Cypriot film MOTHERWITCH by Minos Papas hits cinemas across Cyprus

Official Avant Premiere on October 28 at PREMIER Cinemas Nicosia – Regular screenings from October 29 at PREMIER Cinemas Nicosia and RIO Cinemas Limassol, as well as a booth at Cyprus Comic Con on October 2–4.

Caretta Films is delighted to announce the theatrical release of MOTHERWITCH (DODEKAMERON) in Cyprus, following an impressive international journey through more than 20 film festivals.

The Cypriot gothic film had its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and continued its journey at major festivals around the world, including the Fantasia International Film Festival (Montreal) Guadalajara International Film Festival (Mexico), Cyprus Film Days (Cyprus), Transilvania International Film Festival (Romania), Mediterrane Film Festival (Malta), Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) (Korea), Galway Film Fleadh (Ireland), Croatia International Film Festival, Festival Filmes Incríveis (Brazil) and Octopus Film Festival (Poland), Fantasy Filmfest (in seven major cities across Germany), Manaki Brothers (Bitola). Local premieres will follow in the autumn at Grimmfest in Manchester, Fantasmagoría (Colombia), Kork (Turkey), and SITGES in Spain, the largest fantasy and horror film festival in the world, as well as at other festivals in Chile, Norway, the Netherlands and Egypt, which will be announced soon.

A particular distinction in the film’s journey was the Honorable Mention in the Genre category at the internationally acclaimed Guadalajara International Film Festival in Mexico.

Filmed entirely in Cyprus, MOTHERWITCH draws inspiration from Cypriot tradition and folklore, and the history of the island, and is also the first Cypriot horror film! Set at the end of the 19th century, the film tells an atmospheric story of grief, motherhood, art and black magic, bringing to the big screen for the first time a world deeply rooted in Cypriot cultural identity.

THE STORY

In 1882, in Cyprus, the painter Eleni attempts to bring her dead children back to life. Instead, however, she awakens the Kalikantzari of Cypriot tradition and plunges her village into terror. As the demonic Lamia feeds on Eleni’s grief and rage, she is called upon to accept her loss and redeem her homeland. Through the power of art and creation, she discovers that true redemption is not found in the resurrection of the dead, but in acceptance and hope.

The journey to the Cyprus premiere

October 2–4 – Cyprus Comic Con

MOTHERWITCH will take part in Cyprus Comic Con with its own themed booth. Visitors will be able to see authentic sets, objects and costumes from the production up close, discover exclusive merchandise, purchase tickets for the film’s theatrical screenings, and speak with the director and actors.

October 28 – Official Avant Premiere

The official Avant Premiere of MOTHERWITCH will take place at PREMIER Cinemas in Nicosia, in the presence of the film’s cast and crew and invited guests from the worlds of cinema, culture and the Media.

From October 29 – Regular screenings

From October 29, MOTHERWITCH will screen daily at PREMIER Cinemas in Nicosia, and at RIO Cinemas in Limassol at:

7:30 p.m.
10:00 p.m.

Following its warm reception from audiences and critics around the world, MOTHERWITCH returns to the place where it was born and filmed, inviting Cypriot audiences to discover on the big screen a dark story drawn from the memories, myths and landscapes of Cyprus.

The Motherwitch returns to her homeland.

INFORMATION

MOTHERWITCH (DODEKAMERON)
Avant Premiere: October 28, 2026
Regular screenings: ONE WEEK ONLY from October 29, at 7:30 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
PREMIER Cinemas, Nicosia + RIO Cinemas, Limassol

Director – MINOS PAPAS / www.minospapas.com

A Caretta Films production / www.carettafilms.com

A co-production with Cyprian Films, New York and Focus Pocus, and in co-production with the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus. With the financial support of the Film Agency of North Macedonia. The production was made possible with the support of the financial incentives provided by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, “Film in Cyprus,” and was made in collaboration with Savvas Liasis, The Bayha Group, Michael Borrelli, Samson Mesele and Pickpocket Productions.

Official Media Sponsor – SIGMA TV + CITY