Cyprus Film Days is the official international film festival of Cyprus. It’s been running since 2001, and this April marks its 24th edition — nine days of screenings, competitions, workshops, and industry events split between Limassol and Nicosia.
If you’ve never been, here’s the short version: it’s a curated programme of independent and international films that you won’t find at your local multiplex. Most of them are Cyprus premieres. Some have already picked up awards at Sundance, Venice, and Cannes. And the whole thing is more accessible than you’d think.
Here’s what you need to know.
🎬 What’s the Festival About This Year?
This year’s edition runs under the theme “Life.” The programme brings together over 20 international films spanning competition sections, special programmes, and dedicated youth screenings. It’s artistically directed by Argyro Nicolaou and Petros Charalambous, who’ve built a lineup that mixes emerging voices with established filmmakers.
The main sections include the Glocal Images International Competition, the Cypriot Films Competition, the Viewfinder contemporary cinema programme, a Cinemas of Dissent series, and Common Ground special screenings. There’s also a Children & Youth programme with free admission.
🏆 The Big One: “Hold Onto Me” Gets Its Cyprus Premiere
The headline story of this edition is “Hold Onto Me” (Κράτα Με), directed by Cypriot filmmaker Myrsini Aristidou. The film won the Audience Award at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival — a major milestone for Cypriot cinema. It follows 11-year-old Iris navigating family disruption and friendship in Cyprus. It opens the festival at Rialto Theatre on Friday, April 17 at 19:30 and screens again on Sunday, April 19 at ZENA in Nicosia.
Other notable titles include “La Grazia” by Paolo Sorrentino, which picked up the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at Venice 2025; “Yes” by Nadav Lapid, which premiered at Cannes; and “All That’s Left of You” by Cherien Dabis, which was Jordan’s official submission for the Academy Awards.
🎥 Cypriot Films in Competition
The festival isn’t just about international imports. Three Cypriot productions are in competition this year:
- Hold Onto Me — Myrsini Aristidou (Cyprus, Denmark, Greece)
- Motherwitch — Minos Papas (Cyprus, North Macedonia)
- Maricel — Ilias Dimitriou (Cyprus, Greece) — a story about a Filipina domestic worker in a remote Cypriot mountain village
Plus “Diversion” by Marinos Kartikkis, a Cypriot drama about a police officer facing moral dilemmas.
🛠️ Workshops & Masterclasses
Beyond screenings, the festival runs hands-on workshops for filmmakers and creatives:
- AI in Cinema — a two-day workshop led by Elettra Fiumi exploring artificial intelligence tools in filmmaking
- Screenwriting Rewriting — a masterclass with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Christina Lazaridi on script revision through character development
- Colour Grading — a workshop and masterclass with Athens-based colourist Manthos Sardis at Copper Island studios and Rialto Theatre (April 22)
There are also creative film workshops for children and the 7th edition of Dot.on.the.Map Industry Days (April 23–25), a co-production and networking platform for film professionals.
📍 Where, When & How Much
- Dates: April 17–25, 2026
- Venues: Rialto Theatre, Limassol | ZENA (Th. Theodotou 18), Nicosia | K-Cinema, Nicosia (youth programme)
- Tickets: €5 per screening | €30 festival pass (all screenings)
- Students: Free entry with valid student ID
- Children’s programme: Free admission
- Age: 18+ for all screenings except children’s programme
- Languages: Original language with Greek and English subtitles
- Buy tickets: rialto.interticket.com | Box office: 77777745
💡 The Verdict
You don’t need to be a “film person” to enjoy this. A €5 screening of a Sundance-winning Cypriot film on a Friday night at Rialto is a pretty good way to spend an evening. The full schedule has screenings running daily from afternoon to late night, in both Limassol and Nicosia, so you can pick what fits.
🔗 Don’t Miss What’s On See the full schedule and details at eventor.com.cy — Cyprus Film Days 2026
Cyprus Events & Activities – by EventOr 
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