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Kimberly Schäfer Ioannou

Filmmaker, Writer, Storyteller.

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Byzantine chant (Cyprus)
09:46
Cyprus National Commission for UNESCO

Byzantine chant (Cyprus)

Byzantine chant (Cyprus) - An element proposed for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity As a living art, persevering for more than 2000 years, Byzantine chant is considered to be a significant cultural tradition and a comprehensive music system. Highlighting and enhancing musically the liturgical texts of the Orthodox Church, it is inextricably linked to the spiritual life and religious worship. It is part of the common ecclesiastical musical traditions that developed in the geographical area of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire (i.e. the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as present day Orthodox Churches of Greece, Cyprus, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Arabic-speaking Orthodox Churches). It exemplifies the Byzantine and post-Byzant0ine spirit and culture, with influences from ancient Greek, Syrian and Jewish musical traditions. This vocal art places its main focus in the rendering of the liturgical or ecclesiastical text. Every aspect of this tradition serves the dissemination and reception of the religious message. Arguably, Byzantine chant exists because of the word (“lexis”/ “logos”). Psaltic art has always been linked to the male voice, due to the specific gender roles during the service. However, women chanters are common in nunneries and participate to some extent in parishes and choirs of Byzantine music. The features of chanting constitute a powerful combination of Greek literature, rhythm and music, intertwined with particular techniques and morphological idioms, transmitted aurally and orally. In addition to its performance and transmission in church, Byzantine chant is particularly flourishing due to the dedication of experts and non-experts, men, women and young people, who participate at various degrees and instances in its study, performance and dissemination: students of Byzantine music, members of choirs who perform Byzantine music, musicologists and theology professors and students as well as scholars in relevant fields (archaeologists, philologists, paleographers, anthropologists, etc.).
Buried Secrets
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Filmmaker, Writer, Storyteller

Half Greek-Cypriot, half German, fully human. Raised in Cyprus and going to multiple international schools, I’ve been used to diversity ever since I was able to think. Although there are many interesting cultural differences among humans, we all have similar stories to tell, but each with a unique voice.

This is why I did my BA in Media and Communications, with a concentration in film and later moved to culturally diverse Berlin to get my MA in Directing. In hindsight, filmmaking was an obvious path for my life. Writing whether it be poetry or short stories always was and will be, my favorite form of self-expression. Equally as loved has been capturing still-life moments and creating abstract images, as well as recording short videos for fun with my friends as a teen. Combining the two passions meant one thing, becoming a filmmaker.

I’ve had my first professional experiences both in front and behind the camera while working at the University of Nicosia. There, I learned the importance of decision making and how to convey messages and themes. I also discovered my skill of being able to communicate with both crew and cast, and even various people I would interview throughout my 3 years of work – each year growing and exercising this skill until it became second nature for me to speak to strangers like long lost friends. I further developed this skill into being able to get a cast and crew to envision my ideas while creating short films at Metfilm School Berlin. There’s nothing more energizing than having something in your head come to life with the support of the technical side and very importantly, the talent that’s able to convey emotions that most of us think only we have experienced.

Changing the world is difficult, but I’d like to educate myself and others along the way with my work. Ideally, I would like to continue discovering my strengths and working on my weaknesses, whether it be in corporate videos, commercial productions, or creative film sets. Ideally, I’d like to become a well-established film director and actress but, in the meantime, I’m happiest when I’m around a camera, a crew and a vision of a idea being turned into moving images.

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Located in Berlin, Germany

+49 17629544835

+357 99011890

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