Photo credit: Javier Ideami
Inessa Kraft’s 2025 festival journey includes screenings, workshops, and red carpets at global film events, highlighting her commitment to creativity and collaboration.
2025 was a year filled with cinematic moments for actress and filmmaker Inessa Kraft. International film festivals kept her busy with screenings, panels, professional meetings, interviews, conferences, and red carpets.
Kraft attended and hosted workshops to stay on top of creative trends, furthering her commitment to knowledge sharing and artistic growth, moderated panels, uniting storytellers from around the globe, attended world premieres and saw two films she starred in at Cannes, Nicosia, and Corinth. Festivals are also a place to reconnect with filmmakers and actors she’s worked with and to meet like-minded creatives. It’s always special to see familiar faces and pick up conversations where they left off.
Festivals are essential to supporting films at every stage, through meetings, markets, and creative exchanges, Inessa continues to develop her ongoing projects and new ones inspired by these experiences.
Corinth – Bridges Peloponnesus International Film Festival (October 20–25, 2025)
In Corinth, Inessa hosted the Pegasus Cinema Lab Workshop in collaboration with Women in Film and Television Cyprus, where participants developed and produced a short film during the festival. She also led Q&A sessions with international filmmakers, sparking thoughtful conversations about the creative process and the meaning behind their stories.
With Festival Director Petra Terzi’s vision and heart, the festival stands out as a unique blend of creativity and community. The theme of peace resonated throughout the program.
The Golden Pegasus Awards Ceremony, co-hosted by Inessa Kraft and Eleni Petropoulou, closed the festival beautifully. The short film Unposed, inspired by the theme of peace and authenticity, was created during the Pegasus Cinema Lab Workshop and presented on the big screen. Kraft expresses her heartfelt gratitude for the trust and responsibilities she was given throughout the festival, and for every experience that made it truly special.
London – The 69th BFI London Film Festival (October 8–19, 2025)
London blended cinema with urban rhythm. Immersed in the festival atmosphere, Inessa explored the city through its cinemas as landmarks, sharing meaningful moments that made the experience especially memorable. Inessa Kraft is grateful for the opportunity and for every moment that made the festival experience inspiring. Visiting the British Film Institute also brought back memories of her filmmaking studies there in 2016. At that time, while continuing her work as an actress, Inessa wanted to understand the process and the magic behind the camera, learning how stories take shape from concept to screen. That filmmaking course at BFI marked the beginning of her path toward a deeper understanding of video production. Now, nine years later, revisiting the Institute during the festival felt like a reflection on how much that first step has given her professionally.
Photo credits: Casey Newell, Cannes / zakahmedfilms, London / Photosgrapho, Venice / Costas Samson, Corinth, Nicosia.
Nicosia – 20th Cyprus International Film Festival & 5th Women in Film and Television Cyprus Festival (September 22–27, 2025)
Filmmakers from around the world gathered in Nicosia, enjoying the warmth and hospitality of the festival. Alongside Festival Director Petra Terzi, Inessa Kraft co-hosted the Golden Aphrodite Awards Ceremony. Named after the goddess of love and beauty born on the island, the Golden Aphrodite stands as a fitting symbol of Cyprus, celebrating art and inspiration. The festival also highlighted the Cyprus Women Environmental Peacemakers project, an initiative uniting women across Cyprus through environmental action and peacebuilding, held in the UN Buffer Zone of Cyprus.
As part of Women in Film and Television Cyprus, Inessa took part in events highlighting the organization’s mission and community. Originating in Los Angeles as a movement supporting women in the audiovisual arts, Women in Film and Television has grown into a global network. In Cyprus, WIFT operates under the leadership of its president Petra Terzi, welcoming members and friends of all genders. Inessa Kraft is sincerely grateful for the chance to contribute to such a meaningful event and to celebrate creativity at home in Cyprus.
Venice – 82nd Venice International Film Festival – Biennale Cinema 2025 (August 27 – September 6, 2025)
Attending the Venice International Film Festival and participating in the Venice Production Bridge, Inessa Kraft joined a dynamic lineup of panels, meetings, and networking sessions dedicated to film development and industry partnerships. The program offered a comprehensive overview of the industry and the filmmaking community through a series of focused discussions and events. She took part in professional exchanges and explored new creative directions and extended her thanks for the festival and the opportunities it offered.
While always planning everything, Inessa Kraft enjoys the unpredictability that Venice brings her, a city with its own rhythm and timeless atmosphere. Even the simple act of taking a boat to a screening feels cinematic and events often unfold in ways that feel both spontaneous and meant to be.
Cannes – 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13–24, 2025)
Earlier in May, Inessa Kraft attended the 78th Cannes Film Festival and the Marché du Film, the heart of the film industry. Kraft’s schedule included workshops, conferences, and professional events. A short film she appeared in was screened during one of the events, marking another meaningful moment in her creative journey.
Inessa’s focus in Cannes was on genuine connections. Surrounded by creative professionals who share her values and vision, she met people whose energy and purpose align with her own, forming meaningful relationships that continue to inspire and support each other’s work. Inessa is grateful for the experience and the inspiring people who made her time in Cannes unforgettable.
Moments of Connection and Celebration
Film festivals, filled with screenings, schedules, and events that run from morning to night while maintaining a camera-ready presence, can be intense. Yet amid all the energy, they become spaces of growth and genuine human connection. For Inessa Kraft, the most meaningful moments came from meeting like-minded creatives who share the same passion and values.
And of course, festivals are moments to celebrate the red carpet. A lot of an actor’s and filmmaker’s work stays unseen – auditions, idea pitches, rehearsals, rewrites, and footage cut out in editing. Bringing ideas to life takes persistence and vision, and the red carpet becomes both a celebration of that effort and a promise to future projects: I will make you happen!
For Inessa, style reflects creativity and identity. Grateful for the many compliments on her looks and unique designs, she thanked Ambe Jolie in Bangkok for exquisite oriental-inspired French fashion, Bliss Boutique in Cyprus for its elegance, and Alexandra Kraft for her thoughtful styling and design work.
With a multicultural background shaped by growing up in ten different countries, international work with video productions around the world, and travels through more than a hundred cities, Inessa Kraft dreams of sharing the beauty of her home, Cyprus, with the world, envisioning stronger bridges between the island and the leading countries in the film industry. Drawing on her global experience, she recognizes the unique potential Cyprus offers as a place for storytelling and creative expression. Through her presence at international festivals and her commitment to Women in Film and Television Cyprus, she is ready to contribute to the island’s creative future.
Looking Ahead
The past festivals brought projects that now call for Inessa Kraft’s focus and dedication. Each event offered insights, opportunities, and perspectives that guide her for the months ahead. As the year concludes, preparations begin for the upcoming festival season, new projects to present, new stories to bring to the screen, and working now on the moments to celebrate them.
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