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Tonia Mishiali in post-production of Pause

Tonia Mishiali is in post-production of her debut film "Pause"

Berlinale Talents alumna Cypriot director Tonia Mishiali (EWA member) is in post-production of her debut feature film Pause, a film supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, the Greek Film Centre and SEE Cinema Network. The Cyprus-Greece co-production was shot entirely on the island of Cyprus from 14 February to 13 March 2017.

Pause (with previous working title Menopause) was presented in two co- production markets in Germany in 2015, Mannheim Meeting Place (Mannheim- Heidelberg IFF) and Connecting Cottbus (Cottbus IFF). In July 2017, during the stage of post-production, the film was also presented at the Karlovy Vary IFF Works in Progress.

Pause is Tonia Mishiali’s first big step in directing a feature film after directing two awarded short films, both officially selected in a big number of prestigious International Film Festivals around the world: Dead End (2013) -world premierein Locarno Film Festival, winner of the Silver Dionysus at the Short Film Festival in Drama and winner of numerous best film and best director awards- and Lullaby of the Butterfly (2014) -world premiere in Sarajevo Film Festival and winner of Best National film and Best Cinematography awards at the International Short Film Festival of Cyprus.

Pause deals with the theme of decadent relationships in marriage, viewed through the prism of the complex and fascinating female nature about the loss of one’s voice and the longing for love. A film produced with a very talented local crew, featuring significant female participation in many key positions of the film.The film is expected to be completed by early 2018.

Story:

Trapped in the misery of an oppressive marriage and facing a huge biological and psychological change, Elpida’s monotonous life is disrupted when her perception of reality and fantasy begin to blur, bringing her in confrontation with her body, her unquenchable desires, time. A pause in her life can definitely mark a new beginning.

A film about human relationships and daily life in a woman’s world. For everyone who is growing older yet eager to live.