After five very challenging weeks, our amazing film family wrapped on the shoot for APART FROM HER!
This film was a Cyprus-UK-Greece co-production between the companies Meraki Films (Cyprus), Over The Fence Films (UK) and Atalante Productions (Greece) in association with Jupiter Peak Productions (USA) and Copper Island (Cyprus) and through the support of the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Cyprus Film Commission’s incentives scheme, the Hellenic Film & Audiovisual Center - Creative Greece, European Union – NextGenerationEU through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan «GREECE 2.0», Creative Europe and the SEE Cinema Network.
This was a story set in the 1970s between Cyprus and South Africa and was shot entirely in Cyprus, in the village of Pera Oreinis and the capital city of Nicosia, through the kind support of each municipality and their respective mayors.
Our cast was lead by Leem Lubany (Omar, The Old Man ), Luca Pasqualino (Rivals, Shadow and Bone, Skins) and Girley Jazama (Under the Hanging Tree , Measures of Men ) together with Robert Hobbs, Mary-anne Barlow, Andreas Phylactou, Athina Roditou and Eliana Chalkia.
APART FROM HER was writte, directed and produced by Stelana Kliris, together with UK Producers Susan Simnett and Jamie Harvey and Greek producer Ioanna Bolomyti. Our heads of department include DOP Simos Sarketzis, Production Designer Lydia Mandridou, Costume Designer Jo Katsaras, Sound Recordist Stavros Terlikkas and Editor Emilios Avraam.
We are currently in post production.
Photo credit: Pavlos Vrionides
Stelana Kliris' next feature APART FROM HER announced /
After years of development, Stelana Kliris passion project APART FROM HER has been greenlit and will be shot in Cyprus over Nov/Dec 2024. It stars the stellar cast of Leem Lubany, Luca Pasqualino and Girley Jazama and is a co-production between Cyprus (Meraki Films), the UK (Over The Fence Films) and Greece (Atalante Productions), in association with Jupiter Peak Productions (USA) and Copper Island (Cyprus). See the full Variety article HERE.
FIND ME FALLING tops Netflix's global charts! /
Thanks to all the love and support from audiences worldwide, FIND ME FALLING held Netflix’s #1 spot for English-language films for two consecutive weeks! A truly surreal experience that we are eternally grateful for!
FIND ME FALLING screening in New York /
Just a couple of days before our launch, the New York screening of FIND ME FALLING was a wonderful reminder of all the fun and love we had on set. Present at the Q&A afterwards (above) were producers Steve Shapiro and Keith Arnold, writer-director-producer Stelana Kliris and our incredible cast Harry Connick Jr, Ali Fumiko Whitney and Agni Scott.
FIND ME FALLING (THE ISLANDER) sells world rights to Netflix! /
We have a new title and a new home!!
In a first for Cyprus, our feature film THE ISLANDER, now titled FIND ME FALLING has sold world rights to Netflix! We are so happy and proud of our whole cast and crew (and the families that support us!) who put their hearts into this production.
We wouldn't be here without the support of the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, The Cyprus Film Commission and of course Jupiter Peak Productions and The Exchange. Thank you also to Green Olive Films and our incredible producers Keith Arnold and Steve Shapiro.
And a big shout-out to our luminous local cast, especially Tony Demetriou, Lea Maleni, Aggeliki Filippidou, Athina Roditou, Yiola Kleitou and Effie Charalambous and to our incredible leading ladies, break-out star Ali Fumiko Whitney and the sublimely talented Agni Scott. And finally, the artist who triggered it all, who took a chance on a filmmaker from the other side of the world and brought his magic to the set and screen every single day, Harry Connick Jr, we are humbled and overjoyed.
We can't wait to share this with you! Releasing globally on 19 July, save the date!
See the full article on Netflix’s site here.
UNEXPECTED selected by EWA Network for Netflix-backed Series Accelerator Programme /
Stelana Kliris was one of eight producers selected by the European Women’s Audiovisual (EWA) Network for their inaugural Netflix-backed Series Accelerator Programme with her series UNEXPECTED.
This is an inspired and empowering initiative that involves three workshops with industry leaders sharing their expertise and helping to package and progress each producer’s series.
See the full article here.
THE ISLANDER picked up by The Exchange /
The Exchange has picked up world sales rights to THE ISLANDER and will be introducing the title to buyers at AFM this week. We know we are in incredibly good hands and look forward to sharing our film with the world.
See the exclusive article on Variety here:
https://variety.com/2023/film/news/harry-connick-islander-exchange-1235774529/
UNEXPECTED wins Best Pilot Script! /
The comedy series UNEXPECTED (previously titled LIFE UNEXPECTED) won best pilot script at the 2023 Owl Screenwriting Workshop in a ceremony held in Cannes in May 2023. Presented by the City of Athens and the Athens Film Office, the workshop started in October of the previous year with ten selected projects which were guided by exceptional mentors including USC professors Tom Abrams and David Isaacs (Cheers, Frasier, Mad Men).
This project previously participated in the 2019 Midpoint TV Launch Programme and has been a very personal journey for writer Stelana Kliris. So this was an unexpected but very much appreciated award!
Cineuropa Interview | Producers on the Move | Stelana Kliris /
Major European cinema portal Cineuropa ran a series of interviews with this year’s Producers on the Move. A big thank you to them and journalist Vassilis Economou for the lovely coverage.
Please clink on the link below to read Stelana Kliris’ interview.
https://cineuropa.org/en/interview/442221/
Stelana Kliris selected as one of the EFP's 2023 Producers on the Move! /
Each year, 20 promising, up-and-coming producers from throughout Europe are selected to participate in PRODUCERS ON THE MOVE - 481 over the last 23 years. The initiative is aimed at connecting young, enterprising European producers with potential co-production partners, strengthening their industry networks and, at the same time, providing a solid and visible platform for this next generation of European filmmakers. Candidates are nominated by their home country’s official film body and then final selections are made by the European Film Promotion Agency. The programme takes place onsite during the Cannes Film Festival.
Meraki Films’ producer Stelana Kliris was nominated by the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture and selected by the EFP along with an exceptional group of producers from all over Europe. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity and honoured to be representing Cyprus. She will be attending with her current slate of projects, including her own films as director “The Islander” (in post-production) and “Apart from Her” (in development), as well as “My Name is Lily” (in early development) by Yianna Americanou.
https://www.efp-online.com/en/project_networking/producers_on_the_move.php
Meraki Films travels with Midpoint to Trieste for WHEN EAST MEETS WEST! /
Meraki Films had the pleasure of participating in the Midpoint Feature Launch 2022 Programme with the upcoming feature MY NAME IS LILY together with Yianna Americanou and Christina Georgiou. The final installment of the workshop was dedicated to just the producers and focused on their companies. This took place in Trieste at the very friendly co-production forum When East Meets West. Producer Stelana Kliris got to hang out with a group of filmmakers who are not only brilliant at their work, but also pretty amazing people…as the photo below would suggest!
LIFE UNEXPECTED at The Owl Screenwriting Workshop 2022 /
Stelana Kliris’ series LIFE UNEXPECTED was selected as one of ten projects to participate in the inaugural Owl Screenwriting Workshop 2022 in Athens, Greece. Presented by the City of Athens and the Athens Film Office, the workshop was made up of a very talented group of screenwriters and exceptional mentors from companies like Sony and StudioCanal. The workshop will continue with online sessions and then conclude with an awards ceremony in Cannes in May.
https://theowl.afo.events/
MY NAME IS LILY in Midpoint's Works in Development at Karlovy Vary /
We are in script development on a very unique project entitled MY NAME IS LILY which centers around an intersex character. The film is being written by Yianna Americanou (.dog) and Christina Georgiou (The Stray Story) and will be directed by Yianna and produced by Stelana Kliris under Meraki Films. The project has been supported by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture.
MY NAME IS LILY was happily selected for the 2022 Midpoint Feature Launch programme and after months of mentoring, we presented our project at the Karlovy Vary Works in Development showcase alongside eight other amazing teams who have now become friends. A big thank you to Midpoint and the festival for such an enriching and empowering experience. And a huge congratulations to the projects MY BEST FRIEND’S BABY and DOLPHIN which were awarded! We can’t wait to see all of the Midpoint features come to life!
THE ISLANDER wrapped! /
After six intense, blissful, challenging, exciting weeks, our feature film THE ISLANDER wrapped and is now in full post-production swing!
A massive thank you to our film family, our producers, cast and crew who put their hearts and souls (and blood and sweat) into this film, and especially to our new family members, our amazing leads: Harry Connick Jr, Agni Scott and Ali Fumiko Whitney. Their dedication, love and talent just shines on the screen.
The film was shot entirely on the island of Cyprus between Peyia and Nicosia. It was an unprecedented local production for Cyprus in terms of scale and cast. It was a co-production between Uinta Productions (Tommy’s Honour), Meraki Films, in association with Das Films (The November Man), the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, and supported by the Cyprus Film Commission’s incentives scheme.
We are currently in post production so watch this space!
Harry Connick Jr., Mira Sorvino & Newcomer Ali Fumiko Whitney Board Rom-Com ‘The Islander’ /
EXCLUSIVE: Harry Connick Jr. (Dolphin Tale) and Mira Sorvino (Shining Vale) are set to star in the romantic comedy The Islander, from Cyprus-based filmmaker Stelana Kliris, which has also cast newcomer Ali Fumiko Whitney (The Road Dance).
The film shooting next month in Cyprus follows a has-been musician (Connick Jr.) as he moves, sight unseen, to a remote cliffside house on an island, only to discover his new home has an unfortunate notoriety. Through a series of charming mishaps, it turns out maybe love can be found right where he left it.
Kliris will direct from her own screenplay, and produce alongside Keith Arnold and Steven Shapiro. The project is from Uinta Productions (Tommy’s Honour) and Kliris’s Cyprus-based Meraki Films, in association with Das Films (The November Man), with support from the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Cyprus Film Commission’s incentives scheme. Pic will also feature original songs written and performed by Connick.
See full article here.
BETRAYAL director shortlisted for Cannes Lions Young Director Award 2020 /
Big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to our up and coming director Katiana Zachariou for being shortlisted for the Cannes Lions Young Director Award 2020 for her short film BETRAYAL! A very big thank you to our dedicated team and supporters, and of course the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture for funding our film. We are very proud and we wish Katiana the best! We look forward to our film’s festival run.
LIFE UNEXPECTED pitches at Sarajevo Film Festival! /
After a thrilling 9 months with of developing our series LIFE UNEXPECTED, a 9-part dramedy on fertility and pregnancy, writer Stelana Kliris and producer Tonia Mishiali pitched their project at the final Midpoint TV Launch session at the Sarajevo Film Festival. This was an especially personal journey for writer Stelana Kliris as she fell pregnant during the development of the project after her own struggle with fertility. The series is currently being reviewed by potential buyers.
THE ISLANDER goes to Galway /
As we develop our feature THE ISLANDER, we were very happy to be selected for the 2019 Galway Film Fleadh, a formidable film market where we had the opportunity to present our project to potential co-producers.
TV series selected for 2019 Midpoint TV Launch /
We are very happy to announce that writer Stelana Kliris and producer Tonia Mishiali have been selected with their project LIFE UNEXPECTED for the 2019 Midpoint TV Launch! This is an exciting and respected programme that develops series projects from “idea to market” over a course of 9 months and with the guidance of amazing mentors and organisers. For more information, check their site:
https://www.midpoint-center.eu/programs/189-midpoint-tv-launch-2019
TO THE MOON AND BACK awarded at ISFFC /
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that TO THE MOON AND BACK won 2nd Prize for Best Film in the National Competition at the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus! A big thank you to our team, the festival and the jury…what an honour! And special thanks to producer Tonia Mishiali who was there to pick up the award!
