TV and Radio Unit joins a trans-European film project.

The Director of TV and Radio Unit, George Sycallides, represents Cyprus in a European Union project called “Large”.
Large brings together 25 artists and filmmakers from the Member States of the new ‘enlarged’ Europe in a project that culminates with a screening of 8 new short films later this year. In late March a workshop was held in Brussels with the filmmakers and the renowned Mogens Rukov. The talented screenwriter, who has worked with directors like Thomas Vinterberg (‘Festen’, ‘It’s All About Love’) hosted the workshop by giving advice and assistance to the directors, screenwriters and producers. He also introduced a number of parameters that challenged the participants but also provided a narrative and technical framework in which to work. Each short film must be 5 to 10 minutes long, use digital media and contain the following three motifs: a main train station, a phone call and an SMS message! Rukov’s conditions will give the project an overall cohesiveness and judging from the draft scripts and proposals won’t inhibit or restrict creativity in any way. Each film is made up of a team of three artists from three different countries who work together on the script and filming to produce the work.

George Sycallides has been chosen as the film director of one of the teams together with a producer from Belgium and a scriptwriter from Luxembourg. Sycallides’ film takes place in the central station of Brussels and its story revolves around a pickpocket. Shooting took place late in May for 5 long consecutive days in the station of Brussels as well as in trains heading out of the central station. The Unit has sponsored the post production stage by offering facilities and personnel: Christopher Malapitan, our Multimedia Designer performed the montage using the Final Cut Editing Suite whereas our Manager Sophia Papageorgiou took care of the Sound Mix.

All eight films will be premiered in the capital of Europe in November 2004 before being distributed throughout the television networks and film festivals of the European Union.

© Copyright Intercollege TV & Radio Unit 2002