Kino International. Foto Daniel Horn
Built in 1961-1963 by architect Josef Kaiser as the main movie theater of the German Democratic Republic, it was intended to be the flagship of the state film industry, writes Timeout. The grand opening took place on November 15, 1963 with the screening of the Soviet film “Optimistic Tragedy”. For almost three decades, the main movie premieres of the country were held here. Symbolically, it was in these walls on November 9, 1989, the film “Cuming Out” was shown on the night of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
During the GDR years, the first rows of the hall were occupied by party functionaries, for whom there were separate entrances, an elevator and even a bunker in case of emergency. Today these rooms are closed, but the spirit of the era can be felt everywhere: from the monumental facade with golden letters to the bas-reliefs glorifying socialist labor.
The 15 million euro renovation preserved the historical appearance of the building, carefully supplementing it with modern solutions. In the foyer, the modular ceiling and original lighting fixtures were restored, while the Panorama bar once again offers a view of the TV tower. In the auditorium, 506 new seats were installed, the legendary silver curtain with millions of sequins was renewed and the precious wood panels were restored.
At the same time, the technical equipment has reached a new level: 4K laser projection at up to 120 frames per second and a customized 7.1 sound system provide a fully immersive experience. Today, Kino International is a protected architectural monument and a permanent site of the Berlin Film Festival, where the past and future of cinema meet under one soaring ceiling.
