{"id":17908,"date":"2025-06-13T03:07:42","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T01:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=17908"},"modified":"2025-06-13T03:47:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T01:47:59","slug":"how-viennas-non-commercial-cinemas-are-redefining-movie-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/17908\/how-viennas-non-commercial-cinemas-are-redefining-movie-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"How Vienna’s Non-Commercial Cinemas Are Redefining Movie Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

How Vienna’s Non-Commercial Cinemas Are Redefining Movie Culture<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In Vienna, While commercial chains like Cineplexx are struggling with declining attendance and the pressure of streaming platforms, small, non-commercial movie theaters are experiencing a quiet renaissance. With near-full screenings, growing memberships, and a renewed sense of cultural relevance, these art-house cinemas are proving that film can still be a communal and meaningful experience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

This shift is not only shaping the way Viennese people watch films, but also what they expect from the cinematic experience. As one member from Springhaver, an independent cinema in the Netherlands Coen Van Beek said,\u00a0 \u201cPeople will always keep going to the cinema. they’ve developed a type of style and films they like and the arthouse cinemas are for those types of people.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

A Changing Landscape of Viewership<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

According to the European Audiovisual Observatory, Austria saw a 22.5% increase in cinema attendance in 2023 compared to the year before. But this growth hasn\u2019t been evenly distributed. Commercial chains continue to report declining ticket sales, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, non-commercial cinemas such as Stadtkino, Filmhaus, and Top Kino are attracting full houses and increasingly diverse audiences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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The answer lies in the kind of experiences audiences are seeking post-pandemic. After years of lockdowns and isolation, people aren\u2019t just craving entertainment, they\u2019re craving connection. Theaters that offer more than a blockbuster and a bucket of popcorn are winning hearts.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n