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Nicosia is about to get a taste of Chinese cinema, and not just a quiet screening or two, but a full-on Chinese Film Week in Cyprus, complete with cultural exchanges and a packed lineup of films running across the island.
The festival opens on June 10 at 19:30 at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre, where the opening ceremony will be held alongside the premiere of Sound of Shanghai. Entry is by invitation only, and guests are asked to confirm attendance in advance, so expect an evening with a more official tone where culture and diplomacy share the same stage.
The event marks the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and 55 years of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and China.
Ahead of the opening ceremony, there’s also a little bonus for film lovers: from 16:00 to 18:00, audiences can catch the animated film Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector. It’s in Chinese with Greek and English subtitles, and yes, family-friendly enough that even younger viewers can get in on the action.
The festival is organized by the Chinese Embassy in cooperation with the China Film Administration and Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Culture, marking the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations and 55 years of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and China.
A week of films, culture… and popcorn
But the real fun kicks off right after that.
This isn’t just a film series. It’s a cultural exchange, part cinema, part bridge-building exercise between Nicosia and Beijing.
And yes, there’s plenty to watch.
On June 11, audiences can catch A Table for Two at Pantheon Theatre in Nicosia, followed by screenings continuing throughout the week, most of them free admission, which already makes this one of the more popular “tickets” in town.
What’s on the big screen? A bit of everything: comedy, action, animation and drama. Basically, something for whatever mood Cyprus is in after work.
The lineup includes Boonie Bears: The Hidden Protector, Night King (a Cantonese-language screening in Nicosia), The Shadow’s Edge, It’s OK, and more nightly screenings at Pantheon Theatre in Nicosia.
Most films are shown in Mandarin or Cantonese with Greek and English subtitles, so no one gets left out, even if your Chinese starts and ends with “ni hao” and a strong appreciation for dumplings.
From Nicosia to Limassol
While Nicosia is the main hub, Limassol also joins in on June 12 with I Am What I Am, bringing the festival outside the capital and turning it into a small island-wide cultural run.
The grand finale
The festival wraps up on June 15 at 18:30 at K-Cineplex Cinema (Prime, Strovolos) in Nicosia with the closing ceremony, followed by a screening of The Blade of Fury: Wind Rising in the Desert.
The film is set against China’s ancient Western Regions and blends martial arts, history and adventure, basically a strong finish with plenty of action to close the week on a high note.
Representatives from China’s National Film Administration, along with Chinese film production and distribution companies, are expected to attend, as well as the film’s director and actors. There will also be an interactive session, giving guests a chance to engage directly with members of the Chinese film industry.
More than just films
Beyond the screenings, the festival is really about something simple: sitting in a cinema in Nicosia or Limassol and suddenly finding yourself in Shanghai or Beijing for a couple of hours, no passport required.
And with most screenings free, the only real challenge might be deciding which film to catch after work… or whether you’ll end up going back again the next night.
