Kant Kino

Kant Kino is a historic cinema located at Kantstrasse 54 in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin, Germany. It is one of the oldest continuously operating film theatres in the city, having opened in 1912 as the Kant-Lichtspiele with a single auditorium and approximately 800 seats. Over more than a century it has survived two world wars, the decline of West Berlin's cinema culture, and the widespread closure of neighbourhood cinemas, adapting its programme and physical space along the way. The cinema is currently operated by the Yorck Kinogruppe, a Berlin-based cinema group that runs several venues across the city. Under Yorck's management, Kant Kino shows a curated selection of international productions alongside documentary and children's films, positioning itself as a neighbourhood cinema with an arthouse and family-friendly profile rather than a pure blockbuster multiplex. The venue has five screens today: the original large hall (Saal 1) remains, two additional screens were created in the late 1980s, and two more were added during a renovation in 1997. The foyer retains its old wooden interior, preserving some of the historic character of the building. Beyond film, Kant Kino has a notable place in Berlin's music history. During the 1970s the cinema also served as a concert stage, hosting performances by major international artists including David Bowie, Nick Cave, Joy Division (who recorded the song "Komakino" there), AC/DC, The Police, Nina Hagen and Blondie. Concerts no longer take place at the venue, but this period remains part of its identity. As of the official website information, the cinema was closed for renovations until 25 June, with fresh-air ventilation installed. It offers guest service by phone and handles event enquiries via email. Its address places it near the Wilmersdorfer Strasse U-Bahn station, and bicycle parking is available in front of the entrance. Kant Kino continues to operate as a first-run and repertory cinema in Charlottenburg, one of the few historic Berlin cinemas still active in the 21st century.

Kant Kino opened in 1912 as the Kant-Lichtspiele with a single auditorium and approximately 800 seats, making it one of the earliest purpose-built cinemas in Berlin. It was established in Charlottenburg, then an independent city and a prosperous residential district west of central Berlin, at a time when cinema was emerging as a mass entertainment medium. The building was notable for including a balcony (Rang), a feature that distinguished it from simpler storefront cinemas of the era. In 1956, following a renovation, the cinema's capacity was reduced to approximately 640 seats. During the 1970s, Kant Kino became a venue for live music as well as film, hosting concerts by a remarkable roster of international artists. David Bowie, Nick Cave, Joy Division, AC/DC, The Police, Nina Hagen and Blondie all performed there. Joy Division's connection to the venue is memorialised in their song "Komakino". This period coincided with the wild nightlife of West Berlin in the 1970s, before the cinema returned exclusively to film programming. Over the following decades, Kant Kino weathered the broader decline of Berlin's cinema landscape. The spread of television from the 1960s onward led to the closure of many neighbourhood cinemas, and even major Kurfürstendamm theatres shut down by the 1980s. Kant Kino survived by adapting. In the late 1980s, two additional screens were created, converting the former single-screen house into a multi-screen venue. A further renovation in 1997 added two more screens, bringing the total to five. The original large auditorium, Saal 1, was retained, as was the old wooden interior in the foyer. By April 2017, only seven cinemas remained in Charlottenburg: Astor Filmlounge, Cinema Paris, Delphi, Filmkunst 66, Kant-Kino, Klick and Zoo Palast. Kant Kino is now operated by the Yorck Kinogruppe, a Berlin cinema group that also runs other venues in the city. Under Yorck, the cinema continues to show a curated selection of international productions, documentaries and children's films. The official website notes that the cinema was closed for renovations until 25 June, with fresh-air ventilation installed, and that it remains one of the oldest film theatres in the city, where generations of guests have discovered their love of film.

• 2017

  As of April 2017, Kant-Kino is one of seven remaining cinemas in Charlottenburg.

• 1997

  A further renovation adds two more screens, bringing the total to five.

• 1980

  Two additional screens are created in the late 1980s.

• 1970

  During the 1970s the cinema also serves as a concert stage for artists including David Bowie, Nick Cave, Joy Division, AC/DC, The Police, Nina Hagen and Blondie.

• 1956

  After a renovation, the cinema's capacity is reduced to approximately 640 seats.

• 1912

  Kant-Lichtspiele opens with one auditorium and approximately 800 seats.

Neighbourhood arthouse and family-friendly cinema with historic character, operated within the Yorck Kinos Berlin group.

• International film screenings

• Documentary film screenings

• Children's film screenings

• Event venue rental

1. 1Kant Kino | Yorck Kinos Berlinyorck.de
2. 2Kant Kino - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Liste der Kinos in Berlin-Charlottenburgde.wikipedia.org