‘The Stones of Famagusta’ is an independently-produced documentary charting the history of architecture in Famagusta, Cyprus. The film is based on intensive research and exploration of the walled city by its writer and presenter, Canadian art historian Dr. Allan Langdale, and is filmed by former BBC Producer/Director, Dan Frodsham. It charts the city’s turbulent history from the time of the crusades, through Lusignan, Genoese, and Venetian control to its siege by the Ottomans. As well as dealing in detail with such gothic masterpieces as the cathedral of St.Nicholas, it explores barely recorded gems such as the Mary of Bethlehem underground church and takes viewers inside churches and parts of the bastions that remain closed to the public. The use of aerial filming and ‘cherry-picker’ cranes provides previously unavailable views of the city’s remarkable architecture.

Since it’s release in January of this year, the film has become the focus of a revival of interest in this ‘forgotten’ city and has played an important role in efforts to put aside political divisions to begin the work of conserving its architecture. In April, the film featured at a conference in Paris hosted by Europa Nostra and the European Commission at which leaders of the Greek and Turkish communities of Famagusta pledged to work together to conserve the city’s heritage. The film also played at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California.

The project has shown just how effective documentary filmmaking can be in raising awareness about neglected heritage issues and I would be very interested to hear from anyone with similar projects in mind.

Copies of the DVD are available in PAL (Europe) and NTSC (North America) formats.
Please contact me at danfrodsham@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

More information about the film and Famagusta, Cyprus (including a library of still images) at: www.landofempires.com/famagusta/htm More information about efforts to conserve the city's heritage at: www.europanostra.org/newsletter/08/ENewsletter0804.html