A FILM by Cypriot director Minos Papas looking at the impact of the unregulated arms’ trade won the top prize in the prestigious New York Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) online film competition.
“A short film about GUNS” premiered in the history lessons’ shorts programme of the festival, wining $5,000 (about €3,800) and earning the TFF’s best short film competition, making it eligible for an academy award nomination.
The film looks at the unregulated arms trade and how a recent diplomatic treaty could help tackle this global crisis, featuring four arms trafficking experts who recount first-hand experiences with the arms trade.
The film, shot in London, New York City and Seattle, was produced to shed light to an industry that generates over about €45.8bln a year.
The screenings at the Tribeca film festival followed the culmination of diplomatic talks with the United Nations resulting last month in an agreement by governments on the first-ever arms trade treaty. The film argued there was an urgent need for the treaty and that the absence of one has caused much devastation.
“I hope that our world leaders will rush to sign and ratify the arms’ trade treaty. Unlike other UN resolutions that remain unenforced, this treaty has the potential to save lives and contain the rampant devastation occurring in war-torn areas,” said Papas.
The screenings drew huge crowds that included members of the Cyprus Mission to the UN, Cypriot consul Koula Sophianou, representatives of the Control Arms coalition, and high profile guests in the film industry, a news release said.
“The film has already received press and international attention; Minos Papas was interviewed for both the New York Times, and the New York 1 channel, and invited to participate in festivals around the world.”
The film’s producer, Louis Belanger, hailed the film as a victory for a worthy cause. “A Short Film about GUNS will be a mouthpiece to spread awareness and convince governments to pass the Arms Trade Treaty into national laws and truly start making an impact,” said the film’s producer, Louis Belanger.
“The fact that so many viewers voted for our film shows that people deeply care about this crucial issue. The award will serve to bring the message to even bigger audience,” Belanger said.
“We will be building on this support (demonstrated by the film’s victory) to ensure that states sign the Treaty, which will open for signature on June 3,” said Allison Pytlak of Control Arms.
Papas also enjoyed a lengthy conversation with Robert De Niro at the TFF directors’ brunch. Their conversation covered important issues ranging from Cyprus to the festival to the international arms trade

Cyprus Mail