For the 6th consecutive year, the International Festival of Archaeological, Ethnographic, and Historical Documentaries of Cyprus (AEI Film Festival) is preparing to offer documentary and cinema enthusiasts a week filled with screenings and various quality cultural events for both adults and children.
From July 17 to July 23, 2023, the venue at the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus in the Faneromeni area of the old city of Nicosia will host the grand cinematic celebration organized by the non-profit cultural organization AEI Audiovisual Forum, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Cyprus. This year’s event will feature screenings of 37 films from 14 countries, including Cyprus (12 Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot productions), Greece, Turkey, Spain, Ukraine, France, Italy, Chile, Israel, Romania, England, and Bulgaria.
The opening ceremony of the AEI Film Festival 2023 will take place at 8:15 pm on Monday, July 17, with the awarding of this year’s honored director. Following the ceremony, two screenings will be held: the documentary “Details in Cyprus” and a special tribute to the historical Cinema Dance of Strovolos, which took place on October 31, 1959.
For the remaining days, the screening program starts at 5:00 pm on the first floor of the Cultural Foundation and continues until 8:00 pm (admission €5, reservations at aei.filmfestival@cytanet.com.cy). The second screening zone starts at 8:15 pm in the outdoor area of the Cultural Foundation and continues until 11:00 pm (admission €5, reservations at aei.filmfestival@cytanet.com.cy). On Saturday, July 22, and Sunday, July 23, there will be interactive workshops for children (ages 6-12) starting at 10:00 am and ending at 1:00 pm. The workshops cover themes of archaeology, geology, and astronomy. Additionally, from Monday to Sunday, a photographic exhibition will be open at the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus, featuring snapshots from this year’s Cinematic/Visual Education Workshops held during the “SYNeducate” program. The festival will conclude on Sunday, July 23, with the awards ceremony and a musical program by the AMALGAMATION Choir.
The AEI Film Festival is recognized internationally by the European Festivals Association (EFA). It is the only film festival of its kind in Cyprus, and starting this year, it becomes competitive with cash prizes for competing documentaries, following evaluation by an international jury, which includes distinguished personalities such as the president, famous author, history professor, and director Dr. Pedro Olalla. With a focus on the triptych of archaeology, ethnography, and history, the festival aims once again to highlight the rich cultural heritage of both Cyprus and the participating countries through the screening of high-quality documentaries that fall within the festival’s thematic scope and align with its philosophy. Information and the full program of the 6th AEI Film Festival can be found on the website https://aei-filmfestival.org/ and its Facebook and Instagram pages. The festival will also be available for online streaming on the platform www.eventive.com. Those interested in volunteering for the organization can contact aei.filmfestival@cytanet.com.cy.
