“With over 32,000 attendees in 2025 supporting hundreds of vendors and creatives, this is no longer a fringe interest. It is a functioning micro-economy!”, Chris Ellinas says, one of the five co-founders of Cyprus Comic Con, following the team’s win at the CBN Young Dragon Awards and their recognition in the field of young entrepreneurship.
In an interview with GOLD magazine on the occasion of the awards, the five suggest that despite the market’s demands, they are committed to continuing to safeguard the community’s authenticity without compromising its core values.
They finally share their thoughts about being recognised as Young Dragons and offer advice to other upcoming ambitious young professionals.
Community is at the heart of Comic Con. How do you ensure commercial growth without compromising its authenticity and core values?
Helen Christofi: We safeguard that heart by defining our non-negotiables from the outset. Creative freedom, integrity and public accessibility always take priority. Any commercial collaboration must respect those values. If it does not, we simply do not pursue it. The communities, creatives and uniquely intelligent – and often misunderstood – core of our crowd are central to everything. Many of us grew up feeling slightly misaligned with school systems that did not quite understand us. We were exploring bleeding-edge technologies, immersing ourselves in dense fantasy and science fiction, and discovering alternative music and storytelling through dial-up modems. That shared experience still informs how we design, programme and protect the event today. Our core crowd knows that we are organisers first and businesspeople second. Many of us are creatives ourselves. Revenue is a tool, not the purpose. Growth should result in stronger production, improved infrastructure, richer international exchange and real opportunities for local creators. If growth strengthens the community, it belongs. If it weakens the core, it does not.
Cyprus Comic Con began as a niche event and now attracts over 20,000 visitors and 300 vendors. Is Cyprus finally ready to treat pop culture as a serious economic driver or are there still structural challenges to scaling such initiatives?
Chris Ellinas: With over 32,000 attendees in 2025 supporting hundreds of vendors and creatives, this is no longer a fringe interest. It is a functioning micro-economy! Despite operating in a historic, affectionately “post-apocalyptic” venue, we are nearing attendance figures seen in far more populous cities such as Athens and Vienna. Cyprus has the potential to be a serious destination for pop culture investment. The growth of the pop culture industry and the wider tech ecosystem reflects that alignment and momentum.
Yes, hurdles remain: over-regulation, over-taxation and lingering misunderstandings of what it takes to build world-class happenings here. The pandemic revealed how fragile creative venues can be without support. Investment in upgraded pavilions and modern multifunctional spaces is encouraging and will allow community-led initiatives to flourish.
How does winning a CBN Young Dragon Award reshape the expectations you place on yourselves, going forward?
Christopher Barnett: Cyprus Comic Con began as a belief that “our kind of people” – and anyone curious enough to join us – deserved something in Cyprus that felt larger than what the island usually offers. At its core, it has always been about destroying loneliness, creating viable creative career paths and helping stem the brain drain. It has not been easy. The post-pandemic period left us beaten, battered and bruised, navigating layers of bureaucracy and entrenched attitudes that very nearly undid years of work. This recognition gives us renewed energy. It allows the team to feel seen and, more importantly, confirms that the distinctive, thoughtful and inventive people we seek to platform are recognised too. That matters deeply. It strengthens our resolve to continue building what we have so strongly believed in for so long.
Looking back on your journey so far, what is the biggest lesson you have learned and what advice would you offer to ambitious young professionals?
Neo Barnett: Belief must outlast circumstance. Vision must be paired with structure, discipline and execution. Start before you feel ready. Build around people, not just ideas. Protect your integrity and be clear about what you will not compromise on. There will be sleepless nights and difficult conversations but, if the passion never burns out, you will know you are forging the right path.
CHRISTOS ELLINAS
Co-founder and Community Manager of Cyprus Comic Con, Christos Ellinas brings over a decade of expertise in community building, events management and digital marketing. Skilled in social media platforms, he has been pivotal in growing Cyprus Comic Con’s online presence and real-world event success. He excels in strategic planning, stakeholder management and customer relations. His background also includes extensive sports journalism and multimedia content creation. He holds a BSc in Communications from the University of Nicosia and studies in Media and International Relations from Keele University.
HELEN CHRISTOFI
Helen Christofi co-founded Cyprus Comic Con and leads its event planning, logistics and digital presence. A senior web developer and UI/UX specialist, she has developed and maintained the official Comic Con website and manages social media marketing campaigns. Her skills extend to graphic design, video production and brand identity development. Her technical expertise includes programming languages (JavaScript, React, Python) and marketing tools like SEO and PPC ads. She is also experienced in volunteer leadership and stage production. Christofi holds a BA in Architecture and has worked in senior web development roles.
CHRISTOPHER BARNETT
Co-founder and Sales Director Christopher Barnett has over 20 years of experience in retail, distribution and entertainment. He leads business planning and sales strategies for Cyprus Comic Con, growing it from a small event to one with over 300 vendors and 20,000 visitors. His leadership ensured the expansion of kid-friendly and STEM sections while managing partner relations and event logistics. He formerly served as Chief Sales Officer at James Innes Group and as General Manager at Sony Playstation Cyprus.
NEO BARNETT
Neo Barnett, co-founder and Creative Director, has nearly 20 years in graphic design, branding and social media management. He shapes the visual identity of Cyprus Comic Con and coordinates marketing campaigns and event layouts. His philosophy centres on creativity and values-driven work. His professional background includes Chief Creative Officer at James Innes Group and extensive freelance graphic design, supporting a wide range of clients.
PETER ANDERS HVASS
Peter Anders Hvass is a seasoned technology and event leader with 15+ years in software engineering, DevOps, business development and event strategy. As Cyprus Comic Con co-founder, he expanded the event’s footprint and diversified its offerings to include wrestling, LARPing and music festivals. Peter also serves as CEO & CTO for James Innes Group, directing strategic and technological initiatives, and manages systems for Dondake Ltd. He holds an MEng from Imperial College London and is fluent in multiple languages.
This interview first appeared in the March edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.
