In Thatcher’s Britain, a surging heroin crisis forces the authorities to draft an unlikely crew of everyday bureaucrats. Given minimal training and virtually no budget, these underdog agents are tasked with crafting a fake cover identity—a “legend”—in order to infiltrate dangerous drug cartels operating across London and Liverpool.

Steve Coogan turns in a fantastic performance as Don, the seasoned head of the unit overseeing the high-stakes operation, while Tom Burke shines in the demanding role of Guy, an operative gradually drawn into the underworld. Beside them, Hayley Squires, Aml Ameen, and Jasmine Blackborow round out the cast with genuine authenticity, giving their characters rich depth and brilliant screen chemistry.

Beyond the nail-biting action, perilous missions, and endless plot twists, Legends isn’t afraid to strike deeper social chords. It offers a sharp critique of the political gamesmanship of the era, class inequality, and the decline of the British working class, all while maintaining a subtle touch of humour and a relentless pace that never lets up.

This is a masterfully crafted, fast-paced, and addictive crime thriller that seamlessly balances raw realism with pure entertainment, making for a truly captivating watch.

The Verdict: Unquestionably binge-worthy. It will keep you glued to your seat right up to the final second!

Read more:

The plot centers on David Burroughs (Sam Worthington), a father serving a life sentence for the murder of his young son. Five years into his stretch, his former sister-in-law, Rachel (Britt Lower), visits him in prison with a recent photo that offers genuine hope his child might still be alive. This revelation triggers a daring breakout and a frantic game of cat-and-mouse with the FBI, crammed with dark conspiracies and buried secrets.

Admittedly, the script frequently borders on absolute nonsense. This American thriller is packed with clichés, stiff dialogue, and outrageous coincidences that test the limits of plausibility. Yet, despite these glaring narrative plot holes, the show possesses an irresistible, almost hypnotic momentum. Its relentless pace, high-stakes set pieces, and endless cliffhangers compel you to hit “Next Episode” without a second thought.

Worthington delivers a solid performance packed with intensity, while Britt Lower and the supporting cast do a fine job anchoring the chaotic plot. It is hardly a masterpiece of prestige television, nor is it winning any awards for originality, but it is the ultimate guilty pleasure for a weekend watch. If you are looking for a deep, psychological drama, look elsewhere. But if you want an addictive, thrilling ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat, it is well worth your time.

The Verdict: If you start it, you will definitely binge it. A series best devoured in one go—provided you leave your logic at the door!

Read more:

The film, whose Greek title is ‘Dodekameron’, is presented as the first Cypriot film in the genre, which has rarely featured in the island’s cinema.

Shot entirely in Cyprus, the gothic film draws on the island’s tradition and history, combining grief, motherhood, art and black magic.

It is set in 1882. Eleni, a painter in Cyprus, tries to bring her dead children back to life but instead awakens the kalikantzari, plunging her village into terror. As the demonic Lamia feeds on her grief and rage, Eleni must face her loss and save her homeland. The story moves from a desperate attempt to overturn death towards acceptance and hope.

The film has been shown at more than 20 film festivals, including the International Film Festival Rotterdam, where it had its world premiere, and the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal. It received an Honourable Mention in the Genre category at the Guadalajara International Film Festival in Mexico.

The cast includes Margarita Zachariou, Miltos Yerolemou, known for the series ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Foundation’ and the ‘Star Wars’ films, Jason Hughes, Marina Makri, Athos Antoniou, Danae Katsameni, Dimitris Andrea, Christina Marouchou and Sifis Katsoulakis.

It is produced by Caretta Films and co-produced by Cyprian Films, Focus Pocus and the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

Where and when

In Nicosia, the official avant-premiere is at Premier Cinemas on Wednesday, 28 October. Regular screenings run there from Thursday, 29 October for a week, at 7.30pm and 10pm.

In Limassol, the film is showing at Rio Cinemas from 29 October, at 7.30pm and 10pm.

The narrative centers on Tom Loftis (played by a fantastic Matthew Rhys), the beleaguered mayor of a picturesque yet cursed New England island. His dream is to revitalize the town and turn it into a bustling tourist hotspot. However, the locals know all too well that the island harbors sinister secrets: killer clowns, sea hags, and an uncanny fog that awakens the darkest plagues imaginable.

The brilliance of the show lies in its tonal equilibrium. Just as you’re laughing at the absurd demands of Tom’s bureaucratic office, you suddenly find yourself jumping out of your seat in total horror. Creator Katie Dippold and director Hiro Murai pay homage to classic 70s and 80s horror flicks while delivering a mature, refreshing twist of their own.

The lead performances are nothing short of stellar. Matthew Rhys gives a masterclass in acting, shifting with effortless grace between high-strung comedic anxiety and quiet, heavy grief. Beside him, Kate O’Flynn is a total delight as his eccentric deputy, Patricia, delivering moments of pure comedy with her deadpan humor. Rounding out the trio, the brilliant Stephen Root stars as the anxious boat captain; his dynamic with the mayor gives the series an unexpectedly deep, almost poignant emotional core.

Beyond the laughs and jump scares, Widow’s Bay digs into collective memory and the shared trauma of an isolated community. It confronts us with a harrowing moral dilemma, asking how far we would go (and what we would sacrifice) to protect the people we love.

Smart, atmospheric, and packed with twists, it’s a show that grabs you from the very first minute and demands to be binge-watched.

The Verdict: Absolutely unmissable. A delightful, terrifying, and moving experience that will haunt you long after the credits roll.

Read more:

Alexandra Matheou’s ‘Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection)’ took three awards in the National Competition: second prize for best Cypriot film, the ‘Dinos Katsourides’ Directing Award and best performance for Grigoria Metheniti.

In the International Competition, first prize for best short film, worth 4,000 euros, went to ‘Family Feast’ by Nadir Taji.

The awards were presented at an open-air ceremony in Heroes’ Square, followed by a closing party. The festival ran from October 10 to 16 at Rialto Theatre and was co-organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture’s Department of Contemporary Culture and Rialto Theatre.

National Competition

Artemiou’s first prize came with 4,000 euros and technical equipment. Ermolaos Fotiou’s ‘Runner’ won both the best cinematography award, for Lazaros Kenanoglou, and the festival’s first Peer Award, chosen by filmmakers and actors Marina Mandri, Panagiotis Kyriakou and Kamil Saldun.

Sofia Anastasiou’s ‘Valentinos’ won the Audience Award and an honourable mention from the jury.

International Competition

Second prize for best short film went to ‘Crazy For You / Loquita Por Ti’ by Greta Diaz Moreau, and the best director award to Marie Lukacova for ‘Orla’.

‘Mother Lidia / Mamita Lidia’ by Joaquin Nercasseau and Juan Bautista Tagle was named best documentary, and ‘Tropic of the Mourning Gecko’ by Stavros Markoulakis won the best Eastern Mediterranean film award.

The festival nominated ‘A Shot at Art’ by Ilke Paddenburg for the European Film Awards, and gave an honourable mention to ‘Without Kelly / Utan Kelly’ by Lovisa Siren.

Jury and other awards

Jury president Riina Mikkonen, executive director of Tampere Film Festival, used her speech to call for long-term material support for festivals and filmmakers, saying political decision-makers have the power to provide it.

“Kisses do not fill a hungry person’s stomach: long-term material support is needed,” she said.

The jury also included Jing Haase of Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Mina el Naggar of MedFest Egypt, director Thanasis Neofotistos and artist Marina Xenofontos, who represents Cyprus at the 61st Venice Biennale.

‘Forbidden Fruit’ won the Shoot’n’Run Award, run by the Cyprus University of Technology’s School of Fine and Applied Arts with the festival.

This was the second edition under artistic directors Keti Papadema and Diomedes Koufteros. Alongside the competitions, the festival held special screenings, workshops and industry events, including the What’s the Story? Cyprus script development workshop, whose eight participants were presented at the ceremony.

Members of the European Film Academy will now watch the shortlisted films and vote to decide the official nominations, which will be announced on 14 November 2026.

The film, whose Greek title is ‘Κράτα Με’ (‘Hold Onto Me’), won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival and is Cyprus’s official submission for best international feature film at the 99th Academy Awards.

More information on the awards and the shortlist is available at europeanfilmawards.eu.

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.

Running on six Saturdays until December 19, the programme combines three film screenings for all ages with three two-hour workshops for children aged seven to 10. Children will learn what cinema is and how films are made, but above all how to watch critically, according to the organisers, who say the aim is to help children understand how what they see on screen is constructed and how it can affect them.

The screenings and workshops are independent of each other, so children can attend either or both.

Screenings (all ages)

• Hugo (Martin Scorsese, 2011): Saturday, October 17, 3pm. A boy living hidden in a Paris railway station uncovers the story of the early filmmaker Georges Méliès.
• Toy Story (John Lasseter, 1995): Saturday, November 14, 3pm. The first feature-length animated film made entirely on computer.
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Tim Burton, 2005): Saturday, December 12, 5.30pm. Burton’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book.

Workshops (ages seven to 10)

• What are movies?: Saturday, November 7, 3pm to 5pm. Children discover how a film is made, from camera to edit.
• How do movies guide emotions?: Saturday, November 28, 5.30pm to 7.30pm. How filmmakers use music, colour, framing and rhythm to make audiences feel fear, joy or tenderness, and how to recognise it.
• Stories across mediums: Saturday, December 19, 3pm to 5pm. Starting from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, children compare the book with the film. Attending the screening is not required.

Tickets and information

• Workshops: 10 euros per child. Held in Greek with English translation.
• Screenings: 5 euros per child, with the first accompanying adult free. Films are shown with Greek and English subtitles.
• Workshop registration by email to styxfilmencounters@gmail.com, or by message on Instagram or Facebook.

STYX Film Encounters is a Nicosia initiative that promotes film education through screenings of landmark films.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by STYX Film Encounters (@styxfilmencounters)

Read more:

The organisers say this year’s edition draws its inspiration from the restless energy of adolescence.

Opening ceremony

The festival opens at 8pm on Saturday with a ceremony entitled ‘The Open Call: A Cheap, Ideal Idea’, directed by Marios Kakoullis. The organisers describe it as an ode to open calls and their late-night deadlines, and to the ideas that are selected and the many more that are not.

The ceremony features the Epilogi children’s and adult choirs, the Limassol Majorettes, the Limassol Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Giorgos Krasidis, and the Passion in Motion Cheerleading Academy by Antonis Leontiou. Performers are Polyxeni Savva and Anna Konstantinidi, with sign language performance by Fanos Theofanous. Eri Kyrgia wrote the text and lyrics, and Anastasia Dimitriadou (Nama Dama) composed the music.

First screenings

The ceremony is followed by the first screenings of the International and National Competition programmes, with five films. The filmmakers will then take part in a discussion with the audience. The films are:

• ‘Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection)’, Alexandra Matthaiou, Cyprus, Greece and France, 20 minutes
• ‘Hyena’, Altay Ulan Yang, United States and China, 21 minutes
• ‘Cosmonauts’, Leo Černic, Slovenia and Italy, 14 minutes
• ‘Night Shift’, Talat Gokdemir, Cyprus, 17 minutes
• ‘Kentucky Gaza’, Omar Rammal, Jordan, 21 minutes

Opening night party

The opening night party takes place at the ISFFC Hub in Heroes’ Square from 10.30pm, with Ariadne as DJ. A Brandy Sour Hour is held at the Hub from 7pm.

Tickets and information

A daily ticket costs five euros and a festival pass 25 euros. Admission is free for students with a valid student card, disability card holders, directors who are members of the Cyprus Directors Guild, and actors who are members of the Cyprus Actors’ Union and the Theatre Artists’ Branch of SIDIKEK-PEO.

All films are screened in their original language with English and Greek subtitles. Screenings are suitable for audiences aged 18 and over.

Information is available from the Rialto Theatre on 77 77 77 45, and at www.isffc.com.cy and www.rialto.com.cy.

The festival is organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture’s Department of Contemporary Culture and the Rialto Theatre, in cooperation with Limassol Municipality.

The production stands out for its top-tier aesthetic, with the costume design stealing the show. Precise attention to detail—from rich silks to intricate cufflinks—breathes real life into the period setting. Furthermore, the supporting cast delivers standout moments, with Colin Firth and a fiery Dónal Finn as young Moriarty commanding the screen.

However, the show suffers from a severe identity crisis. The script is overloaded with flimsy subplots, international espionage, and buried family secrets, leaving the main plot no room to breathe. The relentless pacing simply rushes from one twist to the next, sacrificing genuine mystery for non-stop action.

The biggest issue lies with lead actor Hero Fiennes Tiffin. Instead of the sharp intellect and eccentricities expected of Sherlock, his performance lacks expression, coming across more like an awkward waiter than a brilliant mind. His lack of chemistry with the rest of the cast becomes even more striking next to the charismatic Finn, who completely overshadows him in every shared scene.

At the same time, Guy Ritchie’s trademark direction—packed with fast-cut editing and slow-motion fight sequences—feels dated compared to his work fifteen years ago, while the other directors merely imitate his style with little success.

The Verdict: Mediocre. While it boasts a few fun action beats and stunning costumes, the series gets lost in cheap thrills, leaving the detective’s legend frustratingly untapped.

Read more: