New Stelana Kliris production in the works – as Film Commission takes huge step in US

It has been a busy few months for the Cyprus Film Commission. The resounding success of Netflix hit – and Cyprus-produced – Find Me Falling has created a fresh buzz about the island’s potential as a filming destination, with Cyprus Film Commissioner Lefteris Eleftheriou confirming that beyond a spike in applications from production companies across the globe, the Commission has also entered an exciting new phase: “We’ve decided to actively promote Cyprus as a filming destination in the United States, the global hub of the film industry,” he explained. “Until now, our focus was primarily the UK and Europe, as our approach has been one step at a time. However, we now believe the time is right to engage with the US market.”

As Eleftheriou pointed out, the benefits from this will be wide-ranging. “We are optimistic that this will open new doors for Cyprus, and we expect to see a positive impact on our economy, which, ultimately, is the goal of the Film Scheme.”

In an interview with CBN, Eleftheriou also revealed some exciting new projects are underway, including a production by Stelana Kliris, the producer of the hugely successful Find Me Falling.

The Swedish version of Love Island is currently being filmed in Paphos, and: “We have a new film from Stelana Kliris, the talented director and producer of the Netflix hit Find Me Falling. Her latest project, Apart From Her, is a drama set in the 1970s, taking place in both Cyprus and South Africa. Filming is scheduled to start in November,” said Eleftheriou, adding: “Stay tuned for more details—we can't share much more at this moment.”

Entrance to the Swedish Love Island villa, currently being filmed in Cyprus

Overall, said Eleftheriou, “The Cyprus Film Commission has had a busy and exciting few months. We’ve received applications for four reality shows from well-known production companies across the globe". Additionally, he said, one of the UK’s most prominent public broadcasters has submitted an application for a new project, marking the third time in two years they’ve chosen Cyprus as a filming location. “This is a significant vote of confidence in our Film Scheme, as we know they conduct detailed due diligence and comparative research before selecting where to film,” Eleftheriou explained.

When choosing a location, production companies assess how straightforward and reliable a country’s Film Scheme is, how quickly they can recover their funds, the quality of communication with local authorities, and the level of discretion, as they prefer to keep projects confidential until they’re ready for public announcement, he added. “Cyprus consistently meets all these expectations. Our scheme is transparent, we issue permits promptly in close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and other authorities, and thanks to the efficiency of the Ministry of Finance, producers receive their rebates within the expected time frame. These factors make Cyprus an attractive filming destination—not to mention our beautiful locations across the island and our well-trained film professionals, who are always willing to work with foreign productions.”