Cyprus Film Days – Turning Cyprus into a meeting point for three continents

The 21st edition of Cyprus Film Days IFF will take place between 21-29 April 2023 in Nicosia and Limassol, presenting an eclectic programme of films – including an international competition section (Glocal Images), world-acclaimed film premieres (Viewfinder), Cypriot productions, tributes and screenings for children and youth, as well as multiple other events, dedicated to fiction feature films.

Organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre in Limassol, the purpose of Cyprus Film Days is to attract international film industry professionals and audiences, and turn Cyprus into a meeting hub for its three neighbouring continents.

A call was previously launched for the submission of feature films (2021 and 2022 productions) in the two Competition Sections: “Glocal Images” – International Competition Section and the Cypriot Films Competition Section

“Glocal Images” – International Competition Section accepts 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: Best Film Award with the amount of €6,000, paid in half (ex aequo) to the film’s producer and director; Special Jury Award with the sum of €3,000, again paid in half to the producer and director; and Best Director Award, accompanied by the amount of €1,000.

The Cypriot Films Competition Section accepts Cypriot films pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Festival. These films must meet specific criteria in order to be eligible for selection. The Jury will award the following prizes: Best Cypriot Film Award: accompanied by €4,000 (shared between the producer and director; Best Director Award, accompanied by services; Best Performance Award and the amount of €500, sponsored by Limassol Municipality.

The Jury may also give up to three Honorary Distinctions in both sections. The films competing in the two sections are selected by the Festival’s artistic directors, Argyro Nicolaou and Marios Lizides.

CFD for Children and Youth and Dot on the Map Industry Days

Cyprus Film Days will also include CFD for Children and Youth, curated by artistic director Stavros Pamballis, as well as the 4th Dot on the Map Industry Days, a co-production, education and networking platform organised in collaboration with AGORA Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece. Dot on the Map aims at encouraging film collaborations and synergies between producers, directors and screenwriters from Mediterranean countries. Head of Dot on the Map: Danae Stylianou.

2023 key visual - AI imaging software bridges Cyprus’ ancient history with cutting-edge technology

The design concept for the key visual of the 2023 edition of Cyprus Film Days was created by graphic designers Clio Hadjigeorgiou and Lisa Rebeca. The key visual was developed using AI imaging software, bridging the ancient history of Cyprus as represented by our festival’s logo–one of the earliest anthropomorphic figurines found on the island–with cutting-edge technology that is already influencing cinema and the audio-visual arts in general.

“The image for this year’s festival addresses the question we are posing to ourselves and our audience this year: what now? What now for cinema, for our societies, for our environment, and for the world? The playful image reminds us of the power of cinema to surprise us, to initiate us into different realities, and to bring us together as we imagine what the future can hold for humanity,” commented Argyro Nicolaou and Marios Lizides.

The image pays homage to various elements of cinema’s history, including the medium of film itself, with its characteristic grain, Eadweard Muybridge’s photographic studies of motion, and the upward movement of rolling credits. The colour palette alludes to green screen technology.