Apparently it was the Armenians who introduced cinema to Cyprus (Armenians also improved the island's standard of shoemaking, expediting walk-outs and preventing Cypriots from stubbing their toes in dark cinemas as they roared “Eisa Deya Balor!” while heading for the Exit signs). Despite the fact that Cyprus has been making movies since 1960, multiplexes from Paphos to Limassol to Nicosia still seem as full of the same Hollywood films you can see (or not) at Australian multiplexes. However, you can see Cypriot films at the annual Cineart Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) where one of Australia's “most distinguished and critically acclaimed independent film-makers” (and co-founder of influential website Senses of Cinema) the now Greece-based, Bill Mousoulis was celebrated last year for his latest production My Australia (pictured), directed by Israeli Ami Drozd.
