26/03/2025 - Cyprus Film Days’ co-production, training and networking platform is set to be held in Limassol, where Mediterranean filmmakers will pitch their projects to industry professionals

The 23rd iteration of the Cyprus Film Days International Festival (CFD), the official competitive festival of Cyprus, is scheduled to unspool from 4-12 April. Concurrently, the sixth edition of Dot.on.the.map Industry Days, the gathering’s co-production, training and networking platform, will run from 10-12 April in Limassol. CFD is an institutional event of the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, organised by the Department of Contemporary Culture in collaboration with the Rialto Theatre. Cypriot film producer and director Danae Stylianou is heading up Dot.on.the.Map Ιndustry Days.

The professionally orientated event offers a chance to connect with industry experts from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, enabling participants to explore co-production and distribution prospects, engage in discussions about forthcoming projects and foster cross-border partnerships. During the event, ten teams comprising producers and directors from Mediterranean nations will present their latest feature-length film projects to representatives of the global film industry. The pitching session is scheduled for 11 April at 10:30 am at the Rialto Theatre. The Dot.on.the.Map Meeting Point co-production forum is implemented in partnership with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival’s Agora.

An international jury comprising three producers – Miloš Lochman (moloko film, Czech Republic), Katya Trichkova (Contrast Films, Bulgaria) and Denis Vaslin (Volya Films, Netherlands) – will decide on the winners of this edition. The prizes include the Cyprus Film Commission – Invest Cyprus Award, accompanied by a monetary prize of €2,000; the EKKOMED Award, also accompanied by €2,000 in cash; the PS Movies and Stories Award, accompanied by lighting and grip-equipment rental worth up to €4,000, offered by PS Movies & Stories Cinema Equipment Rental Ltd; and the Agora Networking Award, offered by the Thessaloniki International Film Festival to the producer of the winning project, including accommodation and free market accreditation. For the second consecutive year, a partnership with Coprocity continues, and all of the projects participating in the forum will be pre-selected to vie for the Coprocity Development Award, worth €3,500, offered in partnership with Cineuropa.

Dot.on.the.map Industry Days will also host a series of Cinema Talks at the Rialto Theatre in Limassol. On 11 April, there will be an introduction to the Cyprus Minority Co-productions Scheme, offering insights into investment incentives from the Cyprus Film Commission and Invest Cyprus. Attendees will then learn about the European Producers Club (EPC), presented by newly appointed EPC managing director Julie-Jeanne Regnault. Following this, Elaine McElroy from the UK Global Screen Fund will present international co-production opportunities, detailing eligibility criteria and available funding options. The afternoon features a master class by Juliane Schulze on alternative financing for independent films, where attendees will explore innovative strategies for attracting financiers and engaging collaborators to maximise the financial potential of indie projects.

The second day, 12 April, begins with a panel discussion on the role of women in the film industry, moderated by Lise Perottet, which will delve into career paths, challenges and strategies to promote gender parity in European cinema. The discussion will feature several accomplished female professionals sharing their experiences and perspectives. The following session focuses on Mediterranean film festivals, with panellists from major festivals discussing curatorial strategies, festival selection processes, and the evolving role of such gatherings in the European film industry. The programme concludes with an information session on Creative Europe – MEDIA calls, presented by Nenad Bogdanovic, providing attendees with information on funding and opportunities through the Creative Europe programme.

Accreditation requests are now open and are exclusively for film professionals actively involved in developing, producing and promoting audiovisual works. The deadline to request accreditation is Wednesday 2 April. Professionals based in Cyprus can apply for free accreditation. For more information and to apply, please click here.

The selected Dot.on.the.map projects are as follows:

As a Warm September - Vlastimir Sudar (Montenegro/Kosovo)
Producers: Jasmina Karajlović, Karlo Kalezić (Montenegro Max Film)
Co-producer: Ujkan Hisaj

Boys’ Games - Corinna Avraamidou (Cyprus)
Producer: Andros Achilleos (AB Seahorse Film Productions Ltd)

The Color Green - Paloma Zapata (Spain/Croatia)
Producers: Paloma Zapata, Mila Luengo (La Fábrica Naranja)
Co-producer: Siniša Juričić

Holiday - Wissam Charaf (France/Italy/Lebanon)
Producers: Charlotte Vincent, Katia Khazak (Aurora Films)
Co-producers: Marco Valerio Fusco, Pierre Sarraf

I Am Afraid to Meet You Someday - Khaled Mansour (Egypt)
Producer: Rasha Hosny (The Rambos’ Productions)

Jo of Montreal - Ameen Nayfeh (Jordan/Saudi Arabia)
Producer: Bassam Alasad (Creative Media Solutions)

Last Trip - Ziad Kalthoum (Syria/Germany)
Producers: Zorana Mušikić, May Odeh (Mayana Films)
Co-producers: Laure Dahout, Marta Golba-Naumann

My Name Is Lily - Yianna Americanou (Cyprus/Greece/Belgium)
Producer: Stelana Kliris (Meraki Films)
Co-producers: Ioanna Bolomyti, Julie Esparbes

Shadow on the Mountain - Nicholas Dimitropoulos (Greece/Cyprus/Denmark)
Producers: Tasos Koronakis, Marina Danezi (Laika Productions)
Co-producers: Marinos Haralampous, Eva Juel Hammerich

TETTIX - Stella Serefoglou (Greece)
Producer: Alexandros Tiliopoulos (Open Borders Productions)