A documentary screening about the closed city of Varosha, in Cyprus, will take place in Seville, Spain, on the 4th of February, as part of an initiative that has been launched to promote Cyprus’s history, culture, and heritage, within the framework of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2026, and with the support of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Seville.
Varosha International Initiative said in a press release that “for this purpose, a series of events are planned for the first week of February 2026, including a documentary screening about the closed city of Varosha, a photography exhibition showcasing Cyprus’s flora, an art exhibition, and a gourmet dinner featuring Cypriot cuisine accompanied by Cypriot wines.”
“Invitations will be extended to the Ambassador of Cyprus in Spain, the Consul of Cyprus in Seville, the Director of the JRC in Seville, and the EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans,'” it is added.
“The goal of these events is to promote Cyprus’s presence in the EU through its history, culture, and heritage. The primary target audience includes European employees of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission in Seville and the residents of Seville, in celebration of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU,” the press release noted.
“Through the exhibition of works by two artists, the photography exhibition, a presentation on the endemic plants of Cyprus, the screening and discussion of a documentary on the city of Varosha, and the offering of Cypriot food and wine, Cyprus’s identity will be showcased alongside its European existence. Specifically, Cyprus’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as its natural wealth, will be highlighted through these exhibitions, screenings, and discussions,'” said Varosha International Initiative.
The documentary’s producer, Tony Toumazis, will attend the events and after the screening of the documentary will participate in a panel discussion on Varosha.
The series of events will take place during the first week of February 2026, lasting until March 31, 2026.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.
UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.