Attila ’74: The Rape of Cyprus is a documentary that examines the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, filmed on location in Cyprus and Greece in the immediate aftermath of the two military interventions and the subsequent occupation of the northern part of the island.
Through rare archival access and interviews with key political figures, including President Makarios and Nicos Sampson, as well as testimonies from Greek Cypriot civilians, the film constructs a direct and unflinching account of a moment of profound historical rupture.
The complete restoration of the documentary and its transfer to DCP format was made possible with the support of Faliro House Productions and Christos V. Konstantakopoulos.
Special screening courtesy of The Michael Cacoyannis Foundation.
CLASSICAL FILM SELECTION
ATTILA 74
ENGLISH TITLE:
Attila ’74: The rape of Cyprus
Original title:
Atillas '74
Director:
Mihalis Kakogiannis
Country:
Cyprus
Genre:
documentary
Year:
1975
Length:
103’
Cast:
Mihalis Kakogiannis
A quote for the film:
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Selective list of festivals and awards:
MoMA International Film Preservation Festival, , Best Full Length Documentary, Florence
Director’s bio:
Mihalis Kakogiannis (also known as Michael Cacoyannis) was a Greek Cypriot filmmaker best known for Zorba the Greek (1964). His work is deeply rooted in classical literature, particularly the tragedies of Euripides, which he adapted for the screen with a distinctive cinematic vision. He was nominated five times for an Academy Award, a record for a Cypriot filmmaker. His nominations included Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture for Zorba the Greek, as well as Best Foreign Language Film nominations for Electra and Iphigenia. Beyond cinema, he worked in theatre and opera, translated classical texts, and founded the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation in Athens, dedicated to supporting the arts. He received numerous international distinctions, including honours from Greece, France, and Cyprus, as well as lifetime achievement awards from major film festivals.
