Cyprus Film Days is back
Returning for the 24th year, the international film festival is expected to make its comeback on April 17 to 25, bringing screenings, workshops, a children’s programme and industry events to Nicosia and Limassol.
This April, the screening halls of the Rialto Theatre and Zena Palace will once again fill with light, voices and stories. For nine days, the moving images will become an experience and storytelling becomes an act of presence.
Under the central theme Life, this year’s edition goes beyond film screenings; it proposes a stance towards the world. In a time marked by uncertainty and transformation, cinema becomes a meeting point for memory, dialogue and resilience. Each film, each screening and each discussion serves as a reminder that the human experience, fragile yet persistent, remains at the heart of storytelling.
The 24th edition is artistically directed by filmmaker and academic Argyro Nicolaou and filmmaker and producer Petros Charalambous. The two curators shape a programme that balances discovery and established voices, presenting premiere screenings from Cyprus and abroad. Their focus turns to works that take risks, engage with the present and tell stories that are both deeply personal and profoundly collective. Their aim is a living festival, a space where audiences do not merely watch, but actively participate.
The festival unfolds as a multi-layered cinematic experience, bringing together competition sections, parallel events and industry initiatives. The International Competition Section will showcase contemporary cinematic voices from around the world. The section features films that confront their times, narrating stories of resistance, loss, perseverance and hope, and seeking meaningful dialogue with audiences.
In the Cypriot Competition Section, Cypriot creators will present their work on a platform that supports, recognises and promotes the evolving identity of contemporary Cypriot cinema. The Viewfinder section will present films that have stood out across the international festival landscape during the past year, reflecting emerging currents and distinctive voices. It offers Cypriot audiences the opportunity to encounter promising new filmmakers and follow the work of established auteurs whose films continue to shape contemporary cinematic dialogue.
Expanding the scope of the festival, the Parallel Screenings and Workshops programme will offer moments of reflection and discovery, adding depth and intensity to the cinematic experience. For younger crowds, the Cyprus Film Days for Children and Young People programme nurtures the relationship between younger generations and the language of cinema, encouraging imagination, critical thinking and creative engagement.
Finally, the Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days returns continuing its legacy as a professional meeting hub for filmmakers, producers and industry professionals. It serves as a platform for exchange, networking and the development of new co-productions and international collaborations.
At the closing ceremony, the films that will receive the Best Film Award, Special Jury Award, Best Director Award, Best Cinematography Award, Best Cypriot Film Award, Best Cypriot Director Award, Best Performance in a Cypriot Film Award and the Audience Award will be announced.
The Audience Award, based on viewers’ immediate evaluations after each screening, underlines that the cinematic experience is completed through its encounter with the public. With just about a month to go, the festival’s full programme will be announced soon with all of its exciting details.
24th Cyprus Film Days
Annual international film festival with features from Cyprus and the world. April 17-25. Pallas Theatre, Nicosia and Rialto Theatre, Limassol. www.cyprusfilmdays.com