Stars, sea and cinema at Syros Film Festival

The Cycladic island of Syros is offering fans of film, artisanal beer and the salty sea breeze a little piece of paradise this summer, as the Syros International Film Festival returns for a sixth year, with another cracking program. With events taking place across the island - venues include a quarry and a shipyard - the festival invites audiences and filmmakers on a new type of cinematic adventure.

This year's SIFF will present a wide selection of genres, ranging from archival footage to documentaries. The festival will also offer master classes, discussions and live shows, all centered on the question: "Is it real?" - an investigation into the construction of reality.

Highlights include the screening of "Betrogen" by German filmmaker Harun Farocki, which is being shown outside of Germany for the first time. The organizers have also put together a tribute to the late...