Charlie Kaufman visited Cyprus last autumn, touring several areas of the island as he looked at possible filming locations.
Cyprus is entering the map of international film productions, as award-winning Charlie Kaufman, who wrote the Oscar-winning Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, prepares to direct the feature-length comedy Later The War in 2027. Channing Tatum, Tessa Thompson and Patsy Ferran will star.
The announcement was made ahead of the Cannes Film Festival Market, where international sales company The Veterans said it would handle the film’s global sales. It will be Kaufman’s fourth directing project after I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which is available on Netflix, and the 12th feature screenplay of his career.
The American filmmaker is regarded as one of the most important voices in contemporary cinema, having written not only Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind but also Adaptation and Being John Malkovich. He won the Oscar for original screenplay for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Green Olive Films and its CEO, Simos Magganis, played a decisive role in the choice of Cyprus. Magganis spoke exclusively about the background to the collaboration and the long preparation that preceded it.
“The relationship we have with Charlie Kaufman began with his previous short film, How to Shoot a Ghost, in which we participated as co-producers in Greece. It was a very good collaboration and it is now continuing with the new feature-length production,” he said.
Magganis said the idea of Cyprus as a possible filming location had been raised some time ago.
“At some point in a discussion I suggested that he look at Cyprus as an alternative option, because I considered it ideal. Cyprus has a lot to offer, we believe in that and that is why we proposed it as an option. It gave him quite different images and spaces. He generally liked it very much,” he said.
Magganis said Kaufman visited Cyprus last autumn, looking for filming locations in various parts of the island.
The announcement in Cannes is considered particularly important both for the Cypriot film industry and for the country’s international visibility.
“The fact that, at such an important market and festival as Cannes, Cyprus is mentioned alongside Hollywood names has enormous value. It shows trust both in terms of communication and in terms of production,” Magganis said.
Magganis also said the production would have a meaningful impact on the local economy.
