30/07/2010

The Cyprus International Film Festival is preparing for its fifth edition, to be held October 13-22 in the city of Nicosia. Focusing on new directors of films that will be holding their premieres in Cyprus, the festival has been widening its appeal, having reached a record number of submissions from 61 countries last year.

Greek-born ace Hollywood cinematographer Phedon Papamichael will open the event with his third directorial endeavor, Arcadia Lost, about a couple of teenagers stranded in rural Greece after a car-wreck. The film features Nick Nolte as a vagabond ex-patriot American philosopher.

Reaching out towards the East, this year’s festival will present a series of events and sidebars showcasing the scope of Japanese art and tradition, with a selection of Japanese films, a concert featuring Japanese musicians and an exhibition of the work of Japanese architect Kiyoshi Sey Takeyama.

Takeyama will be on hand as a member of the festival’s jury, along with Greek actress Alexandra Pavlidou, Cypriot director Costas Dimitriou and Greek-Cypriot entrepreneur Tony Srour.

Besides the main competition, the festival showcases short, children’s and animated movies; sports titles focusing on fair play; films from Greek-Cypriot producers living abroad; dance films and video-dance projects; comedies; films on humanitarian subjects; and music films. Achievements in directing, writing, acting, editing, cinematography, composition, costume design and production design will also be awarded.

The festival’s top prize is the Golden Aphrodite, while the audience also votes for their own award.