Although Cypriot cinema might not have the same global platform as most film industries, recently, it has produced several emotionally resonant films that provide a glimpse into the developing potential of the film industry in Cyprus. From political dramas to surreal comedies, these films explore the island’s vibrant history and culture. If you are intrigued by international films or merely looking for something to watch, these seven Cypriot movies are bound to spark some interest.
- To Teras (2023)
Written and directed by Giorgos Kyriacou and Savvas Christou, To Teras follows a documentary being filmed by three filmmakers at a closed community residing in the mountains. Taking place merely ten days before a second lockdown is put in place, the film portrays the residents speaking of a mysterious monster after five people turned out to be missing.
- Pause (2018)
Directed by Tonia Mishiali, Pause is a slow-burning, psychological portrayal of a middle-aged housewife suffocating under the weight of a loveless marriage. Addressing the emotional claustrophobia of domestic life, using silence, imagination, and surreal fantasy, the film conveys the protagonist’s inner world.
- Rosemarie (2017)
With an intriguing blend of psychological tension and social commentary, director Adonis Florides crafts Rosemarie as a darkly comic mystery around a struggling screenwriter who begins to spy on his neighbors for inspiration. What starts as creative desperation soon spirals into something darker. This modern noir is filled with suspense and insight into suburban alienation.
- The Last Homecoming (2008)
A sweeping romantic drama set in the summer of 1974, just before the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, The Last Homecoming depicts a love triangle entangled in national tragedy. Director Corinna Avraamidou draws on both personal and historical memory to explore how intimate relationships become casualties of political upheaval.
- Small Crime (2008)
The film follows a young policeman on a sleepy island who investigates the mysterious death of a local man. Equal parts romance, mystery, and character study, the film combines Mediterranean charm with low-key humor. Despite filming in Greece, Christos Georgiou, a Cypriot director, co-produced Small Crime with Cyprus and Germany.
- Impressions of a Drowned Man (2015)
This experimental film, directed by Kyros Papavassiliou, is inspired by the final moments of French poet Arthur Cravan. Blending fact and fiction, Impressions of a Drowned Man explores themes of existential doubt, artistic failure, and identity. The film resists traditional narrative, instead offering a haunting, visually rich meditation on death and memory.
- Ghost Town (2023)
Ghost Town (2023) is a recent addition to the Cypriot film scene, depicting the journey of a Greek Cypriot man who revisits his childhood home in Varosha, a once bustling town now immobilized in time. As he explores the ruins, he confronts memories of loss, displacement, and the dream of return. With strong visual storytelling and a reflective tone, it captures the tension between personal memory and national history.
