Pause
Pause (2018) | 96min. | Cyprus/Greece | drama
Written and directed by Tonia Mishiali
Produced by A.B. Seahorse Film Productions
Trapped in the misery of an oppressive marriage, Elpida finds refuge in a fantasy world of vindictive violence. Soon, reality and fantasy start to blur.
Synopsis
In a desperate attempt to escape from the misery of a loveless marriage, Elpida finds refuge in a fantasy world of vindictive violence towards her oppressive husband. When a young painter is employed to paint the building she lives in, she finds herself confronted with her unquenchable desires, her body and the husband she has no love for. Soon fantasy and reality start to blur.
Poster Design by Nasia Demetriou (selected by Adobe Create and featured in its online magazine)
Represented by Sales Company
PAUSE has been sold to Spain, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Sloval Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bonsia-Herzogovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, USA, Canada, China, Macao and Hong Kong.
Awards
PAUSE has won a total of 12 awards at International Film Festival Competitions worldwide.
Press the MORE AWARDS button below to see the complete list of awards
Festivals
PAUSE has been officially selected in more than 60 International Film Festivals worldwide.
Press the MORE FESTIVALS button below to see the complete list of festivals and screenings.
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
World Premiere of PAUSE at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the East of the West Competition 2018.
Cairo International Film Festival
MENA premiere of PAUSE at Cairo International Film Festival in the Main Competition 2018.
Sydney Film Festival
Australian premiere of PAUSE at Sydney Film Festival 2019 in the Europe! voices of women in film section which was curated in collaboration with European Film promotion. Every year, Europe’s top ten women directors present their films at the Sydney Film Festival in this section.
Streaming
HBO Europe
Pause is available on HBO Europe in the following territories in Eastern Europe:
Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bonsia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Bulgaria
Distributed by Film Republic
Available since December 2019
Amazon Prime
Pause is available on Amazon Prime USA and Canada, and soon in UK.
Distributed by Subliminal Films
Available since December 2019
FILMIN Spain
Pause is available on Filmin in Spain.
Distributed by Film Republic
Available since May 2020
Cinema Releases
USA
Release date: 14 June 2019
Laemmle Theatres Beverly Hills Music Hall, Los Angeles, California
Release date: 27 March 2020
Distributed by Subliminal Films
Germany
PAUSE was planned to be released on March 26, 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.
New Release date: June 20, 2020.
Most major cities in Germany
Distributed by Cineleusis
Cyprus
Avant Premiere: 23 October 2019
Release date: October 24, 2019
K-Cineplex Cinemas (Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos)
Distributed by A.B. Seahorse Film Productions
Greece
Avant Premiere: 3 May 2019
In collaboration with WIFT GREECE
Release date: May 7, 2019
Distributed by Soul Productions
A Word From The Director
PAUSE… It’s kind of a personal film. I was inspired by images that were depicted in my mind and events that I experienced growing up in Cyprus in a patriarchal society, watching the women in my family and all other women living on the sidelines, with the main purpose of their lives serving their spouse and children. My feelings towards this social and family context and the stories that surround it continue to be strong because, unfortunately, even today thousands of women in Cyprus, Greece and many other countries around the world still live in similar situations, unable to find their own voice and fight for their rights. I have always been sensitive to women's issues and equality, while I have been particularly interested in exploring the decadent relationships in marriage.At a time when women in film are misrepresented, I wanted to make one with a story that is viewed through the prism of the complex female nature, this way making the viewer sink into the female protagonist’s ‘reality’. The style of the film is unique as the focus never shifts from the main character. I also tried to work with a local crew, featuring a significant female participation in many of the key roles.
In the Press
Credits
WRITER/DIRECTOR Tonia Mishiali
CO-WRITER Anna Fotiadou
PRODUCERS Andros Achilleos, Stelana Kliris, Tonia Mishiali
PRODUCED BY A.B. Seahorse Film Productions
CO-PRODUCER Ioanna Soultani
CO-PRODUCED BY Soul Productions
CAST Stela Fyrogeni, Andreas Vassiliou, Popi Avraam, Marios Ioannou, Prokopis Agathokleous, Marina Mandri, Georgina Tatsi, Andrey Pilipenko
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Yorgos Rahmatoulin
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY Julian Scherle
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Lydia Mandridou
EDITING / FILM TITLE DESIGN AND COMPOSITING Emilios Avraam
SOUND DESIGN / LOCATION SOUND RECORDING Christos Kyriakoullis
ART DIRECTOR Marios Neocleous
COSTUME DESIGNER Christy Polydorou
PRODUCTION MANAGER Marinos Charalambous
FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Alexia Roider
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Polyvios Symeonides
