Schools awarded for their documentaries at Synekpaidefsi 2023-2024

In the packed hall of Pantheon Cinema in Nicosia, awards were recently presented to the winners of the SynEducation 2023-2024 programme.

Concluding a marathon of screenings of documentaries created by students, which began on the morning of 15 June, the selected schools received their awards from the judging committees on the evening of 16 June.

The three awards from the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority were won by:

- 1st Prize – The documentary “Presidential Palace of Cyprus,” created by students of Archbishop Makarios III Lyceum, Dasoupolis, Nicosia.

- 2nd Prize – The documentary “Erin Misei,” by Agios Vasileios Gymnasium, Nicosia.

- 3rd Prize – The documentary “Lefkaritiko Embroidery… the survival…,” by Agios Nikolaos Lyceum, Limassol.

The awards were presented by the director of the Authority, Mr. Neofytos Epameinondas.

The Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO Award was given to the documentary “The Sweetest Wish,” created by students of the 1st Technical School of Nicosia.

The Cultural Foundation Georgios Tsavliris Award went to the documentary “Donax the Cypriot… The Art of Cane Working in Livadia,” created by the Regional Lyceum of Livadia, Larnaca.

The CYMEPA non-profit organisation Award was given to the documentary “Cypro…Mythia,” by Neapolis Gymnasium, Limassol.

The Frederick University awards, presented by its president, Mrs. Natasa Freiderikou, were won by:

- 1st Prize, Department of Arts and Communication – “The Sweetest Wish,” by the 1st Technical School of Nicosia.

- 2nd Prize, Department of Arts and Communication – The documentary “219” by Agia Fylaxis Lyceum, Limassol.

- 3rd Prize, Department of Arts and Communication – “Donax the Cypriot… The Art of Cane Working in Livadia,” by the Regional Lyceum of Livadia, Larnaca.

The coordinator of the Synekpaidefsi programme, Stavros Papageorgiou, emphasised in his speech that “the history, tradition, and archaeology of Cyprus are recorded through the eyes of dozens of students in the 24 documentaries they created through the Educational Department of the AEI Film Festival (International Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Historical Documentary Festival of Cyprus) Synekpaidefsi, this school year.

With the help of their teachers and training from professional directors of the non-profit cultural organisation AEI AUDIOVISUAL FORUM, the young filmmakers, screenwriters, editors, musicians, and reporters have been creating a rich archive for our country for seven years, enriching the documentation of its history and cultural heritage.

This year’s Synekpaidefsi included participants from the Latsia Gymnasium, Constantinoupoleos, Agios Ioannis Chrysostomos Gymnasium, Solea Gymnasium, Agios Vasileios Gymnasium, Neapolis Gymnasium Limassol, Pancyprian Gymnasium Nicosia with three productions from three different student groups, Dasoupolis Lyceum also with three productions, the 1st Technical Schools of Nicosia and Limassol, the Regional Gymnasiums of Trachoni and Livadia, the Lycea of Agios Nikolaos, Agia Fylaxis, Linopetra, Kykkou A’ Nicosia, Aradippou, and Agiou Neophytou Paphou, the Regional Gymnasium and Lyceum of Lefkara, and the Lyceum and Technical School Agiou Charalambous Embas.”

The Synekpaidefsi programme is implemented within the mission of the non-profit cultural organisation AEI AUDIOVISUAL FORUM for the development of young people's skills in matters concerning cultural heritage and audiovisual literacy, which simultaneously contribute to the development of critical thinking and empathy.

The Synekpaidefsi film workshops programme is carried out in collaboration with the UNESCO Associated Schools Network (ASPnet) in Cyprus and the Ministry of Education. The SYNeEDUCATION programme is sponsored by the Department of Contemporary and Modern Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus, which is the main sponsor, the Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO, and the Cyprus Radio-Television Authority.

All of this year's documentaries are posted on the website www.aei-filmfestival.org