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“Find Me Falling” Dominates Netflix Global Top 10 Films

In a significant milestone for the Cypriot film industry, “Find Me Falling,” produced in Cyprus and featuring Harry Connick Jr., has ascended to the pinnacle of Netflix’s Global Top 10 list for most-watched films. The film, directed and written by Cypriot filmmaker Stelana Kliris, achieved 14.4 million views within just five days of its release on 19 July 2024. It also garnered an impressive 22.5 million hours viewed, substantially outperforming the second most-watched film, “Trolls Band Together,” which recorded 15.8 million hours.

This success marks a historic first for a Cypriot film on the global streaming platform. “Find Me Falling” weaves a compelling narrative around John Allman, an ageing rock star portrayed by Connick Jr., who retreats to Cyprus to revive his musical inspiration. The film’s rich storyline, described by Kliris as a “vacation” experience, delves into themes of love, both romantic and familial, and the sacrifices made for passion and loved ones. Connick Jr.’s character navigates the idyllic yet tumultuous island life, facing complex personal and professional challenges.

The film’s success underscores the growing influence of Cypriot cinema on the global stage, highlighting the country’s potential as a hub for international film production. Kliris’s achievement with “Find Me Falling” not only showcases local talent but also paves the way for future Cypriot productions to gain international acclaim.

Forbes readers, especially those in the entertainment and film production sectors, should note the strategic elements contributing to the film’s success. The collaboration with an internationally renowned actor, the compelling narrative set in an exotic locale, and the film’s high production values have resonated with global audiences. This serves as a case study for leveraging local cultural assets and talent to achieve worldwide recognition.

The film’s triumph on Netflix exemplifies how strategic storytelling, coupled with robust production and marketing efforts, can elevate regional cinema to global prominence. As “Find Me Falling” continues to captivate audiences, it stands as a testament to the potential of Cypriot filmmaking in the competitive entertainment landscape. This landmark achievement signals a promising future for Cyprus in the international film industry, inspiring local filmmakers to aim for global success.

Interest rates on housing loans up and down on deposits

Cypriot banks raised mortgage rates in August while cutting interest on one-year deposits for households, according to data released by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Meanwhile, the total value of new loans dropped sharply in August, falling by 33 per cent compared to July.

The latest figures, published on Wednesday reveal that the interest rate for short-term deposits by households fell to 1.79 per cent, from 1.96 per cent in July. In contrast, the deposit rate for businesses (non-financial companies) travelled in the opposite direction up to 2.33 per cent in August from 2.28 per cent in the previous month.

Consumer loan rates also saw a small decline, dropping to 6.59 per cent from 6.67 per cent in the previous month. Mortgage rates rose marginally to 4.65 per cent, from 4.59 per cent.

Rates for businesses, on loans €1 million also fell to 5.36 per cent from 5.61 per cent. For loans

above €1 million the rate fell to 5.42 per cent from 5.64 per cent.

In terms of new loans, there was a marked drop across the board. Total new loans fell to €395.5 million, down from €596.3 million in July.

Consumer loans also fell with net new loans at €19m, compared to July’s €28m (€26.1m net).

Loans for house purchases also declined significantly, falling to €95.6m, of which €72.3m were net new loans, down from €134.3m (€100.7m net) in July.

New loans of under a million euro to businesses decreased to €52.8m (€34.1m net), down from €75.5m in July (€49.5m net).

Similarly, loans of over a million euros were halved to €179.3m (€78.3m net), compared to €345.2m (€211.8m net) in the previous month.

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