In Cyprus the resort of Larnaca always does its best to make use of the great weather it benefits from. Outdoor activities are the norm here from dance festivals to concerts and theatre performances. If it can take place outdoors, then in Larnaca it always does.

During October last year the tourist authorities are promoted an Open Air film Festival, something not even Cannes would attempt to do during May, but in October Larnaca seems to have no worries about the weather. The Festival, which showcased the movies of Italian actress Sophia Loren, kicked off on Monday 5th October with a screening of "The Cassandra Crossing" at the Finikoudes Sea Front. This was filmed when Loren was 42 years old and co-stars Richard Harris and Martin Sheen. Films like this are often thought to be part of the twilight of Loren's career, especially when you consider she starred in classics like El Cid in her mid-twenties. Of the three films shown during the festival Houseboat is the earliest, filmed in 1958, where Loren starred alongside Cary Grant. The other film, which could be seen in Larnaca on 7th October is The Fall of the Roman Empire, starring Loren, Alec Guinness, Christopher Plummer and Omar Sharif.

Many Italians come to Cyprus on holiday and their enduring love of Loren is possibly the main reason why Larnaca chose to dedicate this festival to her. She lost her husband Carlo Ponti two years ago, yet her acting career is still active and this year she completed filming of "Nine" alongside a star-studded cast that included Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz and others. The film was released in the UK in December.