Nicosia: From 8 to 13 July 2026, the Department of Communication and Internet Studies and the Department of Fine Arts at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) hosted a week-long Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) focused on Media Anthropology and Film Practices, marking a first for the university.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the programme transformed Limassol into a dynamic field site, where participants engaged in fieldwork exercises, ethnographic walks, and documentary filming across the city's diverse environments. This approach encouraged students to perceive the city as an inscribed space rather than just a scenic backdrop.
The BIP assembled a diverse group of faculty members with backgrounds in anthropology, filmmaking, fine and visual arts, and technology. Notable contributors included Athina Peglidou and Penelope Papailias from Greece, Jaime Quilles Campos and Roberto Oliver Sanchez Garcia from Spain, as well as Yiannis Papadakis, Rahme Veziroglu, Markos Souropetsis, Theodoros Kouros, Yiannis Christidis, and Selin Gen§ from Cyprus. Their expertise in socially engaged art, participatory storytelling, podcasting, filmmaking, and the politics of the image significantly influenced the programme's critical framework.
The programme revolved around the theme of understanding anthropological thought through film. Participants engaged in a blend of theoretical and practical sessions, covering topics such as ethics of representation, politics of the gaze, and hands-on workshops in documentary filmmaking and visual storytelling.
The BIP equipped students with the skills to utilize images and sound in a manner akin to an anthropologist's use of words-mindfully and in relation to the people involved. The visual projects created by the students were exhibited at Xydadiko in Limassol, concluding the programme with a public event.
As part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme framework, the BIP facilitated collaboration among students and faculty from universities in Greece, Spain, Romania, and Cyprus. Coordinated by Yiannis Christidis and Theodoros Kouros, the programme positions CUT as a regional hub for critical media and anthropological research, enhancing its international academic portfolio.