24th International Cyprus Film Days Festival
Organizer: Department of Contemporary Culture Deputy Ministry of Culture, Rialto Theater
Admission Status: Ticketed Event Get Tickets
Cinema
Film
From 17 to 25 April 2026, the screening halls of the Rialto Theatre and Zena Palace will once again fill with light, voices and stories. The 24th International Cyprus Film Days Festival returns, inviting audiences to nine days where image becomes experience and storytelling becomes an act of presence.
Under the central theme Life, this year’s edition goes beyond film screenings; it proposes a stance towards the world. In a time marked by uncertainty and transformation, cinema becomes a meeting point for memory, dialogue and resilience. Each film, each screening and each discussion serves as a reminder that the human experience, fragile yet persistent, remains at the heart of storytelling.
Artistic Direction
The 24th edition is artistically directed by filmmaker and academic Argyro Nicolaou and filmmaker and producer Petros Charalambous.
The two curators shape a programme that balances discovery and established voices, presenting premiere screenings from Cyprus and abroad. Their focus turns to works that take risks, engage with the present and tell stories that are both deeply personal and profoundly collective. Their aim is a living festival, a space where audiences do not merely watch, but actively participate.
The Programme
The festival unfolds as a multi-layered cinematic experience, bringing together competition sections, parallel events and industry initiatives.
International Competition Section – Showcasing contemporary cinematic voices from around the world, the section features films that confront their times, narrating stories of resistance, loss, perseverance and hope, and seeking meaningful dialogue with audiences.
Cypriot Competition Section – The pulse of local filmmaking. Cypriot creators present their work on a platform that supports, recognises and promotes the evolving identity of contemporary Cypriot cinema.
Viewfinder – The section presents films that have stood out across the international festival landscape during the past year, reflecting emerging currents and distinctive voices. It offers Cypriot audiences the opportunity to encounter promising new filmmakers and follow the work of established auteurs whose films continue to shape contemporary cinematic dialogue.
Parallel Screenings and Workshops – Expanding the scope of the festival, these events offer moments of reflection and discovery, adding depth and intensity to the cinematic experience.
Cyprus Film Days for Children and Young People – A dedicated programme that nurtures the relationship between younger generations and the language of cinema, encouraging imagination, critical thinking and creative engagement.
Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days – A professional meeting hub for filmmakers, producers and industry professionals. It serves as a platform for exchange, networking and the development of new co-productions and international collaborations.
The detailed screenings and parallel events programme will be announced soon on the official festival website.
Awards
The following awards will be presented during the Closing Ceremony:
● Best Film Award
● Special Jury Award
● Best Director Award
● Best Cinematography Award
● Best Cypriot Film Award
● Best Cypriot Director Award
● Best Performance in a Cypriot Film Award
● Audience Award
The Audience Award, based on viewers’ immediate evaluations after each screening, underlines that the cinematic experience is completed through its encounter with the public.
Information
The festival is organised by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre.
The 24th edition of Cyprus Film Days will take place from 17 to 25 April 2026 at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol and Zena Palace in Nicosia.
More information: www.cyprusfilmdays.com Rialto Theatre: +357 77 77 77 45
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