioannou (film theorist) and Loizos Olympios (visual artist), “Re-Possessed” are thematic film screenings dedicated to the topic of possession in contemporary world cinema. The idea behind the chosen program is to examine the uncommon approaches with which the theme of possession has been examined in film across the globe, and across various film genres.

Ordinarily, possession refers to the domination or control of a person by a demon or spirit, a matter that links the theme stereotypically to the genre of horror. Indeed, at times this demon or spirit is a metaphor for some cultural, financial, or political anxiety that takes over an individual or a community psychologically. It is here, though, that we see possession to be a form of obsession that is transferred from the self to some external force. In other words, while possession refers to the domination of a person’s body, mind, or soul by another agent – thus externalizing the source of the psychological dysfunction – obsession, on the other hand, expresses the preoccupation uninterruptedly, intrusively, and to a troubling extent by one’s own thoughts and/or emotions. Possession as obsession, therefore, is a psychological state that shifts the focus of the problem from external and alien worlds to the internal space of the individual’s self. “Re-Possessed” turns to these themes in order to look at how filmmakers from various cinema cultures reconfigure the idea of possession within the realm of the personal.

The program consists of five screenings, each one presenting one short film and one feature length film, which form a study of possession from a specific point of view each time. This tactic unites the short and the feature film, showcasing how the two forms can co-exist and offer similarly powerful emotions and ideas. In turning to the various forms of possession, these screenings examine the theme as it appears across a range of film forms from avant-garde cinema, experimental animation, independent cinema, American underground, and world cinema. Screenings will be held after midnight and in the afternoons. Entrance is free.

With this year’s programme, the Festival aspires once again to give cinema-goers the opportunity to watch films intended as social interventions and, apart from offering quality entertainment, make room for analytical thinking and discussion.

As in previous years, the public can take an active part in the Festival by choosing and awarding the prize for Best Film. Spectators will also have the opportunity to discuss this year’s films with some of the filmmakers, cast and crew attending the Festival.

CALL FOR ENTRIES - EXPIRED

The Ministry of Education and Culture announces that the 9th CYPRUS FILM DAYS – International Film Festival 2011, co-organised with the Rialto theatre has been upgraded to an international competition festival. The festival, which is being held for the 9th time this year, will host an international competition section titled “Glocal Images” in which film-makers from around the globe and Cyprus are invited to submit their films.

The films in the competition section will be selected by the festival’s artistic committee: Adonis Florides (film director / writer), Dr. Costas Constandinides (Lecturer in Film Studies) and Constantinos Sarkas (Film Journalist). This year’s festival will take place from 8 to 17th of April 2011 in Nicosia and Limassol as in previous years.

The showcasing of Cinematic excellence is at the heart of Cyprus Film Days since its first edition in 2003. Therefore, the artistic committee is looking for independent works that frame the diversity of local cultures and present innovative approaches to subject matters that can be addressed to an international audience.
An international Jury made up of leading figures of the international film industry and whose names will be announced at a later date will award the following prizes:

• Best Film Award accompanied by the amount of €7,000
• 2nd Best Film Award accompanied by the amount of €3.000

An exciting year lies ahead for the festival with the addition of the International Competition Section for feature-length films with the aim of discovering new talents and new stories from all over the world.

Interested parties are called upon to submit an entry form by 15 February 2011.
The entry form and all terms and conditions can be found on www.cyprusfilmdays.com and www.filmfestival.com.cy

For further information contact (+357) 25343902 or info@filmfestival.com.cy

GLOCAL IMAGES JURY OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION THE “CYPRUS FILM DAYS IFF” IS HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE THREE-MEMBER JURY FOR THE “GLOCAL IMAGES” INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SECTION:

Erez Tadmor, Israel
Writer and director of award winning films Strangers and A Matter of Size

Thanassis Karathanos, Germany
Film producer: his credits include the critically acclaimed Ajami by Yaron Shani and Scandar Copti (Oscar Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film).

Cheng Wen-Τang, Taiwan.
Director, writer, producer and actor with film credits including the award-winning Somewhere Over the Dreamland, Blue Cha-Cha and Tears.

Subtitles:

All films will be screened in their original language with Greek and English subtitles.

Entrance:

Entrance will be free in all afternoon and after hours screenings.
€6 day pass
€25 general pass (for all Festival screenings)

2010

https://youtu.be/h8wXG55tQ4c

 

Cyprus Film Days is the most celebrated annual international Film Festival that takes place in Cyprus. It is organized by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the RIALTO theatre. The 8th edition of the festival will take place from the 10th until the 18th of April in Limassol at the RIALTO Theatre and in Nicosia at the Pantheon Art Cinema. Continuing the tradition of previous years, the festival will host some of the best and most important films of the year that have been critically acclaimed internationally.

For the second consecutive year the artistic Committee consisted of Adonis Florides (Director/Writer), Konstantinos Sarkas (Journalist) and Dr Costas Constandinides (academic) is responsible for the selection of the films and the programme.

The main objective of the festival is the screening and promotion of independent cinema that deals with contemporary social and political issues across the globe. At the same time, “Cyprus Film Days” seeks to bring together filmmakers from Cyprus and abroad in order to exchange ideas and discuss recent developments and trends in world cinema. This year’s program is a selective combination of films that have been distinguished and received awards at international festivals, groundbreaking films as well as low budget productions which are cinematic discoveries in terms of their artistic and narrative approach. All 23 films that have been chosen this year for Cyprus Film Days undoubtedly stand out as authentic samples of a kind of cinema that is characterized and guided by the qualities and point of view of their creator.

The Programme

The main programme of this year’s festival comprises a total of 14 films, among them the critically acclaimed Greek film Dogtooth by Giorgos Lanthimos. The film has won many international awards during the past year, including the Prix UN Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009. The film Ajami (Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film) in which Palestinian director Yaron Shani and Israeli director Scandar Copti tell a variety of stories based on true events, which took place in the district of Ajami in Tel Aviv. The Romanian film Medal of Honor directed by Calin Peter Netzer (FIPRESCI award Thessaloniki Film Festival 2009), is a story narrated with originality, warmth and humor. The film London River (England, France), by Rachid Bouchareb is a deeply humanistic tragedy with exceptional performances. La Pivellina by Tizza Covi, Rainer Frimmel (Austria, Italy), (Label Europa Cinemas prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009), approaches with great tenderness the stories of marginalized people living in Italy, while the outstanding film Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold, is a brilliant sample of contemporary British cinema. The programme also includes a series of films which did not have the exposure of the above titles, yet they were well received by film reviewers and audiences alike in international festivals; these low-budget films stand out for their sincere and bold approach and one of the aims of the festival has always been to introduce to the public of Cyprus the work of newcomers and of film directors that are not widely known. This series of films includes La Tigra by Federico Godfrid και Juan Sasiain and Plan B by Marco Berger from Argentina; About Elly by Asghar Farhadi, and Tehroun by Nader T. Homayoun both from Iran; the Bulgarian film Eastern Plays by Kamen Kalev and from Croatia, Metastaze by Branko Schmidt.

With the above selection of films the event aspires to highlight the cinema of social intervention; to present films that apart from quality entertainment offer the audience a chance to experience a kind of cinema that invites us to interact with the narrative and the screen on a mental level. As in previous years, this year, the public can actively participate in the festival by voting for the best film and there will also be opportunities to meet, and discuss with, the filmmakers who will attend the festival.

Limassol
RIALTO THEATRE
    Main Programme
 
    Scary Sunday
 
    Tribute
SAT 10.4
  20:00 Ajami 120′
 
  22:00 Opening Party @ Studio 55  
SUN 11.4
  18:00 Thirst 113′ More
 
  20:00 La Pivellina 100′
 
  22:00 Eastern Plays 89′ More
MON 12.4
  20:00 Dogtooth 96′ More
 
  22:00 London River 90′
TUE 13.4
  20:00 Hadewijch 105′ More
 
  22:00 Metastazes 85′ More
WED 14.4
  18:00 Life on Earth 67′ More
 
  20:00 Plan B 103′
 
  22:00 About Elly 119′ More
THU 15.4
  20:00 Lebanon 92′
 
  22:00 Medal of Honor 105′ More
FRI 16.4
  18:00 Bamako 115′ More
 
  20:00 La Tigra 75′ More
 
  22:00 Tehroun 95′ More
SAT 17.4
  18:00 Waiting for Happiness 96′ More
 
  20:00 Fish Tank 124′ More
 
  22:00 Audience Award & Closing Party @ Studio 55  
SUN 18.4
  16:00 Suspiria 98′ More
 
  18:00 Fear at 400 Degrees 40′  
 
  20:00 REC1 78′ More
 
  22:00 REC 2 85′ More
 

 

Nicosia
PANTHEON ART CINEMA
    Main Programme
 
    Scary Sunday
 
    Tribute
SAT 10.4
  20:00 Fish Tank 124′
 
  22:00 Opening Party @ Tritos, Pantheon
 
SUN 11.4
  16:00 REC1 78′ More
 
  18:00 REC 2 85′ More
 
  20:00 Medal of Honor 105′
 
  22:00 Plan B 103′
MON 12.4
  20:00 La Pivellina 100′
 
  22:00 Eastern Plays 89′
TUE 13.4
  20:00 Dogtooth 96′
 
  22:00 London River 90′
WED 14.4
  18:00 Waiting for Happiness 96′
 
  20:00 Hadewijch 105′
 
  22:00 Metastazes 85′
THU 15.4
  20:00 La Tigra 75′
 
  22:00 Tehroun 95′
FRI 16.4
  18:00 Life on Earth 67′
 
  20:00 Lebanon 92′
 
  22:00 About Elly 119′
SAT 17.4
  18:00 Bamako 115′
 
  20:00 Ajami 120′
 
  22:00 Closing Party @ Tritos, Pantheon
 
SUN 18.4
  18:00 Thirst 113′
 
  20:00 Suspiria 98′ More
 
  22:00 Fear at 400 Degrees 40′
AS A PART OF THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, THE 'SCARY SUNDAY' SECTION WILL FOCUS ON HORROR FILMS

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According to Dr Costas Constandinides “from cinema’s first vampire in the beginning of the twentieth century to the mythology of Saw, from the mysterious expressionistic shadows to the creation of lurid spectacles which were promoted by the exploitation films of the 1970s, horror films still shock spectators while expressing the darkest desires of human psychology. ‘Scary Sunday’ seeks to highlight the artistic aspects but also the graphic details of contemporary horror films that break away from the codes of Hollywood and commercial cinema in general.” This year’s tribute to horror films welcomes the zombies from the cult Spanish films REC1 and REC2, by Jaume Balaguero and Paço Plaza as well as the unconventional cinematic eye of South-Korean director Park Chan (Oldboy) with his new film Thirst, which seeks to move away from the conventions of the myth of the vampire. ‘Scary Sunday’ will also play host to the most prominent representative of Italian horror films (widely known as Gialli) Dario Argento with his horror masterpiece Suspiria, and producer, director of the cult film archive of Brunel University Xavier Medik with his own documentary on the making and cult following of Suspiria.

Apart from the film screenings of ‘Scary Sunday’, the festival invites both filmmakers and horror film fans to attend a Master Class on the creation of special effects, prosthetics and make-up for horror films. The Master Class will be presented by brothers Giorgos and Roulis Alahouzou. On Friday 16.4 (Lemesos) and Saturday 17.4 (Nicosia) the Alahouzou brothers will explain and give examples of the creative and technical processes which they follow for the creation of special effects in horror films. The public will also have the opportunity to see the award-winning work of the Alahouzou brothers in the film Dark Moon Rising (Dana Mennie), a cinematic version of the Werewolf myth which also functions as a ‘reunion’ of cult horror icons such as Sid Haig (known for his participation in the films of Quentin Tarantino and Rob Zombie).

Lemesos
art studio 55
Fri 16/4 16:00 – 18:00

Nicosia
ARTos foundation
Sat 17/4 10:00 – 12:00

Entrance:

Entrance is free for all afternoon screenings and for the “Scary Sunday” section of the festival.

€5 day pass
€20 general pass

Subtitles:

All films will be screened in their original language with greek and english subtitles.

One of the basic aims of the festival is to build an intercultural bridge of communication between the local cinema of neighbouring countries and continents. In this context, this year the festival will present three films by a contemporary African director, Abderrahmane Sissako. Sissako was born in 1961 in the city of Kiffa in Mauritania, but was raised in Mali, his father’s birthplace. He studied cinema in the well- known school VGIK in Moscow from 1983 to 1989, and later moved to Paris from where his career as a director began to acquire international appeal. Through his multi-dimensional philosophical perspective which combines autobiographical elements, allegory and drama, he always focuses his attention on identity, expatriation issues and the cultural and economic impact that colonialism has had in the modern history of Africa. The festival will screen three of his most important films:

Life on earth (1998)
Waiting for happiness (2002)
Bamako Convention (2006)

Organizers
Ministry of Education and Culture
Elena Christodoulidou
Senior Cultural Officer

Rialto Theatre
Georgia Doetzer
Artistic Director

Film Selection Committee
Adonis Florides
Constantinos Sarkas
Dr. Costas Constandinides

General Coordinator
Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Public Relations, Guest Office
Stephanie Lambrou

Movie Traffic
Andreas Triantafillou

Audience Award Design
Yiorgos Pitsilides

Translation, Adaptation, Editing of Subtitles
Giota Ganeli, Stephanos Kostopoulos, Danae Ferri, Ioannis Soulos

 Subtitles Projections
Ioannis Soulos, Giota Ganeli, Doros Athinodorou

TV Spot
Square Egg Studios

Catalogue Coordination

Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Supervision of Catalogue
Costas Papathanasiou

Translations of Text
Costas Papathanasiou, Yiola Kleitou, Ioannis Soulos

Design and Art Direction of Poster and Print Material
Square Egg Studios

Festival Logo
Yiorgos Tsaggaris

Design, Art Direction & Updating of Website
Zenios Tselepis (Euphoria New Media)

Printing of Catalogue
Lithofit Press

We warmly thank

Andreas Makariou (Art Studio 55)
all the volunteers
to everyone who helped organize the festival

2009

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The 7th edition of the international film festival ‘Cyprus Film Days’, organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre, will place between the 14th and 21st of March 2009 in Limassol (Rialto Theatre) and Nicosia (Pantheon Art Cinema). The festival’s program is featuring a selection of award winning films from all over the world.

‘Cyprus Film Days’ goal is to promote independent, innovative and high-quality films that deal with social, cultural, political and other issues that appeal to audiences worldwide, films that are entertaining as well as thought provoking. Furthermore, the festival serves as an annual gathering for film-industry professionals from Cyprus and abroad to discuss and exchange their views on filmmaking.

The ‘Cyprus Film Days’ Festival is organized within the framework of Cinema Education development in Cyprus sustained over the last six years by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre.

The 7th edition of the ‘Cyprus Film Days’ festival differs from previous years in various ways. An Artistic Committee has been formed, replacing the ‘Artistic Director format’ of previous years, which is responsible for the film selection of the festival’s programming. The members of the committee, each relating to cinema from a different perspective, are:

•  Adonis Florides: Director
•  Constantinos Sarkas: Journalist
•  Dr. Costas Constantinides: Academic

Festival Highlights

A new integral feature of this year’s festival is “Cinema and the City”, an Educational Program of themed screenings, aimed mainly at University and College students. The program is organized in an effort to encourage the participation of the educational community in general to the festival.

As Dr. Constantinides commented, these screenings will focus on “the concept of setting and more specifically on the representation of the city and its role in a film as a character and carrier of ideological and mental connections resulting from the differences in infrastructure and architecture that a director chooses to highlight”. Prior to the screenings there will be short lectures of educational nature appealing both to students and the general public, with a focus on the different traditions represented by the following films:

Τhe Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949)
Alice in the Cities (Wim Wenders, 1974)
Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
Night on Earth (Jim Jarmush, 1991)

Furthermore, there will be a set of screenings dedicated to a rising film director who will be invited to attend the festival and talk about his or her work.

Cinema professionals will also have the chance to participate in specialised workshop that will organized during the festival.

Main Screenings Program

This year’s festival hosts a total of 14 films from Europe, Asia and Africa, including the Cyprus Premier of the new film by Cypriot director Christos Georgiou, entitled Small Crime. Other films on the program are Waltz with Bashir Cherry Blossoms, Lemon Tree , Lorna’s Silence, Salt of This Sea, The Band’s Visit, Four Nights with Anna etc.

In keeping with the festival’s tradition, film enthusiasts will once again have the opportunity to vote for the best film as well as to talk with filmmakers and actors about their film.

The new edition of the international film festival ‘Cyprus Film Days’, organized by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Rialto Theatre, in collaboration this year with the Cyprus University of Technology and Media Desk – Cyprus, will take place between the 14th and 21st of March 2009 in Limassol (Rialto Theatre) and Nicosia (Pantheon Art Cinema). The festival’s programme features a selection of award winning films from all over the world. The festival is organized in cooperation with TEPAK and Media Desk Cyprus.

 

Main Screenings Programme

The main screenings program consists of 14 films, including the Cyprus Premier of two new films by Cypriot directors, Small Crime by Christos Georgiou and Hello Am Erika by Yiannis Ioannou. Other films on the program are the award winning Waltz with Bashir (Winner Best Foreign Language Film, Golden Globe Awards, 2009, Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film – Oscars, 2009), Lorna’s Silence, the new film by the Dardenne brothers, Four Nights with Anna by Jerzy Skolimowski, Correction by Thanos Anastopoulos and an excellent film by the rising and very promising American director Kelly Reichardt, entitled Wendy and Lucy. Also, there will be a series of films from the Middle East that were successfully screened in international film festivals over the previous year, including Captain Abu Raed (Audience Award, Sundance Film Festival, 2007), Lemon Tree (Audience Award, Berlin IFF, 2008), Salt of This Sea (Palestine’s official Oscar entry for Best Foreign-Language Film, 2008) and The Band’s Visit (Award of the Youth, FIPRESCI Prize, Cannes IFF, 2007). Also, there will be a special screening of the latest film by Corinna Avraamidou The Last Homecoming which received very positive reviews after screening at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

In keeping with the festival’s tradition, film enthusiasts will once again have the opportunity to vote for the best film as well as to talk with filmmakers and actors about their art.

Parallel Screenings

A new integral feature of this year’s festival is ‘Cinema and the City’, an Educational Program of themed screenings, aimed mainly at University and College students. The program is organized in an effort to encourage the participation of the educational community in general to the festival.

As Dr. Constantinides commented, these screenings will focus on ‘the concept of setting and more specifically on the representation of the city and its role in a film as a character and carrier of ideological and mental connections resulting from the differences in infrastructure and architecture that a director chooses to highlight’. Prior to the screenings there will be short lectures of educational nature appealing both to students and the general public, with a focus on the different traditions represented by the following films:

Τhe Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949)
Alice in the Cities (Wim Wenders, 1974)
Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
Night on Earth (Jim Jarmush, 1991)

Furthermore, there will be a set of screenings dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japan’s greatest animation directors. The following films by Miyazaki will be screened:

Spirited Away
Howl’s Moving Castle
Kiki’s Delivery Service

Entrance

Entrance is free for all afternoon screenings
Day Pass: € 5.00
Pass for all screenings: € 20.00

All films will be screened in their original language and there will be Greek and English Subtitles.

The screenings at TEPAK will be taking place in the Paukios Georgiades Auditorium. The films there will be screened from DVD.

1. Correction
Thanos Anastopoulos
83’ / 2007
Greece

2. Wendy & Lucy
Kelly Reichardt
80’ / 2008
USA

3. Cherry Blossoms – Hanami
Doris Dörrie
127’ / 2008
Germany

4. Hi! Am Erika!
Yiannis Ioannou
86’ / 2008
Cyprus

5. Salt of this Sea
Annemarie Jacir
109’ / 2008
Palestine, France, Switzerland, Belgium, USA, UK, Holland, Spain

6. Four Nights with Anna
Jerzy Skolimowski
87’ / 2008
Poland

7. Jerusalema
Ralph Ziman
120’ / 2008
South Africa

8. Lemon Tree
Eran Riklis
106’ / 2008
Israel, Germany, France

9. Tulpan
Sergey Dvortsevoy
100’ / 2008
Germany, Switzerland. Kazahhstan, Russia, Poland

10. Waltz with Bashir
Ari Folman
87’ / 2008
Israel, France, Germany

11. Lorna’s Silence
Jac-Pierre & Luc Dardenne
105’ / 2008
Belgium, France, Italy

12. Small Crime
Christos Georgiou
85’ / 2008
Greece

13. Captain Abu Raed
Amin Matalqa
110’ / 2007
Jordan

14. The Band’s Visit
Eran Kolirin
90’ / 2007
Israel, France, USA

15. The Last Homecoming
Corinna Avraamidou
85’ / 2008
Cyprus

16. Kiki’s Delivery Service
Hayao Miyazaki
103’ / 1989
Japan

17. Spirited Away
Hayao Miyazaki
120’ / 2001
Japan

18. Howl’s Moving Castle
Hayao Miyazaki
114’ / 2004
Japan

19. The Third Man
Carol Reed
104’ / 1949
United Kingdom

20. Night on Earth
Jim Jarmusch
120’ / 1991
France, UK, Germany, USA, Japan

21. Alice in the Cities
Wim Wenders
110’ / 1974
Germany

22. Blade Runner
Ridley Scott
117’ / 1982
USA

14.03.2009 Opening Ceremony / Cyprus Big Band

The Cyprus Big Band will present the program ‘Sounds of Cinema’ for the opening of the ‘Cyprus Film Days’ 2009 Festival.

Musicians:

Charis Ioannou – Alto Sax (Artistic leader)
George Krasides – Tenor Sax
Yannis Miralis – Baritone Sax
Mike Michael – 1st trumpet
Christos Loizides – 2nd trumpet
Constantinos Constantinou – Trombone
Christos Yerolachitis – Piano
Gabriel Karapatakis – Bass
Rodos Panagiotou – Drums

Vocal soloist: Ioanna Troullidou

Background

Cyprus Big Band is the first jazz orchestra in Cyprus, founded by the association Jeunesses Musicales Cyprus and supported by the European University of Cyprus. Its mission is to promote, preserve and perform jazz and latin music in Cyprus, to contribute to the musical infrastructure of local cultural life and present it overseas. The orchestra members are distinguished performers, graduates of famous American and European music schools. The orchestra is a typical Little Big Band and consists of Alto, Tenor and Baritone Saxophones, two Trumpets, a Trombone, a Piano, a Bass and Drums. Its repertoire is based on the historical development of American and European jazz and latin music and covers all its stages and styles from the beginning of the 20th century until today. It aspires to become the National Jazz Orchestra of Cyprus.


20 & 21.03.2009 Presentation: Making of: Waltz with Bashir

In the context of Cyprus Film Days Festival’s parallel activities, a very important presentation will be organized in which Tal Gadon, the leading animator of the award winning film Waltz with Bashir, will present the creative process and the animation techniques that were used in the making of the film. This presentation is organized with the cooperation of Media Desk Cyprus.

The two presentations are open for the public and the entrance is free.

The program of the presentations is as follows:

Lemesos
ΤΕPΑΚ – Peukios Georgiades Amphitheatre
Friday 20.3.2009 / 14:00 – 16:00

Nicosia
ARTOS Cultural Foundation
Saturday 21.3.2009 / 10:00 – 12:00


21.03.2009 Marios Takoushis presents: QuadroFunk at TRITOS, Pantheon


21.03.2009 TAT-TNABAR Live at RIALTO
TAT-TNABAR is a powerfull group of percussionists, made of 15 talented professionals in the field of percussion and music. This group was established in Cyprus by Lefteris Moschovias during the summer of 2000, and it’s goal is to explore music expression away from the usual musical paths and by utilizing unusual instruments.

TAT-TNABAR is the only percussion group in Cyprus which participates in various festivals abroad, accompanying well-known DJs like Tiesto, Sasha, Robbie Rivera, David Sieman, Nick Warren, Said Mourat and others.

They do performances and seminars regarding evolution of rhythm and sound from Paleolithic era up to this day, the era of electronic music.

TAT-TNABAR is famous in Cyprus and abroad as freestyle percussionists.

Organization
Ministry of Education and Culture
Rialto Theatre

Film Selection Committee

Adonis Florides
Constantinos Sarkas
Dr. Costas Constantinides

Production Manager
Yiangos Hadjiyiannis

Public Relations & Guest Office
Antonia Mouzourou

Movie Traffic
Andreas Triantafillou

Subtitling (Translations)

Yiannis Soulos

Subtitling (Projections)
Yiannis Soulos, Lukas Loukides

TV & Opening Spots
Square Egg Studios

Supervision of Catalogue

Yiangos Hadjiyiannis, Antonia Mouzourou

Design and Art Direction of Catalogue and Poster
Square Egg Studios / Dimitris Roussos

Design and Art Direction of Website
Zenios Tselepis / Euphoria New Media

Translations of texts
Yiannis Soulos, Antonia Mouzourou

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Contact

Rialto Theatre
Information / Tickets:
rialto.interticket.com
www.rialto.com.cy
Βοx Office: 77777745

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