What to Do

Cyprus Film Days IFF is the official competition feature fiction film festival that takes place every year in Cyprus. The festival includes both national films and award-winning international films. Special tributes, parallel screenings, master classes, workshops and musical events, complete the program of the official International Film Festival of Cyprus. It also includes screenings of international awarded films for young audiences as well as short films produced by children in Cyprus and Greece. All films are presented in their original language with Greek and English subtitles. Usually takes place in April (www.cyprusfilmdays.com). Constantia Open-Air Cinema launches its Summer Movie Marathon every year from June to September in Pallouriotissa with screenings of local and international films under the stars from Wednesday to Sunday. Artos Foundation in Ayioi Omoloyites also hosts film festivals such as the Short Matters! with screenings of awarded European short films. There are two large cinemas with six screens, K-Cineplex in the Nicosia Mall and K-Cineplex in Engomi where you can watch blockbuster films.

Every year, during the Francophonie month, the French Institute of Cyprus in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus and the French speaking embassies organise numerous events including the Francophonie Film Festival. The Festival is organised in collaboration with the Association a Friends of Cinema and the Embassies of Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania and Lebanon. It takes place at Cine Studio Cinema at the University of Nicosia in Engomi. Cine studio also regularly hosts international film screenings organised by the Friends of Cinema association (www.ofk.org.cy), founded in 1991. There are screenings almost every week of the year with dedications to directors, cinematic schools but also screenings of films from Asia, Japan and Iran. It also hosts European, French, Spanish and German Film Festivals with screenings of the best films awarded at international film festivals.

FESTIVALS, EXHIBITIONS, THEATRE

The annual Nicosia Festival consists of a series of cultural events organised by Nicosia Municipality in squares and neighbourhoods from July to September. Attend and enjoy music, singing, dance shows, poetry, theatre and much more. The Faneromeni Arts Festival also takes place from June to September in the city’s largest courtyard, that of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, that opens its gates and welcomes everyone to enjoy feature films, live music gigs and theatre performances. It is a multidimensional festival propagating art and contemporary artistic creation with local and international performances at the foundation’s open-air amphitheatre. Events are suitable for all ages and the festival entry is with free admission. The Nicosia Beer Festival takes place every September at the Famagusta Gate moat with a free entrance. Small wooden houses host beers from around the world, food and desserts which you can enjoy in the Beer Garden with live music from popular local bands. Many theatre productions also take place at the National Theatre of THOC (Cyprus Theatre Organisation) and other independent theatres. Galleries also organize openings of new art exhibitions, almost every week, featuring local artists and launching new talent. The Medieval Nicosia Festival is a five-day festival celebrating medieval Nicosia featuring guided tours, parade, music performances, theatre, and interesting lectures and presentations taking place at various locations around Nicosia.