Greetings

“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 Inessa Kraft, the Festival team, who worked tirelessly over the past months to bring this twentieth edition to life. My thanks also go to the Municipality of Nicosia. A special thank you to the Ambassador of Serbia Susana Boskovic Prodanovic, the Serbian Consul in Cyprus Kypros Eliades, Mia Eliades, Photiades Group, and each of the wonderful filmmakers who submitted and those who came to Cyprus to meet us and  present their film. 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 21st Cyprus International Festival, stronger, healthier, and inspired, with more peace in our hearts and in our world.”

Welcome to a special edition of CINE@ART, celebrating the 19th Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) and the 4th Women in Film and Television – Cyprus (WIFT) Festival, two vibrant cultural institutions. This year, the festivals unite under the theme of promoting gender equality and spotlighting films that carry messages of social importance. With an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, we are excited to showcase a carefully curated selection of films that not only entertain but challenge us to reflect on the world we live in. 

At the heart of this year’s edition is the 1974 Tribute, a poignant reflection on the 50 years since the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Through the power of art, we aim to foster dialogue, healing, and reconciliation. We commemorate this significant historical event through a multidisciplinary celebration that includes photography, poetry, music, and cinema, all dedicated to the themes of peace and coexistence.

Alongside screenings of local and international films, the parallel events will create unique opportunities for cultural exchange and connection. Highlights featuring Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists include the photography exhibition Dead Zone: Past, Present, Future, poetry discussions on peace, and a concert by the Bi-communal choir for peace Lena Melanidou. The festival’s masterclasses and industry events, including pitching sessions and discussions on funding films and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping Cyprus’s audiovisual landscape, promise to inspire and inform both filmmakers and artists.

The Cyprus International Film Festival remains committed to giving a platform to emerging filmmakers and promoting gender balance in the industry. With more than one-third of the program featuring films by Greek-Cypriot creators and half of the program showcasing the work of women filmmakers, directors, and producers, the festival also honors exceptional women through the Women in Film and Television Cyprus Lifetime Awards. This year, two remarkable women will be recognized: one, a Cypriot role model as a mother, businesswoman, philanthropist, and now celebrated for her talent as a poet; the other, an acclaimed choreographer, dancer, and advocate for peace and unity. Both will be honored for their profound contributions to the arts, for fostering peace and harmony in society, and for inspiring all of us.

Thank you for joining us in celebrating the transformative power of cinema and the arts. Together, we can continue to promote peace, gender equality, and creative expression through these meaningful and timely events.

Warm regards,
Petra Terzi
Founder & President

Cyprus International Film Festival
Women in Film and Television – Cyprus

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends,

I am very pleased and honoured to welcome you to Strovolos Municipal Theatre for the 17^th Cyprus International Film Festival. The Municipal Council and I have a very strong interest in promoting and supporting the arts and art workers. This Festival plays a crucial role in promoting and showcasing the work of talented artists from Cyprus and around the world for 17 consecutive years! Your contribution to the arts, filmmaking and also social change is paramount. The films projected accompanied by discussion panels and presentations not only offer creators the opportunity to share their work with society and art lovers but also to shape our worldview.

I have always believed that the arts in general and films in particular are one of the most powerful tools to promote social change through evoking empathy and promoting understanding of the “Other”. Through films, we can enter into the lives of others, as if we were part of their everyday life, because of the visual intimacy of the medium of film. That is how we can tread the world momentarily in other people’s shoes and get a grip of their reality. Film has also another evocative characteristic: it has no restrictions and it can overcome any boundaries, linguistic, national, societal and others.

Consequently, we are thrilled to host the Golden Aphrodite awards ceremony. Congratulations to the awarded artists, and also all participants. Let me thank and congratulate the organizers for their hard work and dedication. Thank you all.

Mayor of Strovolos
Andreas Papacharalambous

Distinguished organizers, dear guests, dear friends of cinema,

It is with great joy and honor that I welcome you all to the 20th Cyprus International Film Festival “Golden Aphrodite” and the 5th Women in Film and Television – Cyprus Festival, taking place this year in the heart of Nicosia, at the Melina Mercouri Hall.

The “Golden Aphrodite” Festival has now become an established institution that promotes the art of cinema, creating bridges of communication and cooperation among artists, professionals of the field, and the public.

This year’s event, marking its 20th anniversary, offers us the opportunity to celebrate the creativity and talent of 60 directors from 52 countries, who will share with us unique stories and cultural experiences through their films.

The organization of these Festivals, with the support of the Municipality of Nicosia, is not only a celebration of cinema but also an opportunity for significant social contribution. I am particularly pleased with the inclusion of the Women in Film and Television – Cyprus Festival, as recognizing the role of women in the film and television industry remains fundamental to advancing equality and justice.

Furthermore, the initiative “Cyprus Women Environmental Peacemakers” (CWEP) and the support of women’s actions for peace and sustainability, with the kind cooperation of both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot organizations, send a powerful message about the importance of unity and collaboration in the challenging times we are experiencing.

The presentation of the Golden Aphrodite Awards and the WIFT CYPRUS Life Achievement Awards, with special honors to Cypriot women who have contributed to Culture, Art, and Peace, constitutes a recognition of the significant role of women in the artistic and social progress of our country.

I wish every success to all the events and screenings of the Festival, and I also wish the participants the best of luck in their creative endeavors. We are proud to host this unique event in Nicosia and look forward to enjoying the exceptional films and initiatives that will be presented.

I wish you all a wonderful continuation and much enjoyment!

Thank you.

We, the volunteer organizers and professionals in the art and film industry, despite the adversities and natural disasters that have hit our planet, in an effort to offer a little oasis of culture, establish a crossroad for artists to meet audiences and to bridge ideas in historic Cyprus. We are happy to be acknowledged by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the National Mechanism for Women Rights, OPAP Cyprus and the Italian Embassy. We warmly thank our VIP Jury, our communication sponsors, the Mayors of Strovolos and Nicosia, associates and volunteers who all actively support the Festival. We are proud that this year we are collaborating with WIFT-Women in Film and Television in Cyprus with a selection of 90 films and the opportunity of networking with WIFT International. We thank from our hearts all who have enabled us this year to make this Cinema celebration with inspiration and creativity.
Enjoy the screenings!

PETRA TERZI
Director, producer
Founder and CEO CYIFF

During the past decades, huge steps have been made towards the development and promotion of cinematography in Cyprus both in terms of the artists themselves but also in terms of events and festivals that are organised.
In effect, it is with great pleasure that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is one of the proud sponsors of the 17th Cyprus International Film Festival, an acclaimed European festival, which hosts young and promising artists from all over the world. It is no coincidence that the said event already holds the EFFE label, the European quality certificate awarded to artistic festivals that promote diversity, inclusiveness and internationalization of cultural dialogue.
For the Ministry of Tourism, the promotion of arts and culture is inextricably linked to the Tourism Strategy 2020 – 2030 in an attempts to preserve such an important cultural heritage as well as to offer the visitor a holistic, memorable experience. Diversity and inclusion of all social groups and high quality of services are among the strategic priorities of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, as dictated by the multicultural environment of Cyprus.
Within this context, we are confident that the Cyprus Film Festival will enrich the tourist experience and will gradually attract guests from abroad, acting as a stand-alone product.
It is our conviction that the community of artists from all over the world will constitute one of the best ambassadors for our destination. On the one hand, artists promote the destination through their lens of sensitivity and creativity, while on the other hand, they effectively work towards promoting Cyprus as a unique filming destination.

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism congratulates the organizers for yet another successful festival and we are certain that this year’s films will inspire the audience of Cyprus!

Savvas Perdios
Deputy Minister of Tourism