BERLIN, GERMANY – In a significant recognition of LGBTQI+ cinema, Diego Armando Aparicio, an esteemed Cypriot artist, has been appointed as a member of the 38th Teddy Awards International Jury. The Teddy Awards, a prestigious accolade within the Berlin International Film Festival, celebrates and honors outstanding contributions to queer cinema. This year’s festival, the 74th Berlinale, is scheduled to take place from February 15th to February 25th, 2024.
As the artistic director of the Cypriot Queer Wave film festival, Aparicio brings his expertise and unique perspective to the esteemed panel of five jurors responsible for selecting the recipient of the Teddy Award, the festival’s official LGBTQI+ film prize. The award ceremony is set to occur on Friday, February 23rd.
Joining Aparicio on the panel are Seriz Howard, the program director of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival; Kami Sand, an artist and curator from Pakistan; Luis Fernando Moura, a cinema consultant from Brazil; and Vick Carmen Sønne, an actress and writer from Denmark. Together, these distinguished individuals will review films from all sections of the Berlinale to determine the winners of the Teddy Award.
Unlike other film festivals, the Teddy Award is unique in its approach. Films submitted for consideration need not be part of the official competition to be eligible for the award. The jury meticulously selects a range of films that meet the criteria, encompassing short films, documentaries, and a special Teddy Jury Award. This year, a grand total of 33 films have made it onto the coveted list.
Over the years, the Teddy Award has celebrated the works of esteemed directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Derek Jarman, Gus Van Sant, Tilda Swinton, James Franco, Udo Kier, and Barbara Hammer. Established in 1987, the award has become an internationally recognized symbol of diversity and inclusion within societies and cultures worldwide.
Diego Armando Aparicio, born in Cyprus in 1993, has continuously made significant contributions to the film industry. As the founder and artistic director of the Queer Wave film festival, his work has been lauded and recognized globally. His dedication earned him a place among the top 20 finalists for the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Award, out of a pool of 1,000 candidates from 43 countries.
Aparicio’s involvement in international co-productions, including feature films and television series premiered at prestigious festivals like Venice, Cannes’ Critics’ Week, and the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, has further solidified his standing in the industry. He is a graduate of Imperial College London, where he earned a degree in physics, and a member of the European Film Academy.
With the inclusion of Diego Armando Aparicio in the Teddy Awards International Jury, the Berlinale continues to prioritize and elevate diverse voices in the world of cinema. This appointment not only recognizes Aparicio’s accomplishments but also signifies the festival’s commitment to fostering a global community that celebrates LGBTQI+ stories and perspectives. As the 74th Berlinale approaches, audiences eagerly anticipate the thought-provoking and boundary-pushing films that will be showcased at this renowned event.