{"id":16287,"date":"2025-04-23T22:48:20","date_gmt":"2025-04-23T20:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=16287"},"modified":"2025-05-06T14:24:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T12:24:40","slug":"how-berlins-independent-cinemas-are-surviving-a-changing-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/16287\/how-berlins-independent-cinemas-are-surviving-a-changing-world\/","title":{"rendered":"How Berlin\u2019s independent cinemas are surviving a changing world"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over a hundred small, independent cinemas are still going strong in Berlin, not because of big-name blockbusters or massive budgets, but thanks to a deep love for film, a rich history, and a whole lot of heart. They may not have the flashy marketing or stadium seating of chain theaters, but what they do offer is something more personal: character, community, and a passion for films that often live outside the mainstream.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a world where streaming is becoming the norm and cultural funding is on the chopping block, Berlin\u2019s indie cinemas are doing what they\u2019ve always done, adapting, getting creative, and holding on.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Sputnik Kino in Kreuzberg, film is more than a job, it\u2019s a way of life. Marcelo, who\u2019s been part of Berlin\u2019s indie cinema world for over 30 years, says his path into film felt inevitable. \u201cIt\u2019s my passion,\u201d he says simply. <\/span>Originally from Brazil, Marcelo found his love for cinema through the cineclub movement, a grassroots format inspired by France that focused on art films and community. That spirit lives on at Sputnik, where the seats are made from bricks and the bar sometimes doubles as a screening room. It feels more like a gathering space than a traditional theater.<\/span><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s kind of the point. Sputnik isn\u2019t just about showing films, it\u2019s about sharing them. The cinema hosts Q&As, festivals, and events like Open Screening, where anyone can bring their own short film to show. \u201cIt\u2019s like open mic night, but for movies,\u201d Marcelo laughs. \u201cYou meet people, trade ideas, sometimes end up collaborating.\u201d For him, it\u2019s not about just keeping the lights on, it\u2019s about making something meaningful, together.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rise of digital technology has completely reshaped both how films are made and how people watch them. For Berlin\u2019s indie cinemas, it\u2019s been both a blessing and a curveball. \u201cThere\u2019s beauty in how easy it is now to create something,\u201d Marcelo says. \u201cYou don\u2019t need huge budgets anymore to make a film that matters.\u201d Cheaper equipment and editing tools have opened the doors for more voices, but it also means a flood of content competing for attention. And then there\u2019s streaming. During the pandemic, a whole generation grew up with cinema on their phones, not in theaters. \u201cThey got used to watching everything at home,\u201d says Wolf, who runs four indie cinemas in the city, including Moviemento, Germany\u2019s oldest still-running movie house. Some are coming back now, but the viewing habits have changed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Platforms like MUBI have helped spark interest in lesser-known films, which Wolf appreciates. But they also keep audiences at arm\u2019s length from the communal experience of going to the movies. On top of that, digital distribution means theaters sometimes have to show the same film all day if they want access to certain titles. \u201cDistributors push for that,\u201d Marcelo says. \u201cBut we want variety, we want to show more.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

As passionate as these theaters are, they still need funding to survive, and right now, that\u2019s getting harder. Marcelo and Wolf both worry about recent cultural budget cuts in Berlin. \u201cThe city\u2019s savings plan is hitting the arts hard,\u201d Marcelo says. \u201cThere\u2019s less funding, fewer opportunities.\u201d For smaller venues, even modest subsidies can be a lifeline. Ironically, some cinemas might avoid the worst of the cuts for now, because they\u2019re not officially categorized as \u201cculture.\u201d \u201cUsually that\u2019s a problem,\u201d Wolf notes. \u201cBut in this case, it\u2019s helping us dodge some of the funding slashes.\u201d Still, long term, the picture isn\u2019t pretty. Grants for renovation, programming, and awards could disappear. And it\u2019s not just about money, it\u2019s about recognition. \u201cInstitutions here are very rigid,\u201d Marcelo says. \u201cThey don\u2019t always see the value in what we\u2019re doing.\u201d But that flexibility and creativity are exactly what make places like Sputnik and Moviemento special.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the odds, Berlin\u2019s indie cinemas aren\u2019t trying to fight the multiplexes, they\u2019re just doing their own thing. Wolf doesn\u2019t see a hard line between \u201cmainstream\u201d and \u201cindie.\u201d \u201cIf a film has something to say, I\u2019ll show it,\u201d he says. At Kino Central, his team even screens some of the same films as the big chains, just in original languages with subtitles. People often stumble in by accident, and end up hooked on the vibe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Marcelo agrees. \u201cMovies are like people, they all have their place,\u201d he says. Even a blockbuster can be meaningful, as long as it\u2019s made with heart. What sets independent cinemas apart is the connection, with the audience, with the work, and with each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, Berlin\u2019s indie theaters are more than just places to watch movies. They\u2019re places to feel something, to be part of something, to celebrate film as a living, breathing art form.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Marcelo and Wolf remind us is that independent cinemas are more than just places to watch films, they\u2019re spaces where stories are shared, communities are built, and creativity is kept alive. Even as they face budget cuts, changing habits, and the rise of streaming, their dedication hasn\u2019t wavered. Marcelo believes in keeping cinema human, open, and alive with possibility. Wolf sees value in every film that has something real to say, no matter where it comes from. Their work isn\u2019t just about keeping theaters running\u2014it\u2019s about keeping culture connected, one screening at a time.<\/p>\n\n