Cypriot independent film Sophocles premieres on YouTube

On April 23, the independent Cypriot film 'Sophocles' premiered on YouTube to coincide with the anniversary of the 2003 opening of the island's border crossings. Written, directed, and scored by Evren Maner, the feature-length film follows an elderly man returning to his village after decades of separation. Instead of a traditional theatrical release, the creators opted to release the project as a seven-part series. This format is intended to facilitate public dialogue and reflection regarding memory and division. The production team consisted of both Greek-speaking and Turkish-speaking Cypriots. The film is available for free to the public, including the diaspora, to encourage access across both sides of the island. Development of the project spanned nearly ten years. The release began with the debut of the original soundtrack before the first episode, titled 'The Arrival', was made available to viewers.