Cyprus Film Days International Festival

Overview

Cyprus Film Days is the official international film festival of Cyprus, organized by the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the Rialto Theatre. The 24th edition ran April 17 to 25, 2026, screening films across two cities: the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia. The festival's artistic directors are Argyro Nicolaou and Petros Charalambous.

The festival operates two competition sections: an International Competition for feature films from around the world, and a Cypriot Films Competition Section for domestic productions. The 2026 edition featured films including La Grazia by Paolo Sorrentino (Volpi Cup winner at Venice 2025), Sound of Falling by Masha Schilinski (Jury Prize at Cannes 2025), and All That's Left of You by Cherien Dabis (Golden Gate Award at San Francisco 2025, Jordan's official Oscar submission).

The festival also hosts Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days, a co-production and networking platform headed by Danae Stylianou. The 2026 industry program attracted more than 150 film professionals. The festival's guest of honor for 2026 was Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid, who attended for the screening of his latest film Yes (2025).

Submission Details

Submissions are accepted via FilmFreeway.

Films must be feature-length to be eligible for either competition section. The selection of competing films in both sections is made by the festival's artistic directors, Argyro Nicolaou and Petros Charalambous. Cypriot films must meet specific eligibility criteria as defined in the festival's rules and regulations.

Ticket Prices

Awards and Prizes

International Competition:

Cypriot Films Competition:

The Cypriot Films Competition Best Director Award is notable for its post-production services prize from AUTHORWAVE, valued at EUR 7,000, which includes Post Production Cinema and Platform Mastering Services. This is one of the most substantial post-production prizes at a regional European festival.

Programme Sections

• International Competition - feature films competing for the Best Film Award and other jury prizes
• Cypriot Films Competition - domestic Cypriot productions competing for separate awards
• Mediterranean Panorama - films from the broader Mediterranean region
• Children and Youth Programme - screenings for young audiences, including the National Short Film Competition for Children and Youth
• Special Screenings - curated out-of-competition selections
• Tribute Programs - retrospectives and director focuses (2026: Nadav Lapid)

The 2026 edition also included the 3rd National Short Film Competition for Children and Youth, with an awards ceremony on April 19 at K Cineplex Prime in Strovolos. The competition has become established as a platform for cinematic expression by younger generations in Cyprus.

Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days

Dot.on.the.Map is the festival's industry platform, headed by Danae Stylianou. The 2026 edition attracted more than 150 film professionals for co-production meetings, networking events, and industry sessions. The platform connects Cypriot and Mediterranean filmmakers with European producers, distributors, and funders. It is the primary industry event for Cypriot cinema and one of the few industry platforms focused on the Mediterranean region.

Festival History

Cyprus Film Days was founded in 2005 as the official international film festival of Cyprus. The festival is co-organized by the Deputy Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Cyprus and the Rialto Theatre in Limassol. The festival has operated continuously for 24 editions, growing from a small regional event into a competitive festival with substantial prize money and an active industry program.

The festival's identity is shaped by Cyprus's geopolitical position at the crossroads of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The island has been divided between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1974, with UN buffer zones running through the capital Nicosia. Cinema has served as one of the few cultural activities that can bridge the island's division, and the festival has occasionally programmed events accessible to both communities.

The festival's dual-city structure (Limassol and Nicosia) reflects the island's two main urban centers and ensures audience access across the Republic of Cyprus. The Rialto Theatre in Limassol serves as the festival's primary venue for opening and closing ceremonies, while Zena Palace Cinema in Nicosia provides the Nicosia screening site.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Cypriot filmmakers, this is the most important domestic platform. The Cypriot Films Competition offers substantial prizes, particularly the AUTHORWAVE post-production services worth EUR 7,000 for Best Director, which can significantly reduce finishing costs for a low-budget production.

International filmmakers should note that the festival accepts only feature films via FilmFreeway, with a deadline of December 15. The EUR 5 single screening ticket and EUR 30 festival pass make this one of the most affordable festivals for audience attendance in Europe. Free entry for university students expands the audience demographic.

The festival's crossroads location creates connections between European, Middle Eastern, and African cinema cultures that are not available at other European festivals. Filmmakers from the Mediterranean basin will find the most relevant audience and industry connections here. The Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days is the primary networking opportunity, with 150+ professionals attending in 2026.

The festival does not operate a film market in the traditional sense. Distribution deals are not a primary activity. The industry value lies in co-production connections through Dot.on.the.Map, particularly for filmmakers working in Mediterranean co-productions or seeking European partners for Middle Eastern or African projects.

The festival's 2026 guest of honor, Nadav Lapid, illustrates the festival's programming direction: formally adventurous, politically engaged cinema from the broader Mediterranean and Middle Eastern region. Filmmakers whose work fits this profile will find the most receptive audience and programming fit.

See Also

Calculate your total festival submission costs and projected return using the Festival ROI Calculator. For Mediterranean and international cinema context, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. For distribution deals, see Distribution Deals Explained. Submit through the Cyprus Film Days FilmFreeway page.