The 16th International Short Film Festival of Cyprus (ISFFC) raises the curtain on Saturday 10 October at 20:00 at Rialto Theatre in Limassol with The Open Call: A Cheap, Ideal Idea, an opening ceremony directed by Marios Kakoullis. Over seven days, until 16 October, the festival hosts filmmakers from Cyprus and around the world with short films, special screenings and events beyond the big screen.
A festival inspired by adolescence
This year, the festival draws inspiration from the restless energy of adolescence. According to the organisers, the edition overflows with a longing for life: for the joy that exists in the world despite everything that happens in it, and perhaps because of it. Shifting in mood and form, the programme moves between different stories and ways of seeing, making the festival a place of encounter, curiosity and shared experience.
A tribute to the open call
The organisers describe the ceremony as "an ode to open calls. To those 'send your idea by 23:59' deadlines that keep us up at night, make us doubt, rewrite and hope. To the ideas that are sometimes selected, and to the many more that are not. To the projects that never happened, but brought us to the next idea. Because that is how everything begins: with a cheap, ideal idea."
The creative team
The text and lyrics are by Eri Kyrgia, with music composition and sound design by Anastasia Dimitriadou (Nama Dama) and mixing and additional production by Lefteris Moumtzis. Lighting design is by Vasilis Peteinaris and costumes are by Orestis Lazouras. Michalis Grigoriou conducts the adult choir and Korina Vasileiou the children's choir, while the majorettes' choreography is by Voula Ioannidou, Anna Genethliou and Savvina Georgiou. Giorgos Krasidis conducts the Limassol Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra, and Fanos Theofanous provides sign language interpretation on stage.
The performers are Polyxeni Savva and Anna Konstantinidi, joined by the Epilogi Children's Choir, the Epilogi Adult Choir, the Limassol Majorettes, the Limassol Municipality Philharmonic Orchestra and the Passion in Motion Cheerleading Academy by Antonis Leontiou.
First competition screenings
The ceremony is followed by the first screenings of the International and National Competition programmes, with five films officially opening the week. The filmmakers will talk with the audience after the screenings.
The opening night films are Free Eliza (Notes on an Anatomical Imperfection) by Alexandra Matthaiou (Cyprus, Greece, France, 20 minutes), Hyena by Altay Ulan Yang (USA, China, 21 minutes), Cosmonauts by Leo Černic (Slovenia, Italy, 14 minutes), Night Shift by Talat Gokdemir (Cyprus, 17 minutes) and Kentucky Gaza by Omar Rammal (Jordan, 21 minutes).
All films are screened in their original language with English and Greek subtitles.
Opening night party at the festival hub
The first festival night continues at the ISFFC Hub in Heroes' Square with the Opening Night Party from 22:30, with DJ Ariadne on the decks. For those who want to start earlier, Brandy Sour Hour welcomes the public at the Hub from 19:00.
Tickets and information
Daily tickets cost €5 and a festival pass costs €25. Entry is free for students on presentation of a student card, disability card holders, members of the Cyprus Directors' Union, and actors who are members of the Cyprus Actors' Union or the Theatre Artists' Branch of SIDIKEK-PEO. Screenings are suitable for audiences aged over 18. Information is available from Rialto Theatre on 77 77 77 45 and at isffc.com.cy and rialto.com.cy.
