This year’s programme is diverse and daring, including fiction, animation, documentary and experimental works, reflecting both artistic variety and the investigative spirit of their creators. Themes range from personal and social identity to historical memory and political reality, capturing the concerns and hopes of a new generation of filmmakers.
Participation in the National Competition is not only an opportunity for exposure but also an important step in strengthening Cypriot cinema internationally. The Festival, with its consistent commitment to supporting local creators, enables them to reach wider audiences, compete for major awards and open doors to international co-productions and distribution.
Selected films for the National Competition
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The Fight, dir. Antony Petrou
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Half an Orange, dir. Loukia Chatzigianni
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NIKI (or The Impossible Hope of Trying), dir. Savvas Stavrou
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Potpourri, dir. Pavlos Iacovou
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Lout, dir. Christina Georgiou
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Nikos’ Long Walk, dir. Andreas Seittanis
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The Visit, dir. Louie Patsias
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The Archive of Grigoris Antoniou, dir. Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert & Alexia Achilleos
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ICONOCLAST, dir. Aris Stefani
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Adoption is an Option, dir. Christina Tryphonos
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Echo of Time, dir. Marios Cleanthous
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We Were Never Perfect, dir. Alexandra Matthaiou
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The Weaver, dir. Giorgos Tsangaris
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The 15 Oranges are Coming, dir. Konstantinos Kyprianides
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Prelude to a Supernova, dir. Christos Artemiou
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Yellow: A Quantum Tale, dir. Rahme Veziroğlu
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Overnight Coup, dir. Marina Xenofontos
Special screening: “Cyprus: Once Now”
In addition, six documentaries will be presented outside competition under the title Cyprus: Once Now, exploring the relationship of contemporary Cypriots with tradition, social change and the shifting world around them:
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Voices Sound the Same (Plots of Land, Marks of Stitching), dir. Femia Demosthenous
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Kaimakli, dir. Nikandros Savvides
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Float, dir. Meli Vasiloudi Pagiata
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SYMPRAXIS Livathkia and canes, dir. Christina Scarpari
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Remy in Cyprus, dir. Christina Chatzizachariou
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Chat GPT Told Me, dir. Nausika Chatzichristou
The 2025 Selection Committee
This year’s committee was made up of leading cinema professionals:
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Adonis Florides – film and theatre director, playwright and screenwriter
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Doros Demetriou – film historian, curator and cultural event organiser
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Yianna Amerikanou – director and screenwriter
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Peter Cerovšek – director, curator and director of the FeKK – Ljubljana Short Film Festival
Awards
Cypriot entries compete for both International and National prizes, with eligibility for nomination to the European Film Awards in the short film category.
International Awards
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1st & 2nd Prize for Best Short Film
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Best Director
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Best Documentary
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Up to three Honourable Mentions
National Awards
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1st & 2nd Prize for Best Cypriot Short Film
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Dinos Katsourides Award for Best Director
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Best Cinematography
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Best Performance
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Up to three Honourable Mentions
Screenings are open to audiences aged 18 and over. All films are shown in their original language with both English and Greek subtitles.
Information
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Venue: Rialto Theatre
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Info: 77 77 77 45
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Facebook: @Int’l Short Film Festival of Cyprus
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Instagram: @isffc_filmfestival
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Websites: www.isffc.com.cy / www.rialto.com.cy
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Tickets: €5 daily / €25 festival pass
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Free admission for students (with student card) and for disability card holders.
