19TH CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
4th Women in Film & TV-Cyprus
GOLDEN APHRODITE AWARDS CEREMONY 2024
The Cyprus International Film Festival is awarded with the EFFE Label which is Europe’s quality stamp for remarkable arts festivals showing their engagement in the field of the arts, community involvement and international openness.
The Golden Aphrodite Awards Ceremony of the 19th Cyprus International Film Festival and the WIFT-Cyprus Life Awards of the 4th Women in Film & TV- Cyprus were held at Melina Merkouri Hall on Saturday, November 2nd. This highlighted the sixth day Festivals in Nicosia.
Petra Terzi, the Festival’s Director, expressed her gratitude: “I would like to thank the Bi-Communal Choir For Peace LENA MELANIDOU, the two maestros Kürşat Tilki and Georgia Poliniki and the pianist Gökhan Süt, for the beautiful program they just performed, the amazing presenter Marios Sarpetsas, the Festival team, who worked tirelessly over the past months to bring this nineteenth edition to life. My thanks also go to our sponsors, the Municipality of Nicosia, Opap Cyprus, Vino Cultura Restaurant, and the generous Post Production Award, sponsored by Copper Island, valued at 3,000 euros. A special thank you to the Ambassador of Serbia Susana Boskovic Prodanovic, the Serbian Consul in Cyprus Kypros Eliades, Mia Eliades, Photiades Group, Manolis Karapatakis of K-Cineplex cinemas, and each of our dedicated volunteers. I’m also grateful to The Classic Hotel for their warm hospitality, which made us all feel at home, as well as to our esteemed jury members and all participants—whether filmmakers, scriptwriters, or simply visitors attending the Festival’s activities and screenings at Melina Mercouri Hall. I hope we can gather again at the 20th Cyprus International Festival, stronger, healthier, and inspired, with more peace in our hearts and in our world.”
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Bi-COMMUNCAL CHOIR FOR PEACE LENA MELANIDOU
WIFT CYPRUS LIFE AWARDS
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WIFT CYPRUS LIFE AWARD: Ivi Vassilopoulou – poet
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WIFT CYPRUS LIFE AWARD: Arianna Economou – choreographer
A’ PART – AWARDS IN VARIOUS CATEGORIES
We start with the awards for short films, documentaries, and various categories.
The jurors in several categories are:
Alexis Chaviaras (Greece), Charli Brown (USA), Bejay Browne (Cyprus), Dimitris Kannavos (Greece)
HONORARY MENTION
The challenging subject of inclusion and diversity is skillfully handled by both the director and the cast.
MEOW – Andreas Pavlou, Cyprus, 2023, 20’
HONORARY MENTION
For the Outstanding Cinematography
20 Euros – Stephan Metzner, Cyprus, 2024, 14’5”
♦ POST PRODUCTION AWARD
Value of 3000 euros sponsored by COPPER ISLAND
To Savvas Stavrou
for Buffer Zone
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST MOBILE FILM
Kyrenia – Maria Yiannouka, Cyprus, 2023, 2’8”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST DANCE AWARD IN A SHORT FILM
IN – Michal Bratt, Amnon Houri, Israel, 2024, 7’49”
♦ CYIFF 2024 ANIMATION AWARD
Medusas – Ola Szmida, Poland, 2023, 8’4”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VR INTERACTIVE FILM
Surrounded Serenity – Malak Quota, Saudi Arabia, 2024, 4’11”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST PROOF OF CONCEPT
The Execution – Luke Bouchier, Australia, 2023, 17”
♦ CYIFF 2024 APHRODITE CINEMATIC AWARD (the award is given to a female director with a promising filmmaking career)
Triangle – Zhino Hadi Hasan, Iraq, 2023, 14’25”
♦ CYIFF 2024 50/50 (This category involves directors who do exceptional film productions with an equal number of male and female associates in the credits, crew, and actors)
BUBBLES – Meri Dishnica, Italy, 2023, 15’
♦ CYIFF 2024 GOT TALENT (This category involves filmmakers with their first short film)
The award is shared :
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TAXI – Constantinos Nikiforou, Cyprus, 2024, 15’
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Jasteece – Christina Charcharidi, Greece, 2024, 13’24”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VETERAN’s SHORT FILM (these awards are given to filmmakers with more
Memory Lane – Frederic Mosbeux, Belgium, 2023, 19’41”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST GREEK SHORT
Until You See Me – Eleanna Santorinaiou, Greece, 2023, 15’
♦ CYIFF 2024 FILM WITH A POWERFUL MESSAGE FOR PEACE
The Divided Island – Cey Sesiguzel, UK, 2024, 96’
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST TALENT SHORT DOCUMENTARY
Carpenter – Xelîl Sehragerd, Iran, 2023, 13’
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A TALENT FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Divided Island – Eduardo Camara, Glen Mountford, Fatosh Olgacher, UK, 2024, 96’
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST TALENT FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Atlas – Ioannis Katseris, Greece, 2023, 70’50”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A VETERAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Homelandsickness – Dominic Thiel, Germany, 2023, 84’29”
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST DIRECTION IN A VETERAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
The Path Full Of Stars – Ahmad Seyedkeshmiri, Iran, 2024, 60’
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VETERAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
Shattered – Orhan Tekeoğlu, Nurdan Tekeoğlu, Greece, 2023, 60’
♦ CYIFF 2024 NOSTIMON IMAR
A Spartan Dream – M. Achilles, USA, 2024, 93’
♦ CYIFF 2024 PHEDON PAPAMICHAEL TECHNICAL AWARD
ENESCU, skinned alive
Cinematography: Roberto Stan
Production Design: Catalin Bocirnea
B’ PART – VETERANS FEATURE FILMS
5 FEATURE FILMS COMPETE IN THE VETERANS FEATURE FILMS CATEGORY:
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A Spartan Dream – M. Achilles, USA, 2024, 93’
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ENESCU, skinned alive – Toma Enache, Romania, 2024, 120’
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Giddiness – Nikos Kourou, Greece, 2024, 81’
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Paper Dream – Ali Atshani, USA, 2022, 85’
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Wedlock – Magdalena Ralcheva
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VETERAN’s CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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A Spartan Dream – Giannis Fotou
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Paper Dream – Mahmoud Atshani
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Wedlock – Emil Christov
Winner: Wedlock – Emil Christov
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VETERAN’s DIRECTION IN A FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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ENESCU, skinned alive – Toma Enache
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Paper Dream – Ali Atshani
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Wedlock – Magdalena Ralcheva
Winner: Wedlock – Magdalena Ralcheva
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST VETERAN’s FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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ENESCU, skinned alive – Toma Enache, Romania, 2024, 120’
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Paper Dream – Ali Atshani, USA, 2022, 85’
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Wedlock – Magdalena Ralcheva, Bulgaria, 2024, 120’
Winner: Paper Dream – Ali Atshani, USA, 2022, 85’
C’ PART – GOLDEN APHRODITE
The Jury members of the GOLDEN APHRODITE category, which includes directors’ first feature films, are:
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Lilian Baksalevowz (film distributor, France)
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Gabor Kutyik (director, animator, Hungary)
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Marina Bland (entertainment industry advisor, activist, USA)
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Karolina Rum (film distributor, producer, Poland)
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Vivek Singhania (producer, India)
THIRTEEN FEATURE FILMS COMPETE IN THE “GOLDEN APHRODITE” CATEGORY:
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Blue Sunshine – Samyuktha Vijayan, India, 2023, 98’
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Brando with a Glass Eye – Antonis Tsonis, Greece, 2024, 120’
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Different Paths to Holiness – Aniela Astrid Gabryel, Poland, 2023, 75’
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Emily Cat-alonian – Alberto Zúñiga, Mexico, 2023, 69’
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Just like me – Andreas Thelander, Sweden, 2023, 73’34”
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Lazarus Path – Ivan Jovic, Serbia, 2024, 90’
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Nearest Distance – Tong Nian, China, 2024, 93’
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Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman – Kerry Ann Enright, USA, 2024, 92’
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Sara, La Fuerza Del Mar – Martín Agudelo Ramírez, Andrés Ricaurte, Colombia, 2023, 108’
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Tommy King, Canada, 2023, 90’
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The Asylum Seekers – Michael Hapeshis, Cyprus, 2024, 93’45”
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Unfounded – Hiroaki Yanagi, Japan, 2023, 99’9”
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Yakamoz – Ali Kerem Gulermen, Turkey, 2024, 97’29”
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♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Different Paths to Holiness – Barbara Szymczak
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Jesse Peterson
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Yakamoz – Selin Girgin
Winner: Different Paths to Holiness – Barbara Szymczak
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST SETS / COSTUMES IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Blue Sunshine – Sets: Steev Benjamin, KS Meettu
Costumes: Samyuktha Vijayan
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Tess Gebel
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Yakamoz – Taleh Aliyev
Winner: Yakamoz – Taleh Aliyev
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST MUSIC SCORE IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Lazarus Path – Vasilis Tsabropoulos
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Nearest Distance – Xiaofeng Wang
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Manos Antoniadis
Winner: Nearest Distance – Xiaofeng Wang
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST EDITING IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
1.Lazarus Path – Aleksandar Jacic
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – John Gurdebeke & Lambis Haralambidis
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Unfounded – Japan
Winner: Lazarus Path – Aleksandar Jacic
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Brando with a Glass Eye – Alex Chrysanthopoulos
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Sara, La Fuerza Del Mar – Felipe Giraldo
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Unfounded – Takehiro Murata, Japan
Winner: Brando with a Glass Eye – Alex Chrysanthopoulos
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Blue Sunshine – Samyuktha Vijayan
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Brando with a Glass Eye – Yiannis Niarros
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Jamie Mayers
Winner: Blue Sunshine – Samyuktha Vijayan
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Blue Sunshine – Geetha Kailasam
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Different Paths to Holiness – Julia Szczepanska
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Niki Skiadaresi
Winner: Sgt. Fruit Fly – Niki Skiadaresi
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Just like me – Cecilia Falkebring
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Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman – Tina Benko
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Sara, La Fuerza Del Mar – Gisselle Villada
Winner: Nobody Wants to Shoot a Woman – Tina Benko
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST SCRIPT IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Sara, La Fuerza Del Mar – Martín Agudelo Ramírez
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Tommy King, Canada
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Unfounded – Ryuichi Matsushita, Japan
Winner: Sara, La Fuerza Del Mar – Martín Agudelo Ramírez
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Blue Sunshine – Steev Benjamin
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Nearest Distance – Tong Nian
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Stephen Chandler Whitehead
Winner: Nearest Distance – Tong Nian, China
♦ CYIFF 2024 BEST DIRECTOR IN A FIRST FEATURE FILM
Nominations:
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Blue Sunshine – Samyuktha Vijayan
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Lazarus Path – Ivan Jovic, Serbia
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Sgt. Fruit Fly – Tommy King, Canada