The 24th Cyprus Film Days International Festival returns from 17 to 25 April 2026 in Limassol and Nicosia, presenting a programme that brings together new cinematic voices, acclaimed international productions and contemporary works by Cypriot filmmakers.
From intimate personal stories to politically charged narratives and visually distinctive films, this year’s selection highlights the diversity and vitality of contemporary cinema. Screenings will take place at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia.
Global Images international competition
At the centre of the programme is the Global Images International Competition, a section dedicated to filmmakers who explore identity, social change and human relationships through distinctive cinematic languages. The selected films premiered at major international festivals and represent some of the most notable examples of contemporary independent cinema.
The coming-of-age drama “Nino” by Pauline Loquès follows a young man in Paris during the three days leading up to a pivotal moment in his life. Before it arrives, however, his doctors assign him two missions. Through these unexpected tasks, Nino embarks on a journey across Paris that forces him to reconnect both with the world around him and with himself. (97', 2025, France)
The historical drama “Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” by Ivona Juka follows four close friends who fought together as Partisans during the Second World War. Sixteen years later, now established film directors, their lives and careers are threatened by a powerful state official. (137', 2024, Croatia, Canada, Poland, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
The psychological drama “Hysteria” by Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay unfolds when a burnt copy of the Qur’an appears on the set of a film production. The incident throws the shoot into turmoil, plunging the crew into confusion and suspicion. (104', 2025, Germany)
“Forastera” by Lucía Aleñar Iglesias, set in Mallorca, centres on a family gathering at the ancestral home following the death of the grandmother. The grief of teenage granddaughter Cata takes an unexpected turn when she almost unconsciously begins to assume the role of her deceased grandmother. (97', 2025, Spain, Italy, Sweden)
The drama “Sink” by Zain Duraie focuses on the relationship between a mother and her son, who struggles with mental illness, exploring the limits of endurance and the strength of familial love. (87', 2025, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France)
The drama “Lust” by Ralitza Petrova explores the darker sides of desire and human isolation when a prison officer is confronted with a past she believed she had left behind. (77', 2026, Bulgaria, Denmark, Sweden)
The social drama “Aisha Can’t Fly Away” by Morad Mostafa follows Aisha, a 26-year-old Sudanese domestic worker living in a neighbourhood in central Cairo. As tensions rise between African migrants and local gangs, she finds herself caught in the middle of escalating conflict. (120', 2025, Egypt, France, Germany, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Sudan)
The social drama “Life in a Beat” by Amerissa Basta follows a young woman living in Athens who works at a local supermarket. When she loses her job and discovers she is pregnant, she is forced to confront difficult decisions about her future. (93', 2025, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro, France)
Cypriot films competition
Alongside the international section, the Cypriot Films Competition remains a central pillar of the festival, presenting contemporary filmmaking from Cyprus.
The moving drama “Hold Onto Me” by Myrsinie Aristidou follows 11-year-old Iris, who wanders through the streets with her older friend when she learns that her estranged father has returned to town for the funeral of his own father. Determined to meet him, she tracks him down at an abandoned shipyard where he has withdrawn into isolation. (102', 2025, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, USA)
The dark allegorical tale “Motherwitch” by Minos Papas is set in Cyprus in 1882. Eleni, an overlooked painter, attempts to resurrect her dead children. Instead, she awakens the Kalikantzaroi of Cypriot folklore and must confront both her grief and the curse that descends upon her village. (104', 2026, Cyprus, North Macedonia)
The social drama “Maricel” by Elias Demetriou follows a Filipina domestic worker hired to care for an elderly couple in a remote mountain village in Cyprus. What initially appears to be a simple arrangement gradually develops into an invisible game of power where the boundaries between necessity, fear and intimacy become increasingly fragile. (120', 2025, Cyprus, Greece)
The Cypriot drama “Diversion” by Marinos Kartikkis centres on Kostas, a divorced police officer facing financial difficulties who transports bodies to the morgue. When he steals a cross from an elderly woman he has been assigned to carry, he soon discovers that the deceased woman was the grandmother of his partner. (96', 2025, Cyprus)
Viewfinder: contemporary international cinema
The Viewfinder – Contemporary International Cinema section brings films that stood out on the international festival circuit during the past year.
Among them is “La Grazia” by Paolo Sorrentino, which tells the story of Mariano De Santis, the President of Italy, a widower and a devout Catholic approaching the end of his term while facing two critical decisions regarding presidential pardon requests. The film received the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and the Brian Award at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival and also won Best Film and Best Screenplay at the Chicago International Film Festival. (133', 2025, Italy)
“Yes” by Nadav Lapid is set in Israel the day after 7 October. A jazz musician and his wife, a dancer, struggle to survive in a country marked by violence and uncertainty until he receives an unusual assignment: to compose a new national anthem. The film premiered at the Quinzaine des Cinéastes at the Cannes Film Festival. (150', 2025, France, Cyprus, Israel, Germany)
In “Sound of Falling”, Masha Schilinski follows four young girls growing up on a remote farm in northern Germany. Decades separate their lives, yet their stories gradually intertwine as connections between past and present emerge. The film received the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. (149', 2025, Germany)
The bittersweet “All That’s Left of You” by Cherien Dabis begins when a Palestinian teenager is swept into a protest in the West Bank. His mother then reflects on their family’s history, a journey marked by hope, courage and continuous struggle. The film received the Golden Gate Award for Best Narrative Feature and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2025 San Francisco International Film Festival and was selected as Jordan’s official submission for the 98th Academy Awards. (145', 2025, Germany, Cyprus, Palestine, Jordan, Greece, Qatar, Saudi Arabia)
Cinemas of dissent
The Cinemas of Dissent programme presents films that challenge dominant political narratives and explore the relationship between cinema and politics. The selection includes “Days of ’36” by Theo Angelopoulos, “Oh, What Happy Days!” by Homayoun Ghanizadeh and “Leila and the Wolves” by Heiny Srour.
Special screenings: common ground
The Common Ground section focuses on films that explore coexistence between different communities and experiences. The programme includes “Invincibles / Neporazitelní” by Daniel Pánek and “Utopolis” by Vladimir Subotić.
Programme for children and young people
Cyprus Film Days for Children and Young People presents films addressing themes such as diversity, acceptance and friendship, encouraging younger audiences to discover stories that broaden perspectives.
Festival information
€5 per screening | €30 festival pass for all screenings
Free entry for university students with a valid student ID
Free entry for pupils attending the children’s programme
Free entry for disability card holders
All screenings, except the children’s programme, are suitable for audiences aged 18 and over. Films will be screened in their original language with Greek and English subtitles, while films in the Cypriot competition will also include Turkish subtitles.
The festival is organised by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre.
The 24th Cyprus Film Days International Festival will take place 17–25 April 2026 at the Rialto Theatre in Limassoland Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia.