The 1st CIFF started vigorously with the presentation of more than 130 films selected from over than 40 countries. The fact that from the very beginning CIFF got more than 400 film submissions from 43 countries, 10 satellite events in three cities, more than 100 visitors and guests from abroad came to attend the Festival and were accredited to participate in various Festival’s satellite activities and events, around 300 guests attended the Opening Ceremony, more than 400 persons were present in the Closing Ceremony, all these consist a very good sign that this event is welcomed and missing from Cyprus and a proof for the potential and the long-term preparation by the founders. The participants are sending congratulating letters and they express their wish to come again next year and some of them investigate seriously film shooting opportunities in Cyprus.
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In the various competition categories in CIFF2006 took part 11 countries with feature films for the Golden Aphrodite Award, 7 countries with short films and 5 countries with animation films.
Most of the awards were delivered to the following countries for their films:
•Germany with the film “Unveiled”, by Angelina Maccarone, won the awards for Best Direction, Best Actress and Golden Aphrodite Award. Germany also won the Best Video Art award for the film “Paphos and Galatea” by Philip Koch.
• India with the film “RAAM” won the awards for Best Musical Score and Best Actor. The recognized, upcoming, Indian director AMEER made possible for an Indian feature film, made in Tamil language, to win two international awards, which had a direct effect to the international cinema world!
• Belgium with the film “ELLEKTRA” won the awards for Best Production Design and Best Cinematography,
sponsored by KODAK & Seahorse Films. Talented director, Mr. Rudolf Mesdagh will be soon in Cyprus to shoot his next film.
• Greece with the film “Meteorites” by Giannis Mavroyenis won the Best Comedy award, the Best Documentary award in the category “Fair Play” for the film “Olympic Diaries” by Aggeliki Kontis as well
as CIFF Audience Award, sponsored by Chivas Regal, for the short film “White Light” by Thanasis Sarantos. • Short Film Honorary Awards by the VIP Jury
Committee were given to Panayiotis Photiou for the film “One in A Million” and to Petros Charalambus for “The Escape of the Queen” from Cyprus.
The CIFF Artistic Director is Phedon Papamichael, Production Designer in John Cassavetes’ films. His son with the same name, famous Director or Photography, will lead a workshop of Photography during the Festival, as part of the satellite educational program.
In the frame of CIFF’s international promotion and paying attention especially to the Cypriot film productions, CIFF has achieved participation in the following events:
A) The films ‘Οne in a Million’ and ‘Αnimal Behaviour’ of the Cypriot film directors Panayiotis Photiou and Nikos Synnos accordingly, in Short Film Corner Film Market at Cannes Film Festival!
Β) The films ‘God on our side’ (Netherlands) , ‘Animal Behavior’ (Cyprus), ‘Paphos & Galatea’ (Germany), ‘Con Que 24...(OUCH)!’ (Spain), ‘The Escape of the Queen’ (Cyprus), ‘One in a million’ (Cyprus), which have been awarded in the CIFF 2006 different categories were included in the competition section of New York Independent International Film Festival and they were scheduled for screening on 11th of May at Village East Cinemas in New York!
The CIFF 2007 hosts the following competitive categories: Feature Films – CIFF2006 ‘GOLDEN APHRODITE AWARD’ for BEST FEATURE FILM: German film UNVEILED, directed by Angelina Maccarone.
Short Films – CIFF 2006 ‘BEST SHORT FILM AWARD’: Spanish film Con Que 24…(ouch), directed by the Spanish Lucas Figueroa and Death Mailing directed by the Irish Julian Hills.
Films for children – CIFF 2006 AWARD for ‘BEST CHILDREN’S FILM’: ALBUM (Iran) by Reza Heydarnejad. Animation Films – CIFF 2006 AWARD for ‘BEST ANIMATION FILM’: Dutch film GOD ON OUR SIDE, by Michal Pfeffer and Uri Kranot (Netherlands). Sponsored by NEC. Sport Films –
CIFF 2006 for ‘FAIR PLAY’: OLYMPIC DIARIES, directed by Aggeliki Contis.
VIDEO ART Films – CIFF 2006 for ‘BEST VIDEO ART FILM’: Short film PAPHOS AND GALATEA, by the German director Philip Koch. Diaspora Cypriot cinematographers’ Films – CIFF 2006 for “NOSTIMON EMAR”: THE SPIRIT OF THE CHICAGO GREEKS, directed by Dr. Jenna Constantine (USA).
Documentaries –
CIFF & YOUTH AWARD 2006 for ‘BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM’: BUZZ, directed by Spyros Taraviras. Humanitarian – CIFF 2006 ‘HUMANITARIAN AWARD’: Documentary VISIONING TIBET, directed by Isaac Solotaroff, USA. Comedy Films –
CIFF 2006 for ‘BEST COMEDY FILM’: Greek feature film METEORS, directed by John Kalemis Mavrogenis.
New category : Dance Films and VIDEO DANCE FILM SUBMISSIONS FOR CIFF 2007: Directors are welcomed to inquire information or ask an application form for their film entry by e-mail at
2007, in Limassol, Cyprus. SATELLITE EVENTS FOR CIFF 2007: Satellite Activities and Cultural Events will be part of the Festival. Educational satellite activities include seminars and workshops relative to the Film
Industry. All parts interested in participating to CIFF 2007 Satellite Events are welcomed to submit their suggestions by mail at: Olga Primenta
VOLUNTEERS for CIFF 2007: Students in the sectors of Visual Media, Art, Journalism&Communication, Film Studies and the friends of cinema are welcomed to require any information on volunteer opportunities in the various Festival sections.
Email:
Phedon Papamichael,