Studio Skoop

Studio Skoop is an arthouse cinema in Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium. Founded by Ben ter Elst, it opened a 245-seat auditorium on 16 September 1970 in the former U.F.A.C. space on Van Artevelde Square (now Sint-Annaplein). The film café opened that December. Primarily screening arthouse films, it has grown into a five-screen complex with 400 seats. Studio Skoop played an important role in Ghent's film culture. In January 1974 it organized the first "International Film Spectacle" at the Ciné Select in the South District; this film week later grew into the Ghent International Film Festival. In September 1976 the second auditorium, the "Kurosawa Hall," opened with 78 seats, while Screen 1 was reduced from 245 to 213 seats for comfort. Founder Ben ter Elst withdrew in July 1979, handing day-to-day management to Walter Vandecruys. Due to disagreements over investments, Vandecruys also left in July 1981, and a (temporary) final screening took place on 16 December 1982. On 1 February 1983 Walter Vandecruys took over the cinema and resumed screenings on 19 February 1983. In early January 1986 the cinema closed for ten months for renovation to meet modern comfort, technical and sound standards. It reopened on 22 October 1986 with three auditoriums seating 167, 73 and 56. During the 13th Ghent International Film Festival, Studio Skoop screened films again. In September 1988 a fourth auditorium with 67 seats was added. In 1993 the cinema became a member of Europa Cinemas, an organization dedicated to the distribution and promotion of European film. In 2000 Studio Skoop built a fifth auditorium and renovated the entire complex, equipping Screens 3, 4 and 5 with modern Dolby sound systems. In May 2012 the cinema invested in digital cinema, equipping all auditoriums with digital projectors and sound, while three of the five auditoriums retained 35 mm projectors. In August 2019 the complex was put up for sale as owner Walter Vandecruys wished to retire. Lumière expressed interest in acquiring it, and the City of Ghent was initially interested but considered the asking price too high and subsequently chose to purchase Cinema Rex. In January 2024 Lumière's acquisition was announced. However, after a fire inspection issued a negative recommendation and substantial investment was needed to meet safety standards, Lumière withdrew. Unable to find a buyer, Studio Skoop closed at the end of December 2025, possibly permanently. On its last operating day, 23 December, all evening screenings sold out. In early March 2026 it was announced that Studio Skoop would reopen in summer 2026 after beautification work and necessary fire safety works. The cinema was taken over by Lumière with financial support from the City of Ghent. The building was partly paid for by an anonymous Ghent investor. On 15 June 2026 it was announced that film screenings would resume on 1 July 2026. The cinema's website lists current and upcoming films such as Toy Story 5, The Odyssey, Resident Evil, Garance, Primetime, NAZA, Digger, Gilda (1946), Blue Heron, Kokuho, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, The Christophers, Obsession, Sense and Sensibility, Akira (1988), Trainspotting (1996) and Pressure.

Studio Skoop was founded by Ben Ter Elst, who opened a 245-seat film hall on 16 September 1970 in the former U.F.A.C. space at Van Artevelde Square (now Sint-Annaplein) in Ghent. A film café opened in December of the same year. In January 1974, Studio Skoop organised the first "Internationaal Filmgebeuren" at Ciné Select in the Zuid district; this film week later grew into Film Fest Gent. In September 1976, a second hall, the "Akira Kurosawa Theater" with 78 seats, opened, and Hall 1 was reduced from 245 to 213 seats for comfort. In July 1979, founder Ben Ter Elst withdrew, leaving daily management to Walter Vander Cruysse. After disagreements over investment, Vander Cruysse also left in July 1981, and the last screening before a temporary closure took place on 16 December 1982. On 1 February 1983, Walter Vander Cruysse took over the cinema, and screenings resumed on 19 February 1983. In early January 1986, the cinema closed for ten months for renovations to meet modern comfort, technical and sound standards. It reopened on 22 October 1986 with three halls seating 167, 73 and 56 respectively. During the 13th International Film Festival Ghent, films were again shown at Studio Skoop. In September 1988, a fourth hall with 67 seats was added. In 1993, the cinema became a member of Europa Cinemas, an organisation dedicated to the distribution and promotion of European films. In 2000, a fifth hall was built and the entire complex was renovated, with halls 3, 4 and 5 equipped with modern Dolby sound systems. In May 2012, the cinema invested in digital cinema, equipping all halls with digital projectors and sound, while three of the five halls retained 35mm projectors. In August 2019, the complex was put up for sale as owner Walter Van der Cruysse wanted to retire. Lumière showed interest in a takeover, and the City of Ghent was initially interested but found the asking price too high and instead chose to purchase Cinema Rex. In January 2024, Lumière's takeover was announced. However, after the fire brigade inspection issued a negative advice and significant investments were needed to meet safety standards, Lumière withdrew. With no buyer found, Studio Skoop closed its doors at the end of December 2025, possibly permanently. On the last opening day, 23 December, all evening screenings were sold out. In early March 2026, it was announced that Studio Skoop would reopen in the summer of 2026 after beautification works and necessary fire safety works. The cinema was taken over by Lumière, with financial support from the Ghent city government. The building was partly paid for by an unknown Ghent investor. On 15 June 2026, it was announced that film screenings would restart on 1 July 2026.

• Ben Ter Elst opens a 245-seat film hall in the former U.F.A.C. space at Van Artevelde Square (now Sint-Annaplein).

• Opening of the film café.

• Studio Skoop organises the first "Internationaal Filmgebeuren" at Ciné Select, which later grows into Film Fest Gent.

• Opening of the second hall, the "Akira Kurosawa Theater" (78 seats); Hall 1 reduced to 213 seats.

• Founder Ben Ter Elst withdraws; Walter Vander Cruysse takes over daily management.

• Walter Vander Cruysse leaves Studio Skoop after disagreements over investment.

• Last screening before temporary closure.

• Walter Vander Cruysse takes over the cinema.

• Film screenings resume.

• Cinema closes for ten months for renovations.

• Reopening with three halls (167, 73 and 56 seats).

• Expansion with a fourth hall (67 seats).

• Becomes a member of Europa Cinemas.

• Fifth hall built and entire complex renovated; halls 3, 4 and 5 equipped with Dolby sound.

• Investment in digital cinema; all halls equipped with digital projectors and sound, three retain 35mm projectors.

• Complex put up for sale as owner Walter Van der Cruysse wants to retire.

• Lumière's takeover announced, but later withdrawn after negative fire brigade advice.

• Studio Skoop closes at end of December, possibly permanently; last opening day 23 December with all evening screenings sold out.

• Announcement of reopening in summer 2026 after takeover by Lumière with support from the City of Ghent.

• Announcement that screenings will restart on 1 July 2026.

Arthouse cinema in Ghent focused on European and independent films, with a history of supporting film culture and festivals.

• Arthouse film screenings

• Film café

• Film festivals

• Digital and 35mm projections

1. 1Cinema Studio Skoop - Gentstudioskoop.be
2. 2Toy Story 5 - Studio Skoop - stadsbioscoopstudioskoop.be
3. 3Studio Skoopwikidata.org
4. 4Studio Skoopnl.wikipedia.org