The 16th International Short Film Festival of Cyprus opens at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol on Saturday 10 October and runs until 16 October, with short films from Cyprus and abroad, special screenings and other events.
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.
