Multiplex goes arthouse (well kind of)
Cyprus’ second film festival brings films that have donw well at festivals but might otherwise not be shown here to the big screen
It may not be the Golden Globes, but it’s all about Golden Aphrodite as the red carpet is about to be laid down in Nicosia. All right, it’s not at any glam venue either, just the K-Cineplex. And it goes without saying, not to expect to see Nicole Kidman or Cate Blanchett strutting their stuff. No, there won’t be any top-notch movie stars, e-entertainment won’t be there to film all the action, and there won’t be any gorgeous ladies and gents pouring out of limousines parading in the latest Versace creation.
Last year, organisers said that the Cyprus International Film Festival (CIFF) aimed to “combine all the glamour of the Cannes Film Festival with the innovative, young, raw, talent of the Sundance Festival.” Raw talent there was, but the glamour of Cannes is seriously up for debate. There was also a lot of talk of international figures in the word of film production showing up, with little of it materialising. Here’s a suggestion – forget about the idea of a swish, black tie event and gear yourself up for a festival that will bring some good movies to your doorstep (well, practically). And if we’re talking about the ‘who’s who’ of the film industry, Spielberg or Scorsese may not be attending, but you will be honoured with the presence of Phaedon Papamichael, acclaimed director of photography and production designer in John Cassavetes’ films.
Organised for the second consecutive year, the festival will be taking place between April 12 and 19, with 140 films screening at K-Cineplex cinema venues in Nicosia, with a special selection of screenings in Larnaca and Limassol. It is the organisers priority to bring new, rising and independent filmmakers – the point is to give up-and-coming film directors from across the world the opportunity to receive recognition. At the same time, they see the festival as a focal point of interaction between local filmmakers and industry executives, using it as an opportunity for networking and exchanging ideas.
So what can you enjoy on the big screen? There’s one issue that should be made clear; many of the films that will be showing have already been released commercially and can be found at your local DVD shop. A little disappointing after all the emphasis on ‘new’ and ‘independent’ films. Why the attention on more commercial hits then?
“Because last year the focus was on new and more unheard of productions, and the attendance was poor. We thought we’d give the public a little more of what they want this year,” says event organiser, Petra Terzi.
In all fairness, even serious films buffs last year complained the movies were too ‘obscure’. So the good news this year is that there are lots of films that have made a great impression at international festivals, that wouldn’t otherwise be shown the local cinema. Big film productions from acclaimed directors include Robert De Niro’s The Good Shepherd, an example of new American cinema, Lars Von Trier’s latest film, The Boss of It All, Sunshine by the director of Trainspotting Danny Boyle, 10 Items or Less staring Morgan Freeman, the Sundance awarded film, A Guide to Recognising Your Saints by Dito Montiel, and the Oscar winning Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro.
There’s also animation, children’s film, video art, music videos. Sports fans will be happy with the documentary on the life and legend of Diego Maradona with Javier Martin Vazquez’s, Loving Maradona, as well as the charming film-portrait of Zinedine Zidane by Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno. You’ll also get to watch the Iraqi film, Offside, awarded with the Silver Bear in last year’s Venice Film Festival. As for local filmmakers, Aliki Danezi-Knutsen, whose background includes New York theatre and filmmaking in Africa and Uruguay, is attributed a special section in CIFF, with the screening of Bar, O Dromos Kai ta Portokalia and the music documentary Karavan Sarai.
It’s the new and independent films that will be competing for the Golden Aphrodite Award, with 14 films from across the world taking part in the competition. “The whole event is an important projection of Cypriot cinema,” says Terzi. “Some of the best local films will be chosen to show at the Los Angeles film festival in June.” But it’s more than just film screenings, as two of the most distinguished animators of DreamWorks Animation will present a series of seminars for all those interested in animation art. There will also be a seminar on the adaptation of film works for the theatre and vice versa. Seminars, workshops, concerts and lots of parties will keep festival guests busy in the time outside projection rooms.
We may not be quite ready to say ‘Oscar meet Aphrodite’, but at least an effort is being made to project new independent films, while also enticing the general public with those bigger productions that have made an impression at major worldwide festivals.
Cyprus International Film Festival
With local and foreign film screenings. April 12-19. Screenings at K-Cineplex venues in Nicosia, with a selection of special screenings in Larnaca and Limassol. For full details of screenings, visit www.cyiff.com
