The 21st Cyprus International Film Festival (CIFF) returns with a five-day programme combining 45 short and feature films, world premieres, international collaborations, a new VR cinema experience, live performance and a special 1974 tribute, bringing filmmakers and cultural voices from Cyprus and abroad together at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Hall.
The Festival, which began in 2006, continues its journey with a strong focus on independent cinema, artistic experimentation and international cultural exchange.
At a press conference held at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Hall, the Festival’s volunteer professional organisers reflected on 21 years of making their original vision a reality—continuing to create and dream at a time when, as they noted, current circumstances can make it difficult to do so.
45 films, world premieres and a new hybrid dimension
Over the five days of the Festival, 45 short and feature-length films will be screened at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Hall, with free admission.
The programme includes world premieres, among them three films from Cyprus, two Cyprus co-productions with Spain and France, as well as premieres from the United States, Hong Kong, Greece and China.
For the first time, CYIFF is also expanding beyond the physical screening venue with a hybrid programme, offering additional online screenings through inspire-tv.com. The initiative will allow audiences beyond Cyprus to access and experience the Festival programme.
Another first this year is the presentation of Lost Spaces by Belinda Cherrington and Kalli Koulloufidou, using specialised Virtual Reality (VR) equipment and offering audiences an immersive cinematic experience.
New voices, performance and visual storytelling
The Festival continues to broaden its artistic programme through new initiatives in collaboration with Women in Film and Television – Cyprus (WIFT Cyprus).
The photography exhibition Things We Pass By, presented in collaboration with WIFT Cyprus, will travel to Greece for the BRIDGES International Film Festivals, while its material will also be published in the digital magazine IN FRAME, as announced by WIFT Cyprus President Anna Christofini.
For the first time, the Festival will also present the Monologue Challenge, featuring performers presenting original monologues based on texts they have written themselves, bringing together creative writing and live performance.
1974 Tribute: cinema, memory and peace
A central part of the Festival remains its annual 1974 Tribute, bringing together cinema, music, personal testimony and artistic expression around the events and legacy of 1974.
This year’s programme includes the Bicommunal Choir for Peace – Lena Melanidou, a screening of the documentary Queens of Cyprus by Panikos Panayiotou, the Cypriot short films Echo of Time by Marios Kleanthous and Βρέχει (Vrechei) by Lucianna (Lu) Kyriacou, and a monologue by Kypros Kyprianou, inspired by his personal experience as one of the unaccompanied children who were hosted in Greece following the 1974 invasion.
The WIFT CYPRUS’ programme “Cyprus Women Environmental Peacemakers (CWEP)” will also continue with symbolic olive-tree plantings and poetry readings dedicated to Peace and the Environment in other countries, including Serbia, Austria and Hong Kong. The initiative has already taken place in Pyla, Cyprus and Greece.
European opportunities for filmmakers and cultural professionals
The Festival will also place a spotlight on European cultural funding and international cooperation.
On the final day of the Festival, Nenad Bogdanović, Coordinator of Operational Planning at the Organisation for European Programmes and Cultural Relations and Head of the “Creative Europe” and “CERV” Offices/Contact Points, will deliver a special presentation for the Festival’s international guests and professionals.
The presentation will focus on opportunities for European funding, networking and international cooperation in the cultural and creative sectors, with particular relevance to filmmakers and creative professionals.
International diplomatic and cultural presence
The press conference was attended by representatives of diplomatic and cultural institutions, including H.E. Suzana Bošković-Prodanović, Ambassador of Serbia to Cyprus, Eleni Angastiniotou, Press and Cultural Affairs Officer of the Embassy of Austria in Cyprus, and the President of the Cypriots-Chinese Women & Children Association (CCWCA), Lulu Tang.
Their presence underlined the Festival’s continuing role as a meeting point for cinema, culture and international dialogue.
Golden Aphrodite Awards
The Festival will culminate with the “Golden Aphrodite” Film Awards on Friday, 25 September, at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Hall.
After 21 years, the Cyprus International Film Festival continues to provide a platform for independent filmmakers, emerging artists and cultural organisations, connecting Cyprus with the international film and cultural community.
21st Cyprus International Film Festival
25 September 2026 | Melina Mercouri Cultural Hall, Cyprus
Free admission to physical screenings
English TV Spot: https://youtu.be/fferOaAE7b8
Press Conference Video: https://youtu.be/P8Kz_0O04sU
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