18/09/2008

Ljubljana’s main arthouse cinema Kinodvor is set to re-open on October 1, after being unexpectedly closed on April 1 by the current management of the Slovenian Cinematheque. Since negotiations with the cinematheque on the return of screening equipment turned out to be unsuccessful, the Ljubljana City Council has decided to form a new public entity, securing €230,000 for costs for the period of 2008-09, as well as €200,000 for the purchase of new equipment.

Kinodvor will show quality European, independent and world films. It will also fulfil and offer educational programmes related to the field of audiovisual culture and to developing special initiatives addressed at young audiences. Kinodvor also wants to play a networking role in connecting organisations working in the field of film culture in Slovenia and abroad, and is a member of Europa Cinemas Network.

The core and bulk of the Kinodvor film programme will consist of first-run theatrical releases of quality films offered by Slovenian distributors. The second main function it will provide is being a venue for rich and varied festival fare, such as from the Ljubljana International Film Festival and the Animateka International Festival of Animated Films.

"Film professionals and residents of Ljubljana are very much in favour of having a municipal cinema devoted to quality film. There seem to be a strong audience for a cinema where film steps into focus and a film centre with a lively cultural atmosphere, and we plan to meet these expectations,” says Acting Director Nina Pece.

Roger Donaldson’s The Bank Job [+see also:
trailer
film profile] and Bosnian filmmaker Srdjan Vuletic’s It’s Hard to Be Nice will officially open the Kinodvor programme on Oct 1.