About
Αbout the FESTIVAL
The International Short Film Festival of Cyprus is the official competition festival for short films in Cyprus, showcasing and celebrating an outstanding narrative, animated, documentary and experimental original short film content. Since 2019, the ISFFC is an official partner festival of the European Film Academy. Through the years, it has become an excellent platform for local and international filmmakers to showcase their work, and it maintains its reputation as an audience favourite.
With a developing presence in the short film arena, the ISFFC has become an ever growing Festival for shorts in the Eastern Mediterranean region, where established and emerging filmmakers enjoy the blissful experience of seeing their film on the big screen to packed audiences.
The ISFFC aims to always be ahead of the curve when it comes to integrating creativity and innovation by introducing new technologies and innovative initiatives every year. Alongside its main competition programme, the ISFFC organises a range of site-specific events in collaboration with local artists, various thematic screenings and masterclasses, aiming towards the integration of several art forms.
The Festival week culminates with the Awards ceremony in the national and international competition, with the Jury panel presenting the winners with generous cash and in-kind awards. The ISFFC Jury is comprised each year of five established international and Cypriot film professionals, academics, festival directors and short film programmers.
The Festival was founded by the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture and Rialto Theatre in 2000. Initially, it showcased exclusively a national competition section, but, since 2011 it expanded into an international competition festival.
Official Partner in the European Film Academy Network of Accredited Festivals
Ιn 2019, the Festival has been selected by the European Film Academy to participate as a partner into the exclusive circle οf the Academy's network of accredited festivals, with the right to nominate one short film from its competition as a candidate for the European Film Awards short film category. The EFA accreditation is a unique honour for the Festival as well as for Cyprus, as it places the ISFFC on the map of the top European short film festivals.
EFFE Label
As one of Europe’s finest festivals, the ISFFC was honoured with the EFFE Label. A certificate of excellence and quality recognised across Europe, the Label is given to festivals with an artistic commitment, involvement in their local communities and a European and global outlook. EFFE - Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe is a new international festival platform connecting festivals that are deeply committed to the arts, their communities and Europe.