Buffer Zone | Big Short Films 2024
Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou
Onassis Drama Queer Film Award & Best Actor Award at the Drama International Short Film Festival 2023.
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Available at onassis.org from 16 - 26.10.2024
Manolis has just been drafted for his 26-month civil service. He dreams of escape, especially following the homophobic brutality he suffers at the hands of other soldiers. His post guarding the Greek-Cypriot side of the Buffer Zone is filled with boredom until, one day, he witnesses similar hostility happening to Özgür, the Turkish-Cypriot guard across the border. Intrigued and hungry for connection, Manolis grabs his attention by singing, and, to his surprise, Özgür joins in. For a brief moment the two of them bond, no longer enemies, a mutual attraction brewing. However, their interaction is cut short with the change of guard and Manolis is forced to leave, not knowing when their rotas will coincide again. Determined, Manolis changes his shifts to full days, waiting patiently to see Özgür again. But this raises suspicions within his barracks, something that could risk putting their secret encounters in the spotlight.
Two young soldiers across enemy lines fall in love and find escape from their oppressive environments through music.
Cast:
Andreas Marcou, Adnan Mustafa, Charalambos Damianou
Greek Cypriot Soldiers: Vaggelis Xeni, Michalis Kanavos, Constantinos Georgiou, Demetris Pouroullis, Victoras Panayiotou, Orestes Theodosiou, Adonis Sergiou, Stavros Christophi, Rony Junior El Daccache, Tasos Anastassiades, Neofytos Kyprianou, Savvas Chrysostomou, Panayiotis Antoniades, Chris Rotsakis, Kyriakos Ioannides, Ektoras Yiallourides
Turkish Cypriot Soldiers: Mustafa Anis, Ekin Karaböcek, Barış Osmanoğulları, Kadir Kırboğa
UN Soldiers: Shumaila Hanif, Luboš Podhorský
Crew:
Writer-Director: Savvas Stavrou
Producers: Sophie Reynolds, Thomas Hawkins, Peter Stephanou
Production Companies: Soña Films, Seahorse Film Productions
Co-producer: Andros Achilleos
Associate Producers: Sholeh Zahraei, Kamil Saldun, Fani Skartouli
1st Assistant Director: Christina Tryphonos
Script Supervisor: Stephanie Petrides
Production Manager: Sacha Kovacevic
Production Assistants: Bedo Mouradian, Adnan Hammad, Paolo Nizam, Michalis
Pierides
Catering: Chrissy Pitsillides, Morfo Nikita
Casting Directors: Danae Stylianou, Sally McCleery
Director of Photography: Anna MacDonald
Focus Puller: Christos Zenios
Clapper Loader: Spiros Christofi
DIT Technician: Justin Brokensha
Gaffer: Manos Chatziconstantinou
Sparks: Cecilia Tselepidi, Harry Trakoshis, Dimos Nikolaou
Grip: George Trakoshis
Sound Recordist/Mixer: Stavros Terlikkas
Boom Operator: Stephanie Dewan
Production Designer: Lydia Mandridou
Set Dresser: Stelios Modestou
Art Assistant: Chloe Stavrou
Costume Designer: Caterina Ttakka
Makeup Artist: Ioanna Nika
Movement Director: Konstantina Skalionta
Stunt Coordinator: Thanasis Kaisharis
Stunts by: MSR Services Cyprus
Stills Photographer: Keti Papadema, Spiros Christofi
Editor: Mdhamiri Á Nkemi
Supervising Sound Editor: Joakim Sundström
Re-recording Mixers: Doug Cooper, Jonathan Rush
Sound FX Editor: Christer Melén
Dialog Editor: Jorge Alacrón
Foley Artist: Julien Naudin
Foley Mixer: Patrick Ghislain
Re-recorded at: Warner Bros, De Lane Lea, London
Sound Mix Technician: Kirsten Kidwell
Visual Effects: Jam VFX
Additional Visual Effects: Ghost VFX
Colorist: Vlad Barin – CHEAT
Music Composer: Angus MacRae
Songs:
“Running Up That Hill,” written by Kate Bush, licensed courtesy of Sony Music Publishing Ltd
“Livin’ on a Prayer,” written by Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child, Richard Sambora, performed by Bon Jovi, published by Universal Music Ltd on behalf of Bon Jovi Publishing, Universal, Polygram Int Publishing Inc, Aggressive Music, Sony/ATV Tunes LLC, licensed courtesy of Universal & Sony Music Publishing Ltd
“Talk Show Host,” written and performed by Radiohead (Thom Yorke, Colin Greenwood, Ed O’Brien, Jonny Greenwood, Philip Selway), published by Warner Chappell Music Ltd, licensed courtesy of XL Recordings Ltd
Special Thanks:
United Nations, Cyprus Ministry of Defence, Cyprus Ministry of Health, Home 4 Cooperation, Nicosia Municipality, Accept+ Queer Association, Kemal Baykalli, Kalomira Tenediou, Green Olive Films, Oliver Pearson, Matthew Suddaby, Panavision London, Alexandra Matheou, Emma Doxiadi, Elena Pyrgou-Lemesiou, Erdogan Kavaz, Oya Akin, Eleni Nicolaou, Peggy Spinelli, Demetris Avraamides, Elena Christodoulidou, Diomides Nikita, Emma Heywood, Panikos Shiouftas, Cain Kazimoglu, Costas Pitsillides, Constantina Mavrou, Queer Writers Club, Panikos Shiouftas, Andreas Sozou, Jordan Andreopoulos, Valentini Polycarpou, Vera Andreou, Marios Petrondas, Philip Brown, Wim VanackerSponsors:
Hynos by Bed N’ Mix Hotel, Centrum Hotel, Classic Hotel, Altius Boutique Hotel, Cleopatra City Centre Hotel, Photiades Group
The film was produced with the support of:
BFI Network, The Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, Cyprus Cinema Advisory Committee, SEE Cinema NetworkThe project was selected for the Euro Connection pitching forum as part of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market 2021
International Sales & Distribution: Shortcuts
