The Journey Begins: UK Cyprus Film Festival 2026

A Place Where Stories Travel

The Manchester edition of the UK Cyprus Film Festival 2026 marked a deeply meaningful moment in our journey across the UK — one rooted in memory, continuity, and shared cultural experience.

At the heart of the city, in partnership with Manchester Central Library, we brought back Myths of Cyprus for one special, final family screening. It is a tradition we cherish: carrying forward selected works from the previous year into the new festival cycle, allowing them to find new audiences and new life. In Manchester, this gesture felt particularly fitting — a bridge between past and present, between generations, and between Cyprus and its diaspora.

We were deeply moved by the response of the families who joined us for the Timeless Cyprus workshop that preceded the screening. This was the third workshop of the day, following two earlier sessions delivered in partnership with the Hellenic School of Manchester. Across all three, the energy in the room was unmistakable: curiosity, joy, and a genuine openness to discovery. Together, these workshops set the tone for what promises to be a joyful and meaningful journey — one that will continue next month in Leeds, before finally returning “home” to London.

That homecoming will take place at the Hellenic Centre, surrounded by the works of George Pol. Georghiou, as part of the exhibition included in the official cultural programme of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, organised by the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus in collaboration with the A. G. Leventis Gallery.

Throughout the day in Manchester, something quietly powerful unfolded. Bonds were formed — between children and stories, families and memories, audiences and an island many know intimately and others are discovering anew. Through the life and work of George Pol. Georghiou, participants encountered an artist who loved Cyprus deeply, who observed it with care, and who painted it so that others might come to know it too — its landscapes, its people, its spirit.

The screening of Myths of Cyprus, produced by the Press and Information Office of Cyprus and directed by Mark Kassinos, offered a beautiful closing moment to the day. Ancient myths and legends were brought vividly to life, reminding us how storytelling continues to shape identity, belonging, and imagination — especially when shared collectively, across generations.

Manchester reminded us why this work matters. Why we travel. Why we gather. And why culture, when offered with care, creates connections that last well beyond a single screening or workshop.

Thank you to all the families, partners, educators, and audiences who shared this moment with us. This is only the beginning of what promises to be a rich and meaningful journey ahead.