The new post-production studio of international film company Copper Island officially opened its doors in Limassol on Wednesday night, with its inauguration ceremony attended by Deputy Culture Minister Vasiliki Kassianidou.

Copper Island has in the past collaborated with household names such as Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Jude Law, and Sydney Sweeney, and this fact was touched upon by the company’s founder, Australian Matt Murphie, in his speech at the ceremony.

He pointed out that over the course of the last two years, Copper Island has participated in over ten film productions with a total budget of US$100 million, before mentioning the names of some of those the company has worked with.

Additionally, he said his company’s presence on the island “confirms its commitment and vision for the promotion and global development of Cyprus as a high-standard film destination”.

He added that “the power of cinema is the best way to highlight the true beauty of the island”, and stressed the positive impact on the local economy that a growing film industry will have.

On this point, he highlighted the company’s current participation in two local productions, one being the film “Apart from Her” directed by Cypriot Stellana Kliris, and the other being “The Well” by Marios Piperides and Janine Teerling, which, he said, begins post-production at Copper Island’s new studio next week.

He then said that he has been settled permanently on the island for almost ten years, and that while “many Hollywood figures may not know where Cyprus is today … the most important thing is that this is changing step by step – we are putting Cyprus on the map of film productions”.

He described Cyprus as “a film studio in itself”, and pointed out the island’s “excellent selection of different landscapes”.

For this reason, he said, “through this post-production hub, we can transform this raw material into stories which will resonate around the world”.

Kassianidou also spoke at the ceremony, giving a speech on behalf of President Nikos Christodoulides.

“Cinema is primarily an artistic and cultural product; a powerful means to promote our shared European values, such as democracy, dialogue, diversity, and freedom,” she began.

She then highlighted that in a recent joint declaration of European Union culture ministers, it had been agreed that cinema “has historically been a driving force behind our union, with a melting pot of creators and talents who have entered our shared cinematic Pantheon, as well as the world’s heritage”.

She also stressed the government’s recognition of the sector, saying that it has “launched a range of funding schemes for co-productions and investment programs, whose aim is precisely to boost the local audiovisual industry and to foster international cooperation”.

In addition, she pointed out the government’s “highly attractive tax incentives”, which she said have brought about “a significant influx of foreign investment in our country’s audiovisual industry”.

To this end, she said, “Cyprus is increasingly becoming a new, dynamic audiovisual hub in the eastern Mediterranean”.

She then praised Copper Island’s “strong presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia”, and said that its name, which was “inspired by Cyprus’ historical and cultural link” with copper, “symbolises the deep connection [it] wishes to develop with the country it now calls home”.

“Cyprus’ rich and diverse natural and cultural landscape, its prime geostrategic location, its modern infrastructure, and vibrant, emerging creative community provide the ideal conditions for such an investment,” she added.

She then closed her speech by saying she is “confident that Copper Island will actively contribute to Cyprus’ establishment as a point of reference in international creative production”.

Kliris later made brief remarks at the ceremony, saying that “everyone in the room has something in common – we love telling stories, we love cinema, and of course, we love Cyprus”.

“We want to tell more stories and welcome more filmmakers from all over the world to come and tell their own stories here,” she said.