Cine-Teatro São Luiz

Cine-Teatro São Luiz (popularly known as Cine São Luiz or Cinema São Luiz) is a historic cinema and theatre located in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. With a capacity of 1,050 seats, it is one of the city's most important cultural venues. Construction began in 1939 by the Grupo Severiano Ribeiro, under the design of Humberto da Justa Menescal, with interior decoration, ceiling, and side walls by Osório Pereira and Marcelino Guido Budini. The building was completed and inaugurated in 1958, with its first screening on 26 March 1958 showing the film Anastácia, a princesa esquecida. The proceeds were donated to charity. The venue was originally owned by Luiz Severiano Ribeiro, the founder of the group. Over the decades, the São Luiz became a key venue for film festivals, notably the Cine Ceará festival from 1995 onwards. It also hosted other film festivals, jazz and blues festivals, and concerts. From 2005, under a lease to Fecomércio (Federação do Comércio do Estado do Ceará), it operated as the Centro Cultural SESC Luiz Severiano Ribeiro. However, competition from modern shopping centre cinemas affected its commercial viability. In 2014, the Government of the State of Ceará purchased the cinema, revitalised it, and reopened it on 22–23 December 2014 with special screenings of the first film ever shown there, Anastacia, along with performances by opera singers and the Orquestra Eleazar de Carvalho. The building also houses an office of the Ceará Secretary of Culture. Today, the Cine-Teatro São Luiz functions as a cine-theatre, its original purpose, hosting film, theatre, and music projects. It is a listed heritage building (Tombo Estadual since 1968, decree 1991) and features a grand hall with Carrara marble staircases and three large crystal chandeliers imported from Czechoslovakia. It has been modernised with updated sound equipment, air conditioning, and accessibility adaptations. The venue remains a central part of Fortaleza's cultural circuit.

The Cine-Teatro São Luiz was initiated in 1939 by the Grupo Severiano Ribeiro, a prominent Brazilian cinema chain, on the site of the former Cine Politheama in Praça do Ferreira, Fortaleza. The project was designed by Humberto da Justa Menescal, with interior decoration, ceiling, and side walls by Osório Pereira and Marcelino Guido Budini. The construction took nearly two decades, and the building was finally completed and inaugurated in 1958. Its first screening took place on 26 March 1958, showing the film Anastácia, a princesa esquecida (Anastasia, the Forgotten Princess). The proceeds from this opening session were donated to the Campaign of Benefactors of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Fortaleza and the Asilo do Bom Pastor. The ceremony was attended by local authorities and Luiz Severiano Ribeiro, the idealiser and owner. The programming continued daily for a month. In 1995, the São Luiz became the main venue for the Cine Ceará film festival, and it also hosted other film festivals in Fortaleza. From October 2005, while leased to Fecomércio (Federação do Comércio do Estado do Ceará), it operated as the Centro Cultural SESC Luiz Severiano Ribeiro and became a stage for jazz and blues festivals and concerts, in addition to film screenings. The venue suffered from the proliferation of modern cinema complexes in shopping centres, which drew audiences away. In 2014, the Government of the State of Ceará purchased the cinema, revitalised it, and reopened it on 22–23 December 2014. The reopening featured two special sessions of the first film ever shown there, Anastacia, as well as performances by opera singers singing Christmas themes and the Orquestra Eleazar de Carvalho performing pieces by Alberto Nepomuceno. The building also came to house an office of the Ceará Secretary of Culture. Today, it operates as a cine-theatre, its original function, hosting various cinematographic, theatrical, and musical projects. In July 2017, it held the event "Férias no São Luiz", with screenings of popular films such as Beauty and the Beast, Titanic, and Ghost. The building is a listed heritage site (Tombo Estadual) according to Law No. 9,109 of 30 July 1968, through decree No. 21,309 of 13 March 1991. It has undergone modifications to keep up with technological innovations, including modern sound equipment, air conditioning, and adaptations for people with disabilities. The grand hall features Carrara marble staircases and three large crystal chandeliers imported from Czechoslovakia.

• 2017

  Hosts "Férias no São Luiz" event in July.

• 2014

  Purchased and revitalised by the Government of Ceará; reopened on 22–23 December.

• 2005

  Leased to Fecomércio; operates as Centro Cultural SESC Luiz Severiano Ribeiro from October.

• 1995

  Becomes main venue for Cine Ceará film festival.

• 1991

  Heritage status confirmed by decree No. 21,309.

• 1968

  Listed as state heritage (Tombo Estadual) by Law No. 9,109.

• 1958

  Building completed and inaugurated; first screening on 26 March.

• 1939

  Construction begins by Grupo Severiano Ribeiro.

Historic state-owned cine-theatre and cultural centre in Fortaleza.

Product categories. Film screenings · Theatre performances · Music concerts · Film festivals

1. 1Cine-Teatro São Luiz - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Cineteatro São Luiz - Wikipedia (Portuguese)pt.wikipedia.org