The 15th Cyprus International Short Film Festival (ISFFC) wrapped up recently in Limassol. It was co-organized by the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Rialto Theatre between 11-17 October 2025.
President of the Jury, Miguel Valverde said “we spent a wonderful week, watching a wonderful selection of short films, chosen with taste and sensitivity, with an understanding of today’s world, with seriousness, but also with laughter”.
“We evaluated student films, directorial debuts, films awarded at major festivals, but also works by creators with a long career. It was not difficult to reach a decision, as the jury as a whole was generous in listening to each other” he noted.
For the International Competition Awards, the First Prize for Best Short Film (pound 4,000) went to ‘Blue Heart’ by Samuel Suffren and the second Prize for Best Short Film (pound 1,500) to ‘God is Shy’ by Jocelyn Charles
Best Director Award (pound 2,500) Simon Schneckenburger for ‘Skin on Skin’. Best Documentary Award (pound 3,000) ‘Man Number 4’ by Miranda Pennell. Best Eastern Mediterranean Film Award (pound 1,500) ‘Noi’ by Neritan Zinxhiria. Nomination for the European Short Film Award – Prix Vimeo ‘Noi’ by Neritan Zinxhiria
Regarding the National Competition Awards, First Prize for Best Cypriot Short Film (pound 4,000 and Grading and DCP services from Full Moon Productions) went to «Prelude to a Supernova» by Christos Artemiou. The ‘Dinos Katsouridis’ Director’s Award (pound 2,500 and technical equipment) Christos Artemiou for ‘Prelude to a Supernova’. Second Prize for Best Cypriot Film (pound 2,500) ‘The Archive of Grigoris Antoniou’ by Theopisti Stylianou-Lambert and Alexia Achilleos.
Best Cinematography Award (post-production and DCP services by Stefilm) Fern Silva for the film ‘Overnight Coup’ by Marina Xenofontos. Best Performance Award (ex-aequo) – pound 2,000 (Limassol Municipality) Naria Athanasopoulou for «Prelude to a Supernova» and Spyros Stavrinides for «The Visit» t?? Louis Patsias. Honorable distinctions in films: «Adoption is an Option» by Christina Tryfonos, «Half an Orange» by Loukia Hatzigianni and «The Weaver» by Giorgos Tsaggaris.