Marina Xenofontos Wins Best Art Film at St. Moritz Art Film Festival 2025
The 2025 St. Moritz Art Film Festival (SMAFF) awarded Marina Xenofontos the Best Art Film prize, selected in partnership with ArtReview. Her film 'Overnight Coup Plan' explores memory, history, and identity in Cyprus, shot during the 50th anniversary of the 1974 coup d'état. The narrative follows a group of teenage girls over a single night, blending autobiographical fragments with the island's political residues. Xenofontos worked with non-actors, including her niece, and used personal archives. The festival's theme was 'Emerging Virtualities'. SMAFF announced an open call for its 5th edition under the theme 'If Music'.
Key facts
- Marina Xenofontos won the Best Art Film award at SMAFF 2025.
- The award was selected in partnership with ArtReview.
- The film is titled 'Overnight Coup Plan'.
- It was shot during the 50th anniversary of the 1974 coup in Cyprus.
- The film follows teenage girls over one night.
- Xenofontos used non-professional actors, including her niece Nefeli.
- The festival theme was 'Emerging Virtualities'.
- SMAFF announced an open call for the 5th edition under 'If Music'.
Entities
Artists
- Marina Xenofontos
- Kyriacos Kyriakides
- Tom Hardwick-Allan
- Polyxenie Savva
- Yashwini Raghunandan
- Giorgos Tigkas
- Kyraki Costa
Institutions
- St. Moritz Art Film Festival
- ArtReview
- EOKA B
Locations
- St. Moritz
- Switzerland
- Cyprus
- Ayia Napa