It seems like Berlin’s independent movie theaters‘ collection reflects the way the city is: densely and multiculturally populated metropolis, where rich kids live on the same street as spiked hair punks and Turkish kebabs neighbor old GDR buildings.
So, here are five interesting movie theaters in Berlin, no typical mainstream multiplexes:
1. Filmtheater am Friedrichshain
This cozy movie theater should be very tempting to those people who love Friedrichshain: the place so diverse that is has everything. You do not even have to leave it to go to see a movie. Filmtheater am Friedrichshain (that is tenderly called FaF by Berliners) is a child of Berlin independent movie theater group Yorck. This group is comprised of fifteen movie theaters that united in order to repulse decisively large multiplex movies. Yorck movie theaters such as FaF have found their audience among those people who love interesting independent movies, old classic masterpieces, and movies in the original language. FaF is one of the most beautiful and unusual movie theaters in the city, it looks like a real movie temple. There are five screens with 911 seats in total. The number of the seats is kept so small on purpose, so you can seat in large upholstered seats and have enough place between the rows to stretch your cramped legs. Starting from May a nice beer garden right behind FaF is open and welcomes moviegoers to debate the movie and try some local food such as grills, Schmalzstullen (kind of toasts) and Gewürzgurken (pickled cucumbers) .
Address: Bötzow Strasse, 1-5
Tickets: Mon/Thur 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Fr/Sun 7,50 €; 0,5-1 € discount for students
2. Babylon
This is also one of the small independent Yorck movie theaters that screens movies some of the best Berlin’s movie programs, movies by cinematographic schools, old German silent movies, and foreign films in the original language. The main emphasis is done on displaying non-mainstream movies, art house pieces and retrospectives. Besides, they very often invite movie makers from different countries to display their movies and then have a nice evening discussing nowadays trends in movies, life challenges, and other interesting things. There are two screens in Babylon and lectures, reading and workshops at this movie theater never stop.
Address: Rosa Luxemburg Strasse, 30
Tickets: Mon 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Thur/Sun 7,50 €
3. Kino International
This is a very nice movie theater with GDR charm, it has seen it all: Great Berlin Wall era, socialist propaganda, and managed to survive till nowadays. Now Kino International is under World Heritage protection that proves the value of the building’s architecture and interiors design. Entering Kino International, you walk through the huge magnificent foyer with crystal chandeliers and arm chairs upholstered in red velvet, follow twin staircases covered with grey carpets and finally enter the big screen room. Located in the eastern Berlin, Kino International has become an inalienable part of Karl Marx Allee. Kino International displays Hollywood flicks and flamboyant Bollywood movies. Every month one of Mondays is a special day – Mongay, when movie programs for gay audience are screened. Moreover, it is not just a movie theater, but also a party place: every first Saturday there is a great party in Kino International.
Address: Karl Marx Allee, 33
Tickets: Mon 5,50 €, Tue/Wed 6,50 €, Thur/Sun 8 €, Mongay 6,50 €; 0,5-1 € discount for students
4. Lichtblick Kino
Now from small independent movie theaters to a totally tiny one. Lichtblick Kino is a great change from huge 5-6 screen movies: it is the smallest movie theater in Berlin. Its teensy screening room has just several rows of red velvet seats ensuring intimate and almost fairytale ambience. Here enthusiasts and devotees of movies and filmmaking can satisfy their craving for retrospectives of such trendsetting directors who have changed the movies medium as Fellini and Godrad. Besides, Lichtblick Kino screens classics of Italian Neorealism, French New Wave, and New Hollywood Movement, so everybody can find something here according to his or her preferences. Luckily, most of the movies are displayed in their original language. You can also see some works of modern German directors here. Buying a ticket at midnight on Saturday, you can find yourself in Casablanca, where Rick and Ilsa find and lose each other once again. This Sunday midnight tradition never changes.
Address: Kastanien Allee, 77
Tickets: Mon/Fr 3.90 €, Sat/Sun 4.50 €
5. Brotfabrik
Finally, the last of our selection of movie theaters is Brotfabrik or Bread Factory. This movies also has something to offer to demanding cineastes: a mix of German and international movies. Besides, Brotfabrik is a mix by itself: it accommodates a cinema, an art gallery, a bar and a theater. So, there is always something happening here like a play by Fyodr Dostoyevsky or performance art lecture. In Brotfabrik movie theater they screen movies in the original language most of times. Small bar in Broffabrik is also worth visiting.
Address: Caligariplatz, 1/ Prenzlauer Promenade, 3
Tickets: prices range from 3 to 6 €
Photo of movie theater, Berlin, Germany by Maharepa
Topic: Top five Monday |
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Tags: Art, Berlin
About the author
Oksana is a freelance writer who believes that traveling is the best education. She's now studying Global Development at the Warsaw University and is obsessed with languages and foreign cultures.
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