Time to Say “Good Move!”: After more than two decades at Potsdamer Platz, the renowned Arsenal is moving to the auditorium at Silent Green. In an era when resources in the cultural sector are being slashed, the news is shocking and bittersweet. Arsenal is more than just a cinema, it’s an archive, distributor, festival host and educational hub. Founded in 1970 in Berlin’s Schöneberg district, the cinema was named after Aleksandr Dovzhenko’s silent film “Arsenal” (1929). It initially operated with a 175-seat auditorium before relocating in 2000 to the Filmhaus at the Sony Center, Potsdamer Platz (a venue that presented its challenges). Now, Arsenal embarks on a new chapter. To mark the transition, a thoughtfully curated 14-day program of 40 films and events spans the cinema’s vibrant history and dynamic future. The theme “This is What Cinema Can Do” serves as the foundation for a lineup showcasing the Arsenal’s essence: re-screenings, Berlin premieres of internationally acclaimed films, audience discussions, retrospectives and highlights from its legacy at Potsdamer Platz. The square itself takes center stage in many events.
True to Arsenal’s collaborative spirit, the farewell program features an array of guest appearances by notable artists, including Andreas Reihse, Dirk von Lowtzow, Clemens von Wedemeyer and Ulrike Ottinger, among others. On the final day (15.12.), the cinema bids adieu with Margaret Honda’s silent film “Equinox.” The film explores the theater as a space of collective effort, honoring lab staff, projectionists and audiences. The night concludes with a farewell party at the glamorous, revived Gossip Bar. In 2025, Kino Arsenal will go on tour, screening films in various Berlin cinemas before settling into its new auditorium at Silent Green in early 2026. Amid the dominance of streaming services, preserving a space like this is nothing short of extraordinary.
Text: Milena Kalojanov / Photos: Tima Miroshnichenko & Arsenal / Still: Cinema Laika
Kino Arsenal, Potsdamer Str.2, Berlin–Tiergarten; map
You can find the program for the farewell 01.–15.12.2024 here.
@arsenalberlin
