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CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) takes place annually under the umbrella of Cultural International Festivals in cooperation with the CINE@ART FESTIVAL network on the beautiful Mediterranean island of Cyprus. The festival,inaugurated in 2006,promotes emerging filmmakers in multiple sectors of entertainment (films,music,dance,videoart)
Cyprus
21 Years Running
Film Festival
About this Festival
Responding to a changing world, show that your work rises to the challenge. Selected films are announced and promoted to distributors prior to the festival. Also all film submissions have the option to get distribution at inspire-tv.com with beneficial terms.
"The Best of the 1st!"
Cyprus International Film Festival's mission is to support the first shown filmmakers with their first short or feature film, to meet and exchange cultures for the further development of Cinematographic Art in Cyprus, to promote our historical and cultural heritage,to upgrade our tourism product and to internationally promote our alumni participants.
High Global Recognition & Quality Standards
CYIFF is consistently recognized as one of the Top 100 Best Reviewed Festivals out of over 5,500 worldwide on FilmFreeway. It also continuously carries the prestigious EFFE Label (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe), which certifies its high artistic value and commitment to community inclusion.
Progressive and Diverse Categories
The festival stands out for creating specialized, niche screening brackets that address cultural gaps:
"Nostimon Imar": A category dedicated exclusively to expatriate filmmakers of Greek or Cypriot origin.The Aphrodite Cinematic Award: Run in conjunction with WIFT Cyprus, this category specifically highlights independent projects helmed by women directors and producers
M.ultidisciplinary Art: Beyond standard features, it integrates animation, video art, dance, sport, and humanitarian films.
Bicommunal Peace & Cultural Diplomacy
Operating from Nicosia, CYIFF actively uses cinema as a tool for political reconciliation. The festival continuously honors both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot artists, organizing bicommunal cultural initiatives, live poetry slams ("Poetry Bridges"), and musical collaborations to promote regional peace through art.5. Practical Hands-On Talent DevelopmentThrough its popular Pegasus/Aphrodite Cinema Lab, the festival does not just screen films—it helps produce them. It connects local talent directly with major distribution pathways via global network alliances in Athens, Cannes, New York, and Los Angeles.
Gallery Preview
Submission Categories
Submission categories not found
Rules & Terms
The festival is dedicated exclusively to the emerging independent filmmakers who are going to present the screening of their film both in live and online screening. We try to accommodate as many films as we can. Live and online film screenings are scheduled with priority to the filmmakers who attend the festival physically or virtually. With the competition section of first feature films in the category "Golden Aphrodite" and first short films in the category “CYIFF Got Talent", the festival's motto is the following: “The Best of the First!”.
• Only First Feature Films are eligible to participate for the “Golden Aphrodite Award”. The Festival will chose the final categorization.
• All other feature films are eligible for the “CYPress Veteran`s Award”.
• Only First Short films are eligible to participate for the “CYIFF GOT TALENT Award”.
• All other short films are eligible for the "CYIFF Veterans Short Films Awards".
CYIFF General and Special Categories:
• Feature Films (up to 120 minutes) – all genres (including animation and documentaries produced the last 36 months)
• Short Films (up to 20 minutes) – all genres (including animation and documentaries produced the last 36 months)
• "Women films" are eligible for the Aphrodite Cinematic Award. Films with a female director and/or producer (no restriction in production year, genre or duration).
• "50/50" Films with 50% men and 50% women in credits
• "Nostimon Imar" - Films made by directors of diaspora.
• Interactive, video games, GTA, VR, AR, 360 videos, comics
• SMARD (Smart Art Advertisement)
• Green Line in Peace - Films about PEACE, Tribute to the last divided capital in the world, Nicosia
• Films shot with a Mobile
• Films in Greek language (with English subtitles)
Technical requirements:
The selected titles must all be in MP4 format, less than 4 GB, and must be forwarded to us via a link in order to upload the titles.
Note: Selected films with Greek subtitles are eligible to participate with live and/or online screenings in Bridges International Festival in Greece. bridgesfest.eu
You can submit via FilmFreeway
CORINTH: https://filmfreeway.com/BRIDGESINTERNATIONALFILMFESTIVAL
LOUTRAKI: https://filmfreeway.com/LoutrakiFest
NAFPLIO: https://filmfreeway.com/NafplioInternationalFilmFestival
Awards & Prizes
-Certificates, medals.
-All awarded filmmakers will get special discounts in renting facilities for their next film production in Cyprus.
-All selected films are eligible to participate to Bridges International Film Festival in Greece, in three cities, Corinth, Loutraki and Nafplio, as another opportunity for international recognition and awards.
-Best WIFT CYPRUS award with director's or producer's honorary membership to the Women in Film and Television Cyprus chapter wiftcy.org
-INSPIRE-TV awards - Jury awarded films are eligible to be included and promoted for free in the distribution platform for independent filmmakers inspire-tv.com -Non exclusive distribution at Inspire-TV.com with free views or VOD (VOD net proceeds are split 50% to the filmmaker/producer and 50% to the platform). Geoblocking is available.