Grand Teatret
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGrand Teatret is a historic Copenhagen cinema known for European and other quality art-house films, with programming linked to the Danish distributor Camera Film.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Grand Teatret, also known in English as the Grand Theatre, is one of Copenhagen's oldest operating cinemas. It occupies the rear portion of the historic Palace Hotel block at Mikkel Bryggers Gade 9, a small street near Strøget and City Hall Square. The building was designed in an Art Deco style by architect Anton Rosen and completed in 1910 as part of the Palace Hotel complex. The premises originally served as the hotel's Grand Hall and were associated with concert and entertainment use before becoming a cinema. The first cinema at the site opened on 26 December 1913 under the name Empire Theatre. Walter Christmas was its director. The venue changed its name to Metropol Theatre in 1914, with Sofus Madsen as managing director. In 1923, the Metropol Theatre moved to Frederiksberggade, leaving the original premises available for a new phase. Film director Urban Gad, who had spent much of his career working in Germany, took over the site and reopened it as Grand Theatre on 2 April. Under Gad, the cinema developed a profile centered on quality films rather than solely on mass-market entertainment. After his death in 1948, his wife Esther Gad assumed responsibility for the cinema. A major ownership and programming transition took place in 1974, when Peter Emil Refn and Kai Michelsen took over Grand Teatret. The two men had previously established Camera Film, a distribution company that imported Japanese, Swedish, and French films into Denmark. Their involvement strengthened the cinema's role as an exhibition outlet for internationally oriented cinema and connected its programming to a broader distribution operation. During the 1970s and early 1980s, Grand Teatret became especially associated with French cinema in Copenhagen. The cinema expanded in the mid-1970s. In 1976, two additional auditoria were added, while the original hall became known as Grand 3; further auditoria, Grand 4 and Grand 5, followed in 1977. Kai Michelsen left the management in 1979. Palle Fogtdal acquired a 50 percent interest in Grand Teatret and Camera Film in 1984, but later sold the stake to Annette Trampedach in 1991. Following Peter Emil Refn's death in 1994, Kirsten Dalgaard and Trampedach took responsibility for the cinema. Kim Foss succeeded them in 1996. Under subsequent management, all six auditoria were renovated and modernized between 1998 and 2012. The venue now has six screens and approximately 773 seats, with Grand 3 as the largest auditorium, seating 326 people. Its repertoire is primarily composed of European quality films and other art-house or culturally significant releases. The cinema is a member of Europa Cinemas, an EU-supported network promoting the circulation and exhibition of European films. Through its close relationship with Camera Film, Grand Teatret can also show films imported directly by its associated distribution company; Camera Film is represented annually at the Cannes Film Festival. Grand Teatret's institutional identity combines heritage cinema, specialized programming, and film distribution. Its awards and recognitions reflect both the venue's cultural role and the contributions of people associated with it. Peter Emil Refn received an Honorary Robert in 1993 for his contribution to Danish cinema through Grand Teatret and Camera Film. Grand Teatret was named Europe's best cinema at the Europa Cinemas Awards in 2006, while Kim Foss received France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2011 for his contribution to French culture. The building has also been protected through inclusion in the Danish Registry of Protected Buildings and Places since 1993.
History
Grand Teatret occupies the rear side of the Palace Hotel block on Mikkel Bryggers Gade in central Copenhagen. The block was designed by Anton Rosen and completed in 1910 in an Art Deco style. The space that later became the cinema was originally the Palace Hotel's Grand Hall, which had been built as a concert hall and was accessed from Mikkel Bryggers Gade. The first cinema at the location opened on 26 December 1913 as Empire Theatre, with Walter Christmas as director. The venue was renamed Metropol Theatre the following year, when Sofus Madsen became managing director. In 1923, Metropol Theatre relocated to Frederiksberggade. The former premises were then taken over by film director Urban Gad, who had returned to Copenhagen after working in Germany since 1911. Gad reopened the site as Grand Theatre on 2 April and gave it a profile emphasizing quality cinema. After Urban Gad died in 1948, his wife Esther continued operating the cinema. The next significant transition came on 1 August 1974, when Peter Emil Refn and Kai Michelsen took over. They had founded Camera Film, a distribution company specializing in Japanese, Swedish, and French films for the Danish market. The connection with Camera Film helped make Grand Teatret an important venue for non-mainstream and internationally sourced films. During the 1970s and early 1980s, it became known in Copenhagen as a particularly French-oriented cinema. The venue expanded in 1976 with two new auditoria. The original auditorium became Grand 3, and Grand 4 and Grand 5 were added in 1977. Kai Michelsen left the management in 1979. In 1984, editor Palle Fogtdal purchased a 50 percent share in Grand Teatret and Camera Film; that interest was sold to Annette Trampedach in 1991. Following Peter Emil Refn's death in 1994, Kirsten Dalgaard and Annette Trampedach assumed responsibility for the cinema. Kim Foss succeeded them in 1996. The six auditoria underwent renovation and modernization between 1998 and 2012. The cinema subsequently operated with six auditoria and a total capacity of 773 seats, including a 326-seat Grand 3, the largest screen. Its programming is centered mainly on European quality films, while its membership in Europa Cinemas places it within a wider European network dedicated to promoting European film circulation and exhibition. Some films are imported directly through Camera Film, which maintains a presence at the Cannes Film Festival each year. Grand Teatret's cultural importance has been acknowledged in several ways. The building was entered in the Danish Registry of Protected Buildings and Places in 1993. In the same year, Peter Emil Refn received an Honorary Robert for his contribution to Danish cinema through Grand Teatret and Camera Film. The cinema itself received the Europa Cinemas award for Europe's best cinema in 2006. In 2011, Kim Foss was made a recipient of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of his contribution to French culture. Together, the building's protected status, specialist repertoire, and distribution relationship distinguish Grand Teatret from conventional multiplex operators.
- 2012
Auditorium modernization period concludes
[1]Renovations and modernization carried out across all six auditoria between 1998 and 2012 were completed.
- 2011
Kim Foss receives French cultural honor
[1]Kim Foss received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his contribution to French culture.
- 2006
Named Europe's best cinema
[1]Grand Teatret received the Europa Cinemas award for Europe's best cinema.
- 1993
Building receives protected status
[1]The building was entered in the Danish Registry of Protected Buildings and Places. Peter Emil Refn also received an Honorary Robert for his contribution to Danish cinema.
- 1977
Grand 4 and Grand 5 added
[1]The cinema expanded further with the addition of Grand 4 and Grand 5.
- 1976
First major postwar expansion
[1]Two new auditoria were added, and the original auditorium became known as Grand 3.
- 1974
Camera Film founders take over
[1]Peter Emil Refn and Kai Michelsen took over Grand Teatret on 1 August, linking its exhibition activity with Camera Film's specialist distribution business.
- 1939
Temporary closure and auditorium conversion
[1]The cinema temporarily closed while the Grand Hall was converted into the auditorium later known as Grand 3.
- 1923
Grand Theatre reopens under Urban Gad
[1]After Metropol Theatre moved elsewhere, Urban Gad took over the original premises and reopened them as Grand Theatre on 2 April.
- 1914
Venue renamed Metropol Theatre
[1]The cinema adopted the name Metropol Theatre, with Sofus Madsen as managing director.
Products and positioning
A historic Copenhagen art-house cinema positioned around European and international quality films, cultural programming, and the preservation of a distinctive cinema-going experience.
Cinema exhibition · 1913
Grand Teatret cinema screenings
The cinema's core offering is a six-auditorium program of European quality films, international independent releases, French cinema, and selected culturally significant commercial films. The venue has approximately 773 seats in total, with the largest auditorium, Grand 3, seating 326.
Film distribution · 1974
Camera Film distribution
Through its association with Camera Film, Grand Teatret has access to films imported directly for the Danish market. Camera Film was established by Peter Emil Refn and Kai Michelsen and specialized in Japanese, Swedish, and French films, reinforcing the cinema's specialist international repertoire.
Brand decisions
1998
Begin modernization of all auditoriaOtherBackground
The cinema's six-screen operation required ongoing refurbishment while retaining a historically significant building.
Action taken
A renovation and modernization program began across the auditoria and continued through 2012.
Aftermath
The work updated the venue while preserving its role as a historic specialist cinema.
1976
Expand the cinema with additional auditoriaStrategyBackground
The cinema's specialist programming was operating in a venue that had previously centered on a single principal hall.
Action taken
Two new auditoria were added, while the original auditorium was designated Grand 3.
Aftermath
The expansion increased screening capacity and established the multi-screen structure that was extended again with Grand 4 and Grand 5 in 1977.
1974
Integrate specialist exhibition with film distributionStrategyBackground
Peter Emil Refn and Kai Michelsen had already established Camera Film as a distributor of Japanese, Swedish, and French films in Denmark before taking over Grand Teatret.
Action taken
They combined operation of the cinema with the activities of Camera Film, giving the venue a stronger connection to imported and art-house film.
Aftermath
Grand Teatret developed a reputation, particularly during the 1970s and early 1980s, as Copenhagen's French cinema and continued to show films distributed through Camera Film.
Sources2 sources
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