Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

A Cypriot film will be shown at the Venice Biennale!

THE VENICE Biennale has selected a Cypriot film to show in one of its three major sections in this year’s International Venice Film Festival in September.

Akamas, directed by Panicos Chrysanthou, is one of five productions to be aired in the Festival’s ‘Horizons’ section under the subsection of special events in Lido, Venice between August 30 and September 9.

According to the Biennale’s website the aim of ‘Horizons’ is “to provide a picture of the new trends in cinema”.

“It is a great distinction for a film to be selected to be shown at the Venice Film Festival and is the first time a Cypriot production will be shown at this festival,” Chrysanthou told the Cyprus Mail yesterday.

The 125 minute feature film, starring Christopher Greco, Agni Tsangaridou, Michalis Terlikkas, is a love story spanning a 20 year period between a Turkish Cypriot man and a Greek Cypriot woman. The film is a co-production between Cyprus, Greece, Hungary and Turkey.

Chrysanthou has directed four independent documentaries but this is his first feature. He said Akamas takes place over the period from 1955 to 1975.

“The film is not based on one story, but a number of true stories I heard from various people over the years,” he said.

Asked what had inspired the story, he said: “I thought it was an interesting story to see what’s been going on in Cyprus.”

To make the film the director received financial backing from the Education Ministry.

A Ministry official said it was “a great honour” the film had been approved to show at the festival.

The International Vienna Film Festival aims to encourage the awareness and the promotion of all the various aspects of international cinema as art, entertainment and industry, in a spirit of freedom and tolerance.

“The Festival will include retrospectives and homages to major figures as a contribution towards a better awareness of the history of cinema,” its website said.

[Maria28]

After the political issues and troubles with this film will it still be shown in Venice?

[Niyaz2137]

I REALLY want to see this. But unfortunately I don't thinkit's possible being as I live in America and all.

[Mus]

Does anyone know if this Akamas film actually DID go to Venice Film Festival then? Not sure if it did since there was so many problems about it!

[cypezokyli]

it is present in the venice bienalle programm....

http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/fes ... 366.1.html

it is not competing, it is presented as a "special event" (whatever that means)

we should be proud.

[Mus]

Yes you should be proud (sorry I'm not Cypriot but I am proud for you)...its great that Cyprus finally entered with a film.

[cypezokyli]

the film was shown and according to phileleftheros , the director said that he was invided to show the moovie in NY and Paris. he will also make an try to show it in his own country (since obviously an effort is needed in contrast to abroad where he has an invitation )