The UCI Kinowelt Colosseum at Schönhauser Allee 123 in 2019 Photo: picture alliance / Geisler-Fotopress
By Martina Hafner
The Colosseum cinema, which was closed in 2020, is scheduled to reopen as a cultural venue on September 9th and 10th, 2023. At the start there is a big festival with many films.
Cinema hall 1, which is a listed building, as well as halls 2 and 3 are put back into operation by Hans-Joachim Flebbe, who uses the Zoo Palast and the Astor Film Lounge. The other cinemas and areas of the former wagon hall will be taken over by the Colosseum Event Berlin GmbH with the creative artists David Kunze, David Boldt and Leon Roewer.
The entire area is intended to be used as a pop-up operation for an initial period of two years. The renting is done by the Berliner Starlounge GmbH, the gastronomy is taken care of by Kevin Elias, operator of the Berlin restaurant Schneeweiß.
The prospect for the film program was: upscale mainstream, special interest and special screenings such as anime, music films, film festivals and independent productions. In addition, there will be themed days or weeks to match the cultural program in the event areas, as well as premieres and much more.
The cinema festival on the opening weekend starts on September 9, 2023 at 1 p.m. Admission to the films should cost five euros each.
The historic building was used in 1894 as a carriage house with a yard for more than 360 horses. The first movie theater was opened there in 1924 and is one of the oldest movie theaters in Berlin. From 1997 to 2020 it was popular as a multiplex cinema. Former employees had long fought to preserve the Colosseum. After the closure, an office complex was initially discussed there. In 2022, a Hamburg investor bought the film theater with 2,800 seats.