Potsdamer Straße 2 

10785 Berlin 

 

Screens: 2, Seating capacity: 76 and 234 

Screen size: 10 sqm and 32 sqm 

Both screens have wheelchair access. 

Public transport: U-Bahn and S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz 

 

The Arsenal is the house cinema of the "Arsenal - Institute for Film and Video Artt" (until 2008: “Friends of the German Film Archive”) and serves as the main venue of the Forum during the Berlinale. The “original” Arsenal in Welserstraße in Berlin-Schöneberg is considered to be the birthplace of this section. The Arsenal has always been one of the most exciting cinemas in Berlin. During the Berlinale, this is the place for controversial discoveries and heated debate. In 1999, Arsenal moved with the "Friends of German Film Archive", the German Film Museum and the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (dffb) into the “Filmhaus” on Potsdamer Platz. The new location offers two screens fitted with comfortable seating and the latest technology.  

Rosa-Luxemburg-Str.30 

10178 Berlin 

Theatres:3 

Seating capacity: 40, 68 and 500 

Screen size: 10m², 12² and 13m x 7m 

Theatre 1 and 2 have wheelchair access 

U-Bahn: Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, S-Bahn & Tram: Alexanderplatz 

The Babylon was built by the still renowned architect Hans Poelzig as a cinema with an integrated theatre stage. During the building’s historically accurate renovation in 2001, the original Philips organ was also reconstructed. Apart its regular operation as a cinema with many different festivals and a programme of about 1,000 different films, the Babylon also hosts concerts, readings, theatre and workshops. In previous years the Babylon was often a venue for the Berlinale. Since 2008 it has been the premiere cinema for the Generation 14plus section. 

Am Marlene-Dietrich-Platz 1 

10785 Berlin 

 

Screens: 1; Seating capacity: 1600 

Screen size: 17,6 m x 8,0 m 

Handicapped access on all levels. 

U-/S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz 

Bus 148, 200, 248  

 

The Berlinale Palast on Potsdamer Platz is actually a theater for musicals. Every year, for two weeks, it is transformed into the most prestigious venue of the Berlinale. The Competition films celebrate their premiere. A throng of journalists, fans and autograph hunters wait for the stars to appear on the red carpet. The opening and awards ceremonies also take place in the Berlinale Palast. And when the lights go out in the auditorium, things really heat up in the basement of the Berlinale Palast – all the wildest Berlinale parties take place here in the glamorous “Adagio” disco. 

Potsdamer Str 5 / Eingang Voxstraße 

10785 Berlin 

 

Screens: 19; Seating capacity: 48 to 603  

Screen size: 6.5 m to 22 m 

All auditoriums have wheelchair spaces 

U-/S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz 

Bus 148, 200, 248  

 

Cinemaxx on Potsdamer Platz has been the main Berlinale cinema since 2000. From early in the morning till late at night, films in every section are shown on the theatre’s 19 screens. Cinemaxx was built as part of the new development of Potsdamer Platz and was opened in 1998. It offers all the advantages of a well-equipped multiplex cinema. Besides several snack bars, it is also home to the Maxx Bar, where Knut Elstermann hosts his nightly Berlinale talks for Berlin’s Radio Eins. 

Potsdamer Straße 4 

10785 Berlin 

 

Screens: 8; Seating capacity: 142 to 419  

Screen size: 52 to 131 sqm 

All auditoriums have wheelchair spaces 

U-/S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz, Bus 148, 200, 248  

 

Cinestar in the Sony Center on Potsdamer Platz has 8 screens, where the films of the Panorama, Forum, Retrospective, Homage, and Berlinale Special sections are shown. After the nearby Cinemaxx cinema, Cinestar is the second most important Berlinale venue. The close proximity of the auditoriums to one another in Cinestar creates a great festival atmosphere, which many visitors find especially charming. Cinestar has a fully-equipped bar, which can also be accessed from the foyer of the neighbouring Arsenal cinema. 

Schönhauser Allee 123 

10437 Berlin 

 

Screens: 10 (Berlinale: 1); Seats: 525 

Screen size: 6,5 x 15,2 m 

The theater is accessible to wheelchairs. 

U-/S-Bahn Schönhauser Allee, Tram M1 

 

 

In the mid-Twenties architects Max Bischoff and Fritz Wilms were hired to convert the old garages of the “Großen Berliner Pferdeeisenbahn AG” (horse railway) on Schönhauser Allee into a cinema. The Colosseum opened its doors for the first time on September 12, 1924 and was the first movie theatre in the working-class district of Prenzlauer Berg in the northeast of Berlin. The long, narrow theatre seated 1,200 people back then and was turned into a talkie theatre with 1,365 seats five years later. In 1957 was refitted to serve as a DEFA premiere cinema. The Colosseum has been operating as a multiplex ever since renewed construction work on the building was completed in 1997. In 2005, the Colosseum hosted Berlinale screenings for the first time. A selection of films from the Panorama, Perspektive Deutsches Kino and Forum sections are screened in the main theater to an especially mixed and easy-going crowd. 

Alexanderplatz 

Rathausstraße 1 

10778 Berlin 

 

screens: 9 (Berlinale: 3) 

capacity: 322 bis 723 

screen size: 128 and 232 qm 

All theaters are accessible to wheelchairs 

U-/S-Bahn Alexanderplatz 

 

In 2007 the CineStar Cubix at Alexanderplatz joined the team of Berlinale cinemas. The festival is showing films from the Panorama, Forum, Generation and Berlinale Special in three of the multiplex’s theatres. The “Cubix” combines original architecture with comfort, a sophisticated atmosphere and innovative projection and sound technology. Opened in November 2000, the multiplex was acquired by the CineStar Group in spring 2003 and belongs to the premiere venues of Germany’s largest cinema operator. The theatres are accessed via open escalators. From the spacious foyer levels guests can enjoy a view of the Berlin Dome, Alexanderplatz and the TV Tower. Located directly on Alexanderplatz, the cinema can be easily reached by S-Bahn (commuter rail), U-Bahn (underground), tram and bus. Affordable parking is available in the neighbouring Rathaus-Passagen parking garage. 

Kantstraße 12a 

10623 Berlin 

 

Screens: 1; Size: 100 sqm 

Seating capacity: 784 seats 

The auditorium is not accessible to wheelchairs 

U-/S-Bahn Zoologischer Garten 

 

The Delphi-Filmpalast am Zoo, otherwise known as the Delphi, has been used as a location for the Berlinale almost form the beginning. Since 1981 it has been one of the main venues for the Forum programme, together with the Arsenal cinema. The Delphi-Filmpalast was built in the years after the war practically on the rubble of a former dance-hall. It was opened in 1949 by the cinema owner Walter Jonigkeit, whose aim was to make it the city's largest and most elegant cinema for premieres. Today the Delphi's technology is state-of-the-art, whilst its interior still shines with the glory of a bygone cinematic era. 

Bötzowstraße 1-5 

10407 Berlin 

 

Screens: 5 (Berlinale 1) 

Screen Size: 11 m x 4,70 m 

Seating capacity: 325 

The auditorium is accessible by wheelchair  

Tram 2,3,4,5,6,8 Bus 140, 200, 348 

 

With five screens the Filmtheater am Friedrichshain is Berlin's largest art-house cinema. During the Berlinale the main auditorium plays host to Generation Kplus screenings. The building dates back to the twenties and during its eventful history has been almost continuously used as a cinema. In 1991 it was almost privatised, and it was only when local residents intervened that the cinema was saved from being turned into an office and apartment complex. In 1995 the film-maker Michael Verhoeven bought the building and, with the help of the cinema chain York Kino GmbH, arranged for it to be renovated. Today the Filmtheater am Friedrichshain combines delightful architectural details, dating back to the original building, with all the amenities of a modern interior. The "FaF" is, in fact, one of the city's favourite cinemas, not least because of the generous leg-room and the comfortable double seats.  

Friedrichstraße 107 

10117 Berlin 

 

Screens: 1; Seats: 1,895 

Screen Size: ca. 21 x 9 metres 

5 wheelchair spaces 

U6 Oranienburger Tor, S-Bahn Friedrichstraße, Bus 147, Tram M1, 12 

Paid parking in Johannisstraße 

 

The Berlinale gets a huge boost by gaining the Friedrichstadtpalast as a venue in 2009. With 1,895 seats, 1,750 of which are available for film screenings, it will be the biggest cinema at the International Film Festival. Here the festival will show movies from the Competition and Berlinale Special sections. Normally the Friedrichstadtpalast serves as Europe’s largest show theatre. The Berlin institution has a hundred years of history behind it and was rebuilt in 1984 – on a gigantic scale. The Friedrichstadtpalast is home to the largest theatre stage in the world. For both weeks of the Berlinale, the show theatre will be transformed into a “film palace”. To make that possible, certified, top-range professional cinema equipment will be installed in the theatre. 

Karl-Marx-Allee 33 

10178 Berlin 

 

Screens: 1 

Seating capacity: 551 

Screen size: 14 m x 6 m 

The theatre has wheelchair access. 

Public transport: U-Bahn Schillingstraße 

 

Many Berliners consider the International to be the most beautiful cinema in the city. Built between 1961 and 1964, it belongs to the most impressive buildings of “GDR modernism”. A classical movie theatre with a grand foyer, twin staircases, comfortable seating, exquisite paneling and a sequined curtain in front of the screen, the International still exudes the atmosphere of a time when it was a show-piece of an optimistic GDR culture. During the Berlinale 2009, films from the Retrospective and the Panorama are shown here. Selected Panorama films are premiered at the International. 

An der Urania 17 

10787 Berlin-Schöneberg  

 

Sreens: 2 (Berlinale: 1) 

Seating capacity: 866  

Screen size: 12m x 6m 

Wheel chair access on all levels 

U Wittenbergplatz 

Bus 119, 129, 146, 187, 219 

 

The Urania has been a venue for events since 1888 and it is one of the most important historical places for film in Germany, as some of the first motion pictures were shown here. Nowadays it serves not only as a multi-purpose lecture hall and cultural centre, but it is also one of the largest repertory cinemas in Berlin. In the Humboldt Auditorium and in the smaller Kleist Auditorium, the Urania shows selected repertory films, classics, art house films, special film series and, on selected dates, films followed by a discussion. Until the Berlinale moved to Potsdamer Platz in 2000, the striking complex was the main venue of the Berlinale's Kinderfilmfest. It was also home to the programme segment for new German film. Today the Urania hosts repeat screenings of Competition films – and the beginning of the show is still announced by the striking of a gong. 

Unter den Linden 2 

10117 Berlin 

 

Screens: 1; Size; Size: 35 sqm 

Seating capacity: 160 

4 wheelchair spaces 

Public transport: S-Bahn Hackescher Markt, U-Bahn Französische Straße 

Bus 100, 157, 200 and 348  

 

The Zeughaus cinema is in the German History Museum. This is located right next to the Museum Island in the heart of Berlin’s historical centre, in the Mitte district. The cinema re-opened its doors to the public after the German History Museum was completely renovated, and even partly re-built, by the Chinese architect I.M. Pei in 2001. The cinema's auditorium is listed as protected architecture and since 2004 has been one of the venues which plays host to the Berlinale Retrospective. During the 2009 Berlinale, though, the films of the special series "After Winter Comes Spring - Films Presaging the Fall of the Wall" will be presented here instead. 

Hardenbergstraße 29a 

10623 Berlin 

 

 

Screens used during the Berlinale: 2 

Screen sizes: 144 sqm/82 sqm 

Seating capacity: 1070 and 438 

Wheelchair access in the main auditorium only 

U-/S-Bahn Zoologischer Garten 

 

For many decades the Zoo-Palast cinema was the heart and soul of the Berlinale. In the first few years of its existence the festival was spread between various different cinemas in West Berlin. It wasn't until 1957 that a proper festival cinema was built in the form of the Zoo-Palast: it boasted nine screens under one roof, at the time something very unusual, an impressive entry hall and a stylish interior. Until 1999 the Zoo-Palast remained both the Berlinale's home and the venue for the premieres of films in the Competition section. The cinema's main auditorium with seating capacity for over 1000 people saw film history in the making. Since the festival's move to Potsdamer Platz in 2000, the Berlinale continues to use the main auditorium and one of the smaller theaters for premieres of the Panorama and Generation (formerly Kinderfilmfest/14plus) programmes.