A new film festival focused on diversity and inclusion is taking place in Cyprus this from May 17 to 25 with events across several cities and rural communities. The festival organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation Cyprus member,  Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) as the official representative of the European Union for the Diversity Charter Cyprus and it seeks  to promote tolerance, acceptance, peaceful coexistence, and social solidarity through a curated selection of thought-provoking films and community activities.

This year’s edition also emphasises cultural decentralisation and encourages partnerships between embassies, schools, refugee shelters, student organisations, cultural venues, and civil society groups.

The programme includes:

• Screenings of international and local films in various cultural spaces
• Storytelling sessions and live performances
• Children’s screenings in collaboration with schools and youth centres
• Discussions with filmmakers and professionals in the cultural sector
• A public panel on Women in Cinema and Audiovisual Arts in Cyprus as part of FEMME Fest, in Nicosia on May 25 at the Nicosia Municipal Gardens, Cyprus.

The Diversity Film Festival builds on the legacy of the Disability Film Festival, which CSI successfully organised from 2021 to 2023. It now operates under the umbrella of the Diversity Forum, which will take place on May 22 at the Melina Mercouri Cultural Centre in Nicosia, Cyprus, co-funded by EU projects DIGFINLIT and TALENT.