Cinematherapy by E.K.K.O.ME.D. is an innovative programme that combines the art of cinema with the psychotherapeutic process. Within the framework of the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, the programme gains a distinctive dynamic, harnessing the diversity and richness of short films to highlight the healing power of the moving image.

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Participants have the opportunity to watch a curated selection of short films and subsequently engage in interactive discussions and experiential workshops facilitated by mental health professional Denise Nikolakou and the filmmakers themselves. The films serve as a springboard for personal and collective reflection, encouraging dialogue around themes such as human relationships, identity, social issues, fears, and hopes.

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Cinematherapy at the ISFFC does not merely aim for theoretical understanding but focuses on experiential engagement: the viewer is invited to connect with the images and stories, to draw out emotions and process them within a safe and creative space. This year’s edition will feature the short film Tsigkitiklon: The Fairy and the Man by Marios Mettis, followed by a discussion with the director, lead actor Marios Ioannou (via video call), and facilitator Denise Nikolakou.

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Organised and coordinated in collaboration with the head of the Cinematherapy by E.K.K.O.ME.D. programme and Integrative Psychotherapist, Denise Nikolakou.