By Athena Karsera (From the original post on 16/06/2017)

As a film director herself, Petra Terzi knows first-hand the difficulties that female movie-makers face in the industry, thereby perfectly positioning her to set up the Cyprus chapter of the international Women in Film & Television (WIFT) organisation.

WIFT is a dynamic international body dedicated to empowering, promoting, and mentoring professionals in the entertainment, communication and media industries. Speaking to the Cyprus Weekly, Terzi, also the founder and director of the Cyprus International Film Festival (CYIFF) – currently under way in Paphos – revealed what prompted her to create the local chapter.

“The time is now for women to work together to ensure that we always have our place at the head of the table of the film and television industries. The Cyprus branch of Women in Film and Television is dedicated to achieving this goal,” she mentioned.

Although the number of women in the film and television industries, especially as producers and directors, is increasing, Terzi continued, there was still a long way to go.

She decided to found the Cyprus chapter of WIFT to help things along on the island, and also because, she was encouraged to do so while personally applying to take part in film festivals for female directors.

“They were asking me to become a member of WIFT and, as here there were no branches in Greece or in Cyprus at that time, they proposed I open a new one here,“ she told the paper.

Terzi added: “I saw the need for unity among female film and television producers and directors to ensure that women’s visions and voices are seen and heard. Personally, I experienced the difficulty women have gaining equal footing in this industry. Together, women can be strong.“ Her experiences with the members of other WIFT branches overseas have been encouraging.

“I especially enjoyed my discussions with the women of the New York Women in Film and Television group,“ she said.“The work they do inspires me to ensure the women of Greece and Cyprus have the opportunities to develop and market their talents.“

‘I saw the need for unity among female film and television producers and directors to ensure that women’s visions and voices are seen and heard’

What she hopes to help achieve through the Cyprus branch includes increasing the number of women working at high levels of the film and television industries.

“More film and television industry productions must be by women and about women. And they must be about women of all ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. Given equal opportunities, today’s women will inspire tomorrow’s women“, Terzi noted.

She continued: “Films by women will enlighten the world. Films by women will inspire people to do what is good, to do good in film, but, more importantly, to do good for the world. The end result is a better world. Women have that power.“

Visit petraterzi.org to learn more about Terzi and her work, and visit cyiff.org or the Cyprus International Film Festival – Page on Facebook, for more information about this year’s festival that took place in Pafos Cyprus this past June and for other activities that WiFT CY is actively participating.

Now in its 12th edition, the CYIFF – Cyprus International Film Festival offers a range of various activities, master-classes, workshops and film screenings with an international jury of prestigious experts choosing their favourites from amongst a selection of quality entries from around the world.

A.K.