Awards, new prizes and a closing party as the 16th ISFFC wraps up

After a week of films, encounters and conversations, the 16th International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (ISFFC) comes to a close where its heart has been beating every night: Heroes’ Square (Plateia Iroon). The closing and award ceremony begins on Friday 16 October at 21:30, followed by the closing party with DJ Pueblo Franco on the decks.

The final day

Before the ceremony, the Rialto Theatre hosts the festival’s last screenings. At 18:00, The Space Between presents a selection curated by the National Competition Preselection Committee: films by women filmmakers about life between languages, places and versions of the self.

At 18:30, Cyprus Sideways brings together three films that unsettle the island’s familiar landscapes and look at them with fresh eyes. The day ends at 20:00 with the final films of the Competition: Faux Bijoux, Shekerika, Crazy for You, Icarus and A hint of daily terrors. The screening is followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

International Competition awards

• The international jury will present:

• 1st Prize for Best Short Film

• 2nd Prize for Best Short Film

• Best Director Award

• Best Documentary Award

• Best Eastern Mediterranean Film Award

• Up to three Honourable Mentions

National Competition awards

In the National Competition, Cypriot films compete for:

• 1st Prize for Best Cypriot Film

• 2nd Prize for Best Cypriot Film“Dinos Katsourides”

• Best Director Award, named after the pioneer of Cypriot cinema

• Best Cinematography Award

• Best Performance Award

• Up to three Honourable Mentions

Two new awards

This year, the jury is not the only one with a say. The festival introduces two new awards.

With the Audience Award, viewers choose their favourite film, which receives a cash prize of €500.

The Peer Award is an honorary distinction for one Cypriot entry, presented by a committee of representatives from the Cyprus Directors’ Guild, the Actors’ Union of Cyprus (EHK) and the SIDIKEK-PEO Theatre Artists’ Branch. Because it is given by professionals to their own colleagues, it carries particular weight.

Heroes’ Square, the festival’s meeting point

Heroes’ Square was chosen for the finale for a reason. The ISFFC Hub ran there all week, in the newly renovated and recently reopened square. Every night after the screenings, audiences, directors and actors gathered there to talk about the films. On Friday, the square becomes the place where everyone celebrates the winners together.

Friday 16 October programme

18:00 The Space Between, Rialto Theatre18:30 Cyprus Sideways, Rialto Theatre20:00 Competition screening and Q&A with the filmmakers, Rialto Theatre21:30 Closing and award ceremony, Heroes’ Square

Followed by the closing party with DJ Pueblo Franco, Heroes’ Square

All films are screened in their original language with English and Greek subtitles.

Information: Rialto Theatre 77 77 77 45Facebook: @Int’l Short Film Festival of CyprusInstagram: isffc_filmfestivalwww.isffc.com.cy / www.rialto.com.cy

Tickets:

€5 day pass

€25 festival pass

Free entry for students with a valid student ID, disability card holders, directors who are members of the Cyprus Directors’ Guild, and actors who are members of the Actors’ Union of Cyprus or the SIDIKEK-PEO Theatre Artists’ Branch.

Screenings are suitable for audiences aged 18 and over.

ORGANISERS:

Deputy Ministry of Culture - Department of Contemporary Culture and Rialto Theatre

In collaboration with the Municipality of Limassol

Major Sponsors: APC Audit TAX Auditors, Green Olive, Digital Tree

Sponsor: AMP Filmworks

Technical Support: EventPRO

Award Sponsors: SteFilm, Dinos Katsourides Award, Master and Slave Limited

Hospitality Sponsors: Alinea, Mediterranean Beach Hotel

Media Sponsors: Check In, City Free Press, CyBC

Supported by: Organisation for European Programmes and Cultural Relations, Cyprus University of Technology, University of Cyprus Alumni Office, Lemesos Newspaper, Limassol Film Club, Larnaca-Famagusta Film Club, Limassol Passenger Transport Company, Vestnik Kipra, Limassol Tourism Board.