Filmkunst 66

Filmkunst 66 is a program cinema (Programmkino) located at Bleibtreustraße 12 in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. The venue opened in 1951 as the Bleibtreu-Lichtspiele (BeLi), built by Willi Schreiber on a flat-roofed structure on a rubble lot at the corner of Bleibtreustraße and Niebuhrstraße. From 1954 the cinema operated under the name Capri. In 1966 the auditorium was rebuilt by Simon Buntz and Philipp Kröner, the name was changed to Filmkunst 66, and the façade was redesigned with a black cladding and a lantern bearing the number "66" as its identifying mark. Between 1966 and 1971 three different operators ran the cinema, the last of them also screening sex films. The successful era of Filmkunst 66 as a program cinema began on 1 October 1971, when Franz Stadler, a pioneer of the German program-cinema scene, took over the venue. It quickly became an insider tip among young audiences and friends of quality repertory cinema. Over the decades the cinema built a reputation beyond Berlin's borders through numerous festivals, including Western, animation and fantasy festivals, and through its carefully curated, high-quality programming. It is regularly among the prize-winners for the best film-art programs. Today Filmkunst 66 continues to operate as an independent art-house cinema with two screens (Saal 1 and Saal 2). Its program combines current arthouse releases, repertory series such as "Frühe Meister der Filmkunst" (Early Masters of Film Art), themed festivals, and special screenings often organized in cooperation with cultural institutions such as the Austrian Cultural Forum Berlin. The cinema also hosts the Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin (UFFB). Its website lists daily showtimes, events and ticket information, and the cinema can be reached by phone during business hours. The current owners have stated that they bought Filmkunst 66 to fulfill their dream of running their own cinema and shaping its program.

The history of Filmkunst 66 begins in 1951, when Willi Schreiber built the Bleibtreu-Lichtspiele (BeLi) on a flat-roofed structure on a rubble lot at the corner of Bleibtreustraße and Niebuhrstraße in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The building was a gem of the early 1950s: a single-storey flat-roofed structure distinguished by a gable field that was raised higher at the chamfered corner and finished flat, its smooth wall surfaces adorned only by a display case and an advertising panel. The side was crowned by the letters "BeLi" enclosed in a circle of light, while "Bleibtreu" and "Lichtspiele" stood above the two entrances. From 1954 the cinema used the name Capri. In 1966 the auditorium of the Capri was rebuilt by Simon Buntz and Philipp Kröner, and the name was changed to Filmkunst 66. The front was also rebuilt: the gable field disappeared, the façade received a black cladding, and the entrance was given a lantern with "66" as its identifying mark. From 1966 to 1971 three operators tried their hand at the cinema, the last of them also screening sex films. The successful history of Filmkunst 66 as a program cinema began on 1 October 1971, when Franz Stadler, a pioneer of the program-cinema scene, took over the cinema on Bleibtreustraße in Charlottenburg. It quickly became an insider tip among young people and friends of good program cinema. Over the years Filmkunst 66 made a name for itself beyond Berlin's borders with its numerous festivals. After successful Western, animation and fantasy festivals, Filmkunst 66 gained popularity through its selected, high-quality program and is therefore regularly among the prize-winners for the best film-art programs. The cinema continues to operate today as an independent art-house venue with two screens. Its programming includes current arthouse films, repertory series such as "Frühe Meister der Filmkunst" (Early Masters of Film Art), and festivals such as the Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin (UFFB). Special screenings are often organized in cooperation with cultural institutions, for example the Austrian Cultural Forum Berlin. The current owners have said they bought Filmkunst 66 to fulfill their dream of having their own cinema whose program they can help shape, and to be able to show the films they want to show.

• 2026

  Cinema hosts the 7th Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin (UFFB) from 16 to 18 October.

• 1971

  On 1 October, Franz Stadler takes over the cinema, beginning its successful era as a program cinema.

• 1966

  Auditorium rebuilt by Simon Buntz and Philipp Kröner; name changed to Filmkunst 66; façade redesigned with black cladding and a lantern bearing "66".

• 1954

  The cinema begins using the name Capri.

• 1951

  Bleibtreu-Lichtspiele (BeLi) built by Willi Schreiber at Bleibtreustraße/Niebuhrstraße in Berlin-Charlottenburg.

Independent art-house program cinema with a curated, high-quality repertory and festival program.

• Art-house film screenings

• Repertory series "Frühe Meister der Filmkunst"

• Ukrainian Film Festival Berlin (UFFB)

• Special screenings with discussions

1. 1filmkunst66: Startfilmkunst66.de
2. 2filmkunst66: Geschichtefilmkunst66.de
3. 3filmkunst66: Über Unsfilmkunst66.de
4. 4filmkunst66: Kontaktfilmkunst66.de
5. 5Wikidata: Filmkunst 66wikidata.org