Kinodvor

### **Kinodvor – The City's Central Cinema for Quality and Diverse Film Offerings** Since its establishment in October 2008, Kinodvor has been Ljubljana’s central city cinema, dedicated to presenting high-quality and diverse film programs, including special programming for children and young audiences. Kinodvor also serves as a festival hub and a vibrant social gathering place, emphasizing the cinema-going experience through special events and fostering collaboration among various stakeholders in the film and audiovisual arts sectors. Our mission is to promote film culture, beginning with film education for young audiences and continuing with programming that caters to the needs of discerning film enthusiasts. ### **A New Mini-Plex in Ljubljana** Kinodvor, in collaboration with its founder, the Municipality of Ljubljana, is working on the development of a city mini-plex. This project is part of the urban renewal plan for the central section of Slovenska cesta and will be located in the Ajdovščina underpass. The mini-plex is designed to create an ideal environment for a true city cinema concept—serving as a creative cultural hub for all generations, with a special focus on attracting new and younger audiences. Kinodvor is a proud member of the Art Cinema Network of Slovenia, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in March 2020. --- ## **History** The **Ljubljanski Dvor** cinema was built in 1923 to provide Ljubljana with a luxurious "cinema-theater," similar to those being constructed in major European cities at the time. Architecturally, the building belongs to the late Art Nouveau style, with an opulently designed interior. The first film ever screened at **Kolodvorska 13** was the Austrian historical spectacle *Der Junge Medardus* (The Young Medardus), directed by Hungarian filmmaker **Michael Kertész**—who, nearly two decades later, became famous in Hollywood as **Michael Curtiz**, the director of *Casablanca*. In its early years, the cinema focused on silent films by leading European and American directors such as **Fritz Lang, Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplin, Abel Gance, and Jean Renoir**. Among the many international films, Ljubljana audiences also had the chance to see **Slovenia’s first film star, Ita Rina**, who gained fame in the film *Erotikon*. In 1935, the cinema was taken over by the **Sloga Railway Cultural Society**, which managed it until 1946 when all cinemas were nationalized. The cinema operated under the name **Kino Sloga** until the early 1990s, when it was renamed **Kino Dvor**. During the final decade before its rebranding, Kino Sloga became known for screening erotic and pornographic films. In 2002, efforts by **Silvan Furlan**, then director of the Slovenian Cinematheque, led to an agreement between the **Municipality of Ljubljana, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, and the Cinematheque** to renovate and reopen Kino Dvor as a cinema dedicated to contemporary art films. However, on April 1, 2008, the new management of the Cinematheque decided to close Kinodvor, temporarily suspending its operations. To preserve the concept of an urban art cinema, the **Municipality of Ljubljana** established the **Kinodvor Public Institution** on May 26, 2008, and the cinema reopened its doors on **October 1, 2008**. --- ## **Key Milestones** ### **The Year of Cinema (2013/2014)** In its fifth year of operation, Kinodvor, in collaboration with the **Slovenian Cinematheque**, launched a celebratory project titled **"The Year of Cinema – Kinodvor 90"**, marking 90 years of film and cinema history. This initiative successfully revitalized both Kinodvor’s legacy and Ljubljana’s cinematic heritage through partnerships with various cultural institutions. ### **Kinodvor’s 10th Anniversary (2018)** In **October 2018**, Kinodvor celebrated its 10th anniversary with a **week-long festival** (October 1–8) featuring a diverse selection of films for different audiences. The celebration included special premieres attended by filmmakers, screenings for young viewers, and Slovenian films. Regular programming series were also highlighted, including: - **"Film Meetings Over Coffee"** for senior audiences - **"Kinotrip"** for teenagers - **Sunday screenings for latecomers ("Za zamudnike")** - **The weekly festival gathering ("Zgodnja ptica")** The event welcomed **14 representatives from two Swedish cinema networks, Folkets Hus och Parker and Folkets Bio**, who shared best practices in cinema and film distribution. ### **Kinodvor 100 & 15 Years as a Public Institution (2023)** The year **2023** marked **three major anniversaries**: - **100 years of cinema at Kolodvorska** - **20 years of Kinodvor as an art cinema** - **15 years of the Kinodvor Public Institution** To commemorate this milestone, Kinodvor organized a **year-long series of events** celebrating the **role of cinema as a vibrant urban cultural and creative center**. The **highlight of the celebrations occurred in October**, culminating on the exact 100th anniversary of the cinema’s opening on **October 15, 1923**. On this date, Kinodvor hosted two screenings (at 11 AM and 7 PM) of a **restored 35mm version of *Der Junge Medardus***, accompanied by a new musical score by **Andreja Goričarja**, performed by the **Orchestra of the Imaginary**. In **2024**, Kinodvor continues to celebrate its centenary by screening a film each month featuring **legendary directors, actors, and cinematic figures who would have turned 100 this year**. --- ## **International Activities** Kinodvor has been active in international networking since its inception. In 2009, it hosted its **first international professional conference**, titled **"Networks and Digitalization of Art Cinemas"**, which played a key role in the **revitalization and digitalization of cinemas** within the **Art Cinema Network of Slovenia**. During the **Year of Cinema**, Kinodvor organized the international **"City of Cinema"** conference, exploring the future of cinemas as dynamic social and cultural hubs. Additionally, in **2014 and 2018**, Kinodvor hosted **two international film education conferences**, aimed at both cultural institutions and educators. Since **2018**, Kinodvor has been a partner in **Cinemini Europe**, a project led by the Dutch **EYE Film Institute**, focused on advancing **film education for young children** through collaborations with leading European partners. In **2021**, Kinodvor organized a **regional online seminar on film education in Southeastern Europe** titled **"Steps Toward the Development of Film Education"**. The seminar brought together key institutions from across the region to explore models ensuring **quality, sustainability, and accessibility** in film education. Additionally, it highlighted organizations that successfully continued their programs despite pandemic-related restrictions. In **December 2021**, Kinodvor also joined the international **"Film in Hospital"** project, which aims to **provide children and young people in hospitals with access to high-quality films and film education content** via new online platforms.