Varied and quality agenda at Cyprus Film Days

A whole week dedicated to cinema is coming up after Easter as the Cyprus Film Days International Festival 2023 holds its 21^st edition. A selection of films that elevate the art of cinema, shedding light on a variety of issues from a fresh perspective, originating from every part of the world make up this year’s screening agenda.

The Viewfinder (out-of-competition) section features seven much-anticipated fiction films that stood out in the festival circuit, and have received multiple awards and international critical acclaim. These are eye-opening films with a clear social message, drawing on current issues, such as human rights and gender identity, while also challenging patriarchal standards.

Part of the Viewfinder section is the film Aftersun (UK, USA), the emotional debut of Scottish film director Charlotte Wells, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Paul Mescal). No Bears (Iran), is a cinematic statement reflecting on the boundaries of art and the freedom of expression, directed by Jafar Panahi. Joyland (Pakistan), is a bittersweet queer drama directed by Saim Sadiq that made a lasting impression at Cannes Film Festival. Aleph (USA, Croatia, Qatar), is a Borgesian travelogue by Cyprus-raised director Iva Radivojević. Neptune Frost (USA, Rwanda), is an afrofuturist, antiimperialist musical directed by Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman. The Eight Mountains (Italy, Belgium, France), features the epic story of a mountainous friendship, directed by Felix Van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch. Lastly, EO (Poland, Italy) pays tribute to Robert Bresson.

The eight films participating in the Glocal Images official competition section draw on universal subjects with a sociopolitical, environmental and existential hue, including comedies and coming-of-age stories. They include IMAN (Cyprus), a gripping social drama directed by Corinna Avraamidou and Kyriacos Tofarides, Silence 6-9 (Greece), the enigmatic debut of Christos Passalis, The Other Widow (Israel, France), an empathetic portrait of a woman directed by Ma’ayan Rypp, Mountain Onion (Kazakhstan), an idiosyncratic family comedy directed by Eldar Shibanov, Mediterranean Fever (Germany, France, Cyprus, Palestine, Qatar), a drama blending dark humour with elements of thriller, directed by Maha Haj, Love Dog (Poland, Mexico, USA), a starkly humane psychological drama directed by Polish director Bianca Lucas, The Fishbowl (Spain), a lyrical debut feature drawing on feminist and environmental issues, directed by Puerto Rican Glorimar Marrero Sánchez and Sick of Myself (Norway, Sweden), an acerbic comedy on narcissism, directed by Kristoffer Borgli.

In addition to the two main sections, this year’s edition also hosts parallel events and screenings. In the framework of Cyprus Collaborates, viewers will have an opportunity to watch the historical drama by French-Israeli director Michale Boganim, Tel Aviv – Beirut (Cyprus, Germany, France) set against the backdrop of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict in 1982 and 2006, as well as the surrealist Snow White Dies at the End directed by Kristijan Risteski (North Macedonia, Cyprus).

Two Special Screenings are also added up to this year’s programme, including the documentary film directed by this 21st edition’s jury president, Julie Bertuccelli, Jane Campion, La Femme Cinéma presenting the trailblazing journey of pioneer New Zealand director Jane Campion; and Au Revoir, Slumdogz! a purely Cypriot production with Tarantinian references, directed by Andreas Kyriacou.

Moreover, four acclaimed and multi-award-winning films will also be screened as part of Cyprus Film Days for Children and Youth: The Quiet Girl by Colm Bairéad (Ireland), Mission Ulja Funk by Barbara Kronenberg (Germany, Luxembourg, Poland), Comedy Queen by Sanna Lenken (Sweden) and Aya by Simon Coulibaly Gillard (Belgium, France). The detailed programme of screenings and events is available on the festival’s website at www.cyprusfilmdays.com.

Cyprus Film Days International Festival

Annual film festival. April 21-29. Rialto Theatre, Limassol. Zena Palace, Nicosia. www.cyprusfilmdays.com