Herzliya Cinematheque

Herzliya Cinematheque is a film and cultural venue in Herzliya, Israel. It operates as a cinematheque rather than solely as a commercial movie theater, combining regular film screenings with cultural programming such as theme nights, lectures, performances, filmmaker appearances, and discussions led by critics, actors, academics, and other cinema professionals. Its programming has included both Israeli and international cinema and has provided a local platform for encounters between audiences and creators. The venue is located in Herzliya and was historically associated with the former Star Cinema complex on Ben Gurion Street 22, with access from the Habaal Shem Tov garden. After renovation work, the cinematheque reopened in September 2008 using two of the complex's three original halls. At that stage, the two screening rooms together offered approximately 275 seats. A third hall of about 60 seats was added in 2009, expanding the venue's capacity and allowing for a broader mix of screenings and events. Beyond its standard program, Herzliya Cinematheque has hosted short festivals and focused cultural series dedicated to national cinemas and different cultural traditions. Examples include Indian cinema programming organized in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Israel and Japanese cinema programming held with the Israel-Japan Friendship Association. These initiatives position the venue as a locally rooted institution with an international cultural outlook. In November 2023, Herzliya Cinematheque moved to a new location in the Herzliya Municipality Building. The new complex has three modern screening halls: a large auditorium with approximately 200 seats, a medium hall with approximately 60 seats, and a small hall with approximately 30 seats designed to accommodate screenings and private events. The move marked a major change in the venue's physical infrastructure while retaining its role as a public-facing cinema and cultural center. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate corporate owner, founder, ticker, or founding year for the cinematheque.

Herzliya Cinematheque developed from the former Star Cinema complex in Herzliya and became a dedicated venue for film exhibition and cinema-related cultural activity. Publicly available references do not specify the institution's original founding year or founder. The venue's documented modern history begins with its reopening in September 2008 after renovation work. Two of the three original halls were refurbished, creating two functioning screening rooms with a combined capacity of approximately 275 seats. The cinematheque's role extended beyond conventional movie exhibition. Its program included film screenings alongside theme nights, lectures, performances, and events with participants from the Israeli and international film industries. Film critics, actors, academics, filmmakers, and other creators took part in hosted screenings and discussions, giving the venue an educational and conversational dimension. It also organized short festivals and cultural series focused on particular national cinemas. Documented examples include an Indian cinema program created in cooperation with the Embassy of India in Israel and a Japanese cinema program organized with the Israel-Japan Friendship Association. In 2009, the venue expanded its facilities with the opening of a third hall containing approximately 60 seats. The additional room increased flexibility for smaller screenings, talks, and related events. The cinematheque continued to operate in Herzliya on Ben Gurion Street 22, with access from the Habaal Shem Tov garden, until a later relocation. In November 2023, Herzliya Cinematheque moved to the Herzliya Municipality Building. Its new home contains three state-of-the-art halls equipped for contemporary screening use. The large hall has approximately 200 seats, the medium hall approximately 60 seats, and the small hall approximately 30 seats. The smallest hall is adapted for screenings connected with private events. This relocation changed the venue's physical setting and auditorium configuration while preserving its broader identity as a Herzliya-based cinema and cultural institution. The available reference material does not identify a parent company, legal owner, executive leadership, financial results, public listing, or formal corporate group. Accordingly, these fields remain unspecified.

• 2023

  Relocation to the Herzliya Municipality Building

  [1]Herzliya Cinemathequeen.wikipedia.org

  The cinematheque moved to a new municipal-building location with three halls seating approximately 200, 60, and 30 people.

• 2009

  Third hall opens

  [1]Herzliya Cinemathequeen.wikipedia.org

  A third screening hall with approximately 60 seats was added to the complex.

• 2008

  Reopening after renovation

  [1]Herzliya Cinemathequeen.wikipedia.org

  Two halls of the former Star Cinema complex were renovated and the cinematheque reopened with two screening rooms totaling approximately 275 seats.

A local cinematheque and multidisciplinary film-culture venue combining repertory and contemporary screenings with festivals, talks, creator events, and community-oriented cultural programming.

• Cinema exhibition

  Regular film screenings

  The cinematheque presents films in multiple auditorium formats at its Herzliya venue. Its programming encompasses Israeli and international cinema and is structured around the role of a cinematheque as a cultural screening institution rather than only a mainstream commercial theater.

• Film culture programming

  Theme nights and film discussions

  Herzliya Cinematheque has hosted themed evenings, lectures, and moderated screenings involving film critics, actors, academics, filmmakers, and other creators. These events add interpretation and audience dialogue to the screening program.

• Festivals

  International cinema festivals and cultural series

  The venue has organized short festivals and focused series devoted to different national cinemas and cultural traditions. Documented examples include Indian cinema programming with the Embassy of India in Israel and Japanese cinema programming with the Israel-Japan Friendship Association.

• Venue hire and events · 2023

  Private-event screenings

  The small auditorium in the new municipal-building complex is adapted for screenings associated with private events, extending the venue's use beyond its regular public program.

• 2023

  Relocate to a modern three-hall complexStrategy

  Background

  The cinematheque moved from its previous site to a new home in the Herzliya Municipality Building.

  Action taken

  In November 2023, it began operating from a facility with a large hall of approximately 200 seats, a medium hall of approximately 60 seats, and a small hall of approximately 30 seats.

  Aftermath

  The new configuration provided modern screening facilities and a dedicated smaller space suitable for private-event screenings.

  Source

• 2009

  Expand with a third screening hallStrategy

  Background

  Following the 2008 reopening, the cinematheque expanded its physical capacity.

  Action taken

  A third hall of approximately 60 seats was opened.

  Aftermath

  The additional hall increased the venue's capacity for screenings and smaller cultural events.

  Source

• 2008

  Reopen a renovated two-hall cinema venueStrategy

  Background

  The former Star Cinema complex required renovation before the cinematheque could resume operations.

  Action taken

  Two of the complex's three original halls were renovated, and the cinematheque reopened with approximately 275 seats across two screening rooms.

  Aftermath

  The reopened venue provided a base for film screenings, discussions, lectures, performances, and themed cultural programming.

  Source

1. 1Herzliya Cinemathequeen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Herzliya Cinematheque official websitehcinema.org.il