Two film festivals, both in Paphos, will be giving film buffs the chance to watch a variety of (mostly short) films from around the world. The third Paphos International Film Festival (PIFF) will screen a total of 19 international short films and 11 student films from June 22 to 24. PIFF, which is organised by photographer Nicolas Iordanou and director and producer Sylvia Nicolaides, is committed to supporting authentically independent short films and it aims to research, promote and develop the art of independent filmmaking.
According to Iordanou and Nicolaides: “We support independent filmmakers because we strongly believe that they are worth a chance. PIFF aims to become a platform giving a voice to directors and filmmakers who work with very little but have a lot to give.”
The screenings on Friday and Saturday will include international short films from Belgium, Ireland, Croatia, Spain, Palestine and elsewhere. This section will also include the short film Relics directed by Christos Panagos and Kostas Makrinos, which represents Greece and Cyprus.
Relics concentrates on Panagiota, an 82-year-old woman suffering from dementia. Her daughter Georgia has just moved back from America, having left everything behind to return to Cyprus and stand by her parents’ side. With the help of her daughter, Panagiota retraces the memories of her past while lost in an endless mental vicious circle. Relationships, places and persons are thrown into doubt, adding up to a portrait of family, memory and love.
The full list of international short films can be found at http://www.piffcyprus.com/international-short-2018/4594339885.
The short films in the student short films section will be screened on Sunday. These include films from Palestine, Switzerland and Germany. In this category, the local short film The Daughter by Marinos Panagiotou will be screened at 8.45pm.
The Daughter is about Kornelia, an elderly woman who lives in a small village in Paphos province, with most of her children living in Australia. The other character in the film is Maya, a domestic helper who takes care of Kornelia’s daily needs while her own family is in Nepal. The details of their everyday relationship highlight the fluidity of family.
The full list of student short films can be found at http://www.piffcyprus.com/student-short-2018/4594340231.
The second film festival to start in Paphos this week is the 13th Cyprus International Film Festival Golden Aphrodite (CYIFF). The festival, which will run from June 23 until July 1, will run at the Palia Ilektriki and Neapolis University.
The festival promotes both new talents in filmmaking and the island of Cyprus as the ideal cinematic tourist destination. It prides itself on providing emerging independent filmmakers with the platform to showcase their talents.
CYIFF will also feature parallel events, including a workshop during which a short film will be produced and subsequently screened during the awards ceremony.
There will also be a script contest which will be judged by writer L. Morin, designer of new media Anastasios Vassileiou and film director and producer Petra Terzi. Two masterclasses are also on the agenda, the first is with writer and holistic therapist Thalia Alexiou who will talk about the power of choice and how to use it in filmmaking. This will run from 10am until 11.30am at Neapolis University. The second masterclass, from 11am until 1pm, also at the university, has to do with financing and gender equality in filmmaking with Carol Bidault de l’Isle, an award-winning producer and Vice-Chair of Women in Film and Television International. A group photo and video art exhibition will also be running.
Go to http://cyiff.cineartfestival.eu/en/ to view the full programme.
Third Paphos International Film Festival
Screening of international films. June 22-24. Technopolis20 Cultural Centre, Paphos. 8.45pm. Free. Tel: 70-002420
13th Cyprus International Film Festival Golden Aphrodite
International film festival. June 23 until July 1. Palia Ilektriki, Paphos and Neapolis University, Paphos. Different times. Free. Email: [email protected]
