Cannes, France. A documentary about a little-known Hong Kong martial arts film shot in Cyprus in 1990 is set for a new international platform after being selected for a Cannes Film Festival industry showcase. The film examines the original production and the role Hong Kong action cinema played in Cypriot youth culture before the digital era.
Cannes selection and presentation details
Tracking: the Cyprus Tigers, directed by Cypriot filmmaker Andreas Kyriacou and produced by Stavros Papageorgiou, has been officially selected for the Frontières Buyers Showcase at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. The project will be presented on May 17 at the Palais des Festivals.
Focus beyond the original film
The documentary begins with the mystery surrounding The Cyprus Tigers, a Hong Kong martial arts film shot in Cyprus in the summer of 1990, but expands into a broader account of memory and cultural exchange. It reflects on growing up in Cyprus before streaming and smartphones, including the influence of video stores and VHS tapes on how audiences encountered cinema.
Cyprus as a cultural crossroads
Kyriacou said the story was rooted in Cyprus’s position as a meeting point of cultures. “Cyprus has always been a strange and beautiful crossroads,” he said. “We are a small island, but culturally we have never been isolated.”
Hong Kong action films and everyday viewing
The documentary traces the lasting influence of Hong Kong cinema on audiences far from Asia, highlighting how action films from Hong Kong were part of everyday viewing for many in Cyprus during the 1980s and 1990s. Kyriacou described the films as having “a raw energy that spoke directly to young audiences,” calling them “fast, physical, funny, emotional, dangerous and completely alive.”
Film discovery in the pre-digital era
The documentary also depicts how film discovery in Cyprus relied on in-person browsing and recommendations rather than online catalogs. It describes a process of visiting video stores, studying cover art, and renting films with limited guidance.
How did video stores and VHS rentals shape your memories of discovering films?