October 19, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
Cyprus International Film Festival – Golden Aphrodite CYIFF Returns for its 18th Edition in Nicosia, November 2023
NICOSIA, CYPRUS — The countdown has officially begun for the most anticipated cinematic event of the year as the Cyprus International Film Festival – Golden Aphrodite CYIFF returns for its 18th edition, taking place from November 1st to November 5th, 2023. The event will be held in the heart of Nicosia, promising to take us on a journey through the worlds of imagination and emotion.
What to Expect:
From November 1st to November 4th, audiences will have the opportunity to enjoy live screenings of short and feature films, animations, documentaries, and fiction movies. The directors themselves will be in attendance, offering a unique opportunity for interviews and discussions with the audience.
Event Details:
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Dates: November 1-4, 2023
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Location: Melina Merkouri Municipal Hall, Athinas Street, Nicosia 1016, Cyprus
And the highlight of it all, the Golden Aphrodite Awards ceremony will take place on November 5th, 2023, at the Pallas Theatre, to celebrate cinematic excellence and the best films from first shown filmmakers. The Cyprus Symphony Youth Orchestra‘s Woodwind Ensemble will perform. Presenters: Marios Sarpetsas and Marios Priamos Ioannides.
The Festival screenings will include a variety of international films, as well as talented artists who will be present at the event. The themes and relationships explored in these films are expected to touch the audience’s emotions and broaden their perspectives on the world, a world striving to live in peace.
There are moments of humanity and emotion in the films of first-time directors, such as “Goodbye Julia” from Sudan, which won the Freedom Award (Prix de la Liberté) at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Two films, Anna Rezan’s “My People “ about the holocaust in Greece, and Keren Nechmad’s “Kissufim”, about young volunteers in Kibbutzim today, bridge generations of trauma and loss, yet champion perseverance, friendship and, above all, love. The comedy “A Three Storey Comedy” by Serbian director Sandra Mitrovic invites us into the lives of people with different personalities living in a multi-story building who must solve a common problem. “Universe Zone” is a mystical post-apocalyptic drama produced in Lithuania and Georgia that explores the power of love and memory in a world torn apart by conflicts and wars.
Seven female artists find a safe digital space to explore the ‘female experience,’ feminism, and self-care. Their collective, F.R.I.E.S, redefines the role of artists as agents for a more just society in the documentary of Apostolos Karoulas and Ioulia Charalampous.
Turning to the Veterans Feature category, it goes without saying that the films will spark the imagination. The audience should be prepared to enter the world of fairytales too, as in Ivo Macharacek’s tale of two kingdoms “Secrets of An Old Gun 2”, starring the acclaimed actor and musician Václav Bárta who will attend the Festival.
The opening feature film “God’s Painting” by Yiannis Kanellopoulos, from the award-winning screenplay by Iakovos Mylonas, who also stars in the film and will attend the Festival, inspires and moves us with the strength of the souls of individuals with special abilities. This film aims to reintegrate people with disabilities into the social fabric with a new impetus and dynamism.
The parallel events during the Festival include:
a. The annual CYIFF Film Industry Meeting will feature pitching sessions for new projects and engaging panel discussions on the following topics:
“Breaking Boundaries: Challenging Stereotypes in the Arts” and
“Harmonizing the Silver Screen and the Stage: Exploring the Art of Music Composition for Films and Theatrical Plays, and the Key Differences” Notable speakers for the panel discussions will include Julie Joohee Jeon, a music composer, singer, and filmmaker known for her work in “Happen to Happen” from South Korea. Additionally, there will be a presentation on the “Creative Europe Programme – Media & Culture” by Nenad Bogdanovic.
b. Photography exhibition “20 plus ONE – Unchained silence” in collaboration with the Women in Film and Television in Cyprus. The lens of Stefanos Kouratzis reveals the silent strength of women who have endured violence in many forms as they visually progress toward reclaiming their freedom.
In honor of its inaugural Artistic Director, the Production Designer of John Cassavetes’ films, Phaedon Papamichael, and his son, Phaedon Papamichael Jr., a Director of Photography (Indiana Jones 2023), and a multiple-time Oscar nominee, the Festival has established the Technical Award “Phedon Papamichael Award” given for the Best Production and/or Best Cinematography in a film participating in the Festival. A distinguished international panel, including Greek director and actor Yiannis Aivazis, who will attend the Festival, Danish director Sofie Vibeke Muasya, actor and producer Valentin Nonyela (Casino Royale), American director and producer Victoria Greene, Indian producer Vivek Singhania, American producer George F. Roberson (Venice Festival Queer Lion for Jose), and journalist Bejay Browne, as well as others, will serve as judges for the “Golden Aphrodite Award”.
CYIFF is a charitable organization relying primarily on volunteers and consists of a team of Cypriot and Greek professionals in the fields of culture and art, as well as film producers and international cinema consultants. The Festival holds the European quality certification EFFE Label, “Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe”, and has operated annually with consistency and artistic responsibility since 2006.
The Cyprus International Film Festival – CYIFF is under the auspices of the Nicosia Municipality and the network of International Cultural Festivals and aims to be the best European Film Festival for young creators. The organizers of the Cyprus International Film Festival – CYIFF would like to thank the Municipality of Nicosia, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the National Mechanism for Women’s Rights, the Embassies of Greece and Australia in Cyprus, the Foundation for Women in Film and Television Cyprus-WIFTCY, OPAP Cyprus, the communication sponsors and all the volunteers for their continuous support in promoting the arts and human values in Cyprus. Audiences can look forward to an unforgettable cinematic journey, surrounded by the fresh look of the new directors, the beauty of Cyprus and the precise artistry of global cinema.
Stay tuned for more updates, trailers, and surprises as we eagerly anticipate the 18th Cyprus International Film Festival – Golden Aphrodite CYIFF!
For More Information:
Official Website: https://www.cyprusfilmfestival.org/
Contact: cyiff2023@gmail.com
Phone: +357-99798112
T: https://twitter.com/cyprusfilmfest
F: https://www.facebook.com/cyprusfilmfest
I: https://www.instagram.com/cineart_cy/
YouTube Page: https://youtu.be/gGykjf9MFeg
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