The 16th International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (ISFFC) closes in Limassol on Friday with an awards ceremony at Heroes’ Square (Plateia Iroon) at 21:30, where two new prizes, including an audience award worth 500 euros, will be presented for the first time.
The ceremony will be followed by a closing party with DJ Pueblo Franco.
New awards
Under the new Audience Award, viewers choose their favourite film, which receives a cash prize of 500 euros.
The Peer Award is an honorary distinction for one Cypriot entry, chosen by a committee of representatives from the Cyprus Directors’ Guild, the Actors’ Union of Cyprus (EHK) and the SIDIKEK-PEO Theatre Artists’ Branch. The festival says the award carries particular weight because it is given by professionals to their own colleagues.
Jury prizes
In the International Competition, the international jury will award first and second prizes for best short film, best director, best documentary and best Eastern Mediterranean film, and up to three honourable mentions.
In the National Competition, Cypriot films compete for first and second prizes for best Cypriot film, the Dinos Katsourides Best Director Award, named after the pioneer of Cypriot cinema, best cinematography and best performance, along with up to three honourable mentions.
Final screenings
The Rialto Theatre hosts the last screenings before the ceremony. The Space Between, a selection by the National Competition Preselection Committee, presents films by women filmmakers about life between languages, places and versions of the self. Cyprus Sideways brings together three films that look afresh at the island’s familiar landscapes.
The last films in the competition are Faux Bijoux, Shekerika, Crazy for You, Icarus and A hint of daily terrors, followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers.
Friday 16 October programme
- 18:00: The Space Between, Rialto Theatre
- 18:30: Cyprus Sideways, Rialto Theatre
- 20:00: Competition screening and Q&A with the filmmakers, Rialto Theatre
- 21:30: Closing and award ceremony, Heroes’ Square, followed by the closing party with DJ Pueblo Franco
Heroes’ Square, which was recently renovated and reopened, has hosted the ISFFC Hub throughout the festival, where audiences, directors and actors gathered each night after the screenings to talk about the films.
All films are screened in their original language with English and Greek subtitles and are suitable for audiences aged 18 and over.
A day pass costs 5 euros and a festival pass 25 euros. Entry is free for students with a valid student ID, disability card holders, members of the Cyprus Directors’ Guild, and members of the Actors’ Union of Cyprus or the SIDIKEK-PEO Theatre Artists’ Branch.
The festival is organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture’s Department of Contemporary Culture and the Rialto Theatre, in collaboration with Limassol Municipality. Information is available from the Rialto Theatre on 77 77 77 45, at isffc.com.cy and rialto.com.cy, on Facebook at Int’l Short Film Festival of Cyprus and on Instagram at isffc_filmfestival.
