Outdoor cinema in centre of Nicosia

The yard of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation will again transform into an outdoor summer cinema, featuring unique productions from Cypriot producers and films in association with The Friends of Cinema Society. Five free film nights will take place in August and September starting on Thursday.

The kids-friendly adventure film Little Nicholas and The Treasure Hunt will be screened, following nine-year-old Nicholas whose world turns upside down when he has to move to the south of France for his dad’s job. Not wanting to lose his friends, he concocts the ultimate plan with them to prevent the awful move: a treasure hunt.

The acclaimed Cypriot film Smuggling Hendrix will be screened next on August 8. Set against the backdrop of a divided Nicosia, a straight comedy satirises the absurdity that has become part of the daily life of its inhabitants, without trying to solve the Cyprus problem. When Yiannis’ dog runs away to the occupied territories, Yiannis has to go through bizarre and absurd scenarios to get him back.

On August 29, the summer cinema will continue keeping up with Little Nicholas’ stories this time while he is on summer vacation. Little Nicholas Goes on Holiday begins at the end of the school year as Nicholas says goodbye to his classmates and books and looks forward to a sunny summer ahead.

In September, the cinema series will welcome actress Raquel Welch on the big screen. The Beloved stars the Hollywood star Welch alongside Cypriot actors and extras. The film was filmed in Cyprus in 1970 in the village of Karmi in Keryneia and features music by Yiannis Markopoulos. The story follows a Cypriot living in London who returns home to settle inheritance issues and finds love in a married woman who had been his childhood friend. The film will be screened on September 18.

On the following evening, a documentary on the film titled The Beloved Days will be screened introducing images of that magical era and the island’s promising future as a film destination: a future that was abruptly ended by the Turkish invasion of 1974. The documentary, like a kaleidoscope, conveys images of the social reality of the time and the traumatic changes experienced by the islanders after the Turkish invasion. All of the screenings at the courtyard begin at 8.30pm, except the children’s films will start at 8pm.

Summer Cinema

Part of the Faneromeni24 arts festival. August 1,8,29 and September 18,19. Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Nicosia. With subtitles in Greek/English. Free. Tel: 22-128157