Negative Cinema

Negative Cinema (Hebrew: קולנוע נגטיב) is a movie theater located at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheba, Israel. It is unique among Israeli universities in that it is owned and operated by the university's Student Association on a non-profit basis. The name is a portmanteau of the Hebrew word "negativ" (negative) and "Negev," the desert region where the university is situated. The cinema celebrated its 40th anniversary in March 2016, indicating it was founded around 1976. The cinema operates Sunday through Thursday and on Saturday nights during the academic year and exam periods (October–August), attracting tens of thousands of students and visitors each year. It is located in Building 26 on the university campus. Its two halls, each with 250 seats, serve as lecture halls for various university departments during the day, but at night they transform into a proper movie theater with advanced screens, an HD projector, ushers at the entrances, and a classic cinema concession stand. As a non-profit institution, Negative Cinema is open to the general public and serves as a recreational venue for the residents of Beersheba and the surrounding area. The cinema employs 13 workers, all students at Ben-Gurion University, in roles such as projectionists, ushers, and concession and box office staff. Negative Cinema holds two screenings every evening, bringing the latest films to campus alongside classic cinema from the past and nostalgic blockbusters. It also hosts a variety of regular activities each semester, including film clubs. Notable among these is the "Crazy Film Club" (מועדון הסרט המופרע), a monthly event featuring a lecture by filmmaker Alon Gur Arye followed by a screening of an unconventional film or film series. Past events have included lectures on Sacha Baron Cohen with a screening of "The Dictator," a Coen Brothers film club with "The Big Lebowski," and a tribute to Robin Williams with "Patch Adams." Another regular event is the active screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," held every semester since 2008. A cast composed mostly of students performs on stage in full, colorful costumes, with the original film projected in the background and "planted" actors in the audience adding humorous commentary. The show involves the audience with props hidden under and on their seats. In recent years, the show has been performed by members of the "Camel Toes Cast" and has enjoyed immense success. The show is especially colorful, faithful to the original, and above all, uncensored. Negative Cinema also organizes themed screening weeks on special occasions, such as a week dedicated to Oscar-nominated and past-winning films, a week for a specific director or actor, a week for Israeli creators, a trilogy week, an animation week, and more. It showcases films from a variety of genres, including many documentaries, foreign cinema, and top festival-winning works from around the world. There is a special stage for Israeli cinema, and the cinema hosts pre-premieres and promotes Israeli creation. As part of the community, Negative Cinema has partnered with many organizations to provide a platform for their content, including journalist Guy Rolnik's lecture on capital and power titled "The Silver Platter," collaborations with the LGBTQ+ community, the Yemenite Cell with the story of the Yemenite Children Affair, the Africa Center, and many others. It regularly hosts media personalities, such as the creators of the mini-series "Shadow of Truth" about the murder of the girl Tair Rada, animators Nir Gerber and Gali Edelbaum who spoke about their successful series "Nir and Gali," and a lecture by the creators of the series "Fauda."

Negative Cinema was founded around 1976, as it celebrated its 40th anniversary in March 2016. It was established as a movie theater within Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, owned and operated by the university's Student Association on a non-profit basis. This makes it the only cinema of its kind in Israeli universities. The name combines "negativ" (negative) and "Negev," reflecting both its cinematic nature and its location in the Negev desert. Over the decades, the cinema has become a cultural hub for students and residents of Beersheba. It operates in Building 26 on campus, using two 250-seat halls that double as lecture halls during the day. The cinema screens two films every evening, ranging from new releases to classic and nostalgic films. It employs 13 student workers in various roles. In 2008, the cinema began hosting active screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," a tradition that continues each semester with student casts, notably the "Camel Toes Cast" in recent years. The cinema also hosts the monthly "Crazy Film Club" with filmmaker Alon Gur Arye, featuring lectures and screenings of unconventional films. Other regular activities include themed film weeks (Oscars, directors, Israeli creators, trilogies, animation), documentary and foreign film showcases, and collaborations with community organizations such as the LGBTQ+ community, the Yemenite Cell, and the Africa Center. The cinema also hosts pre-premieres of Israeli films and events with media personalities, including creators of "Shadow of Truth," "Nir and Gali," and "Fauda."

• 2016

  The cinema celebrates its 40th anniversary in March.

• 2008

  The cinema begins hosting active screenings of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

• 1976

  Negative Cinema is founded at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Non-profit, student-run cinema offering diverse and alternative film programming to the university and wider Beersheba community.

• Movie screenings

  Two screenings every evening, including new releases, classics, and nostalgic blockbusters.

• Crazy Film Club

  Monthly event with a lecture by filmmaker Alon Gur Arye and a screening of an unconventional film.

• The Rocky Horror Picture Show interactive screenings

  Semesterly performances with student cast, audience participation, and props.

• Themed film weeks

  Weeks dedicated to Oscar nominees, directors, Israeli creators, trilogies, animation, etc.

• Community collaborations

  Partnerships with organizations like the LGBTQ+ community, Yemenite Cell, and Africa Center.

1. 1Wikidata: Negative Cinemawikidata.org
2. 2Hebrew Wikipedia: קולנוע נגטיבhe.wikipedia.org