Onassis

Buffer Zone | Big Short Films 2024

Buffer Zone by Savvas Stavrou

23.09.2024

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.

Credits:

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 Vanacker

Sponsors:

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 Network

The project was selected for the Euro Connection pitching forum as part of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market 2021

International Sales & Distribution: Shortcuts

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