The 22nd edition of the Cyprus Film Days International Festival came to an end on Saturday 20 April, with its awards ceremony taking place at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol. As the premier event for fictional cinema in Cyprus, the festival unfolded from 12-20 April, taking in venues across Limassol and Nicosia.

Serbian filmmaker Emilija Gašić's 78 Days [+lee también:
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entrevista: Emilija Gašić
ficha de la película] scooped the Glocal Images Best Film Award, which includes a €6,000 prize. The international jury, led by Slovak film producer Katarína Tomková, and comprising Turkish-Cypriot DoP Emre Erkmen, French film critic Sandra Onana, Greek writer-director Asimina Proedrou and Berlin-based Palestinian filmmaker Juna Suleiman, selected 78 Days for its “unyielding truthfulness, and its ability to transcend time and to speak to the deepest recesses of our humanity”.

The Glocal Images Special Jury Award, which comes with a €3,000 prize, was presented to Dreaming & Dying, directed by Singaporean filmmaker Nelson Yeo, for “its enchanting and poetic approach that effortlessly evokes a sense of wonder towards the natural and spiritual world, and its playfulness in subverting audience expectations regarding the dynamic bond shared among three lifelong friends”.

The Glocal Images Best Director Award was bestowed upon Greek helmer Sofia Exarchou for her work on Animal [+lee también:
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entrevista: Sofia Exarchou
ficha de la película]. This recognition was specifically for “creating a riveting, vivid drama, which challenges audiences to enter the backstage of an often-overlooked world and face the grim truths hidden beneath the surface of amusement”. The award includes a trophy and €1,000. Additionally, the film secured the Glocal Images Best Cinematography Award, which went to Polish DoP Monika Lenczewska. This accolade was granted for “a visual narrative that carries the entire film consistently from beginning to end and illuminates the bleak reality of the resort industry”. The prize comes with an amount of €500, sponsored by Caretta Films.

In the Cypriot Films Competition, Embryo Larva Butterfly [+lee también:
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entrevista: Kyros Papavassiliou
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The Best Performance Award, accompanied by €1,000, was conferred upon Marina Makris for her role in Africa Star, directed by Adonis Florides. The jury remarked that her performance “stands out for its minimalistic yet immersive acting, bringing authenticity and depth to the character”. Meanwhile, the Audience Award, accompanied by €500, sponsored by TFI Markets, was bestowed upon The Teacher [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Farah Nabulsi.

Here is the complete list of winners at the 22nd Cyprus Film Days:

Glocal Images International Competition

Best Film
78 Days [+lee también:
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entrevista: Emilija Gašić
ficha de la película] - Emilija Gašić (Serbia)

Special Jury Award
Dreaming & Dying - Nelson Yeo (Singapore/Indonesia)

Best Director
Sofia Exarchou - Animal [+lee también:
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entrevista: Sofia Exarchou
ficha de la película] (Greece/Austria/Romania/Cyprus/Bulgaria)

Best Cinematographer
Monika Lenczewska - Animal

Cypriot Films Competition

Best Cypriot Film
Embryo Larva Butterfly [+lee también:
crítica
tráiler
entrevista: Kyros Papavassiliou
ficha de la película] - Kyros Papavassiliou (Cyprus/Greece)

Best Director of a Cypriot Film
Kyros Papavassiliou - Embryo Larva Butterfly

Best Performance in a Cypriot Film
Marina Makris - Africa Star (Cyprus)

Audience Award
The Teacher [+lee también:
crítica
ficha de la película] - Farah Nabulsi (UK/Palestine/Qatar)