Kino Atlas

Kino Atlas is a two-screen cinema in Prague, Czech Republic, located in the basement of the former Atlas bank building at the corner of Sokolovská třída and Ke Štvanici street near the Florenc junction. The functionalist building was designed in 1935–1936 by architects František Josef Stalmach and Jan Hanuš Svoboda, pupils of Josef Gočár, and included banking premises, residential space and a social wing with a cinema, bar and originally a dance café on the first floor. Although the building was completed only in 1942 and altered several times after the war, its façade and interior decoration are now protected by the National Heritage Institute. From 1948 to 2000 the cinema operated under the name Sokolovo as part of the Filmový podnik hlavního města Prahy (Prague City Film Enterprise). In August 2002 the auditorium was leased to a new operator, but it was immediately submerged more than ten metres below the flood level and was practically destroyed. After a complete reconstruction, Kino Atlas reopened on 1 June 2005, including a second auditorium that, for spatial reasons, uses a unique mirror-reflection projection technology. The cinema closed in December 2022 and reopened on 21 March 2023 under new tenants. The programming is deliberately broad. Alongside mainstream films and premieres — aimed at viewers who prefer an intimate setting — Atlas screens art-house titles from independent productions, showcases of national cinemas (especially in cooperation with the nearby Scandinavian House), festivals such as Jeden svět and Ozvěny MFF KV, and films from the Projekt 100 series. Its website lists recurring cycles including Atlas expresionismu, Atlas filmařů, Atlas hororu, Atlas klasiky, Atlas kultu, Dětský Atlas, Lanzmann, Tady Vary and Volá Bollywood, as well as event types such as BE2CAN, benefit screenings, Czech/Slovak film, discussions, theatre, guest appearances, concerts, new releases and previews. Technically, the cinema has used classic 35 mm and 16 mm projectors and digital projection, including 3D since 2009. It has two air-conditioned auditoriums: a 128-seat hall with Dolby Digital sound and a 58-seat hall with Dolby Stereo SR. A café/bar seats 50 people and offers WiFi internet access. The venue also hosts the Galerie Karla Vachka and is available for rentals, and its Café Atlas rostlin is promoted as a green and warm home-like space. The cinema presents itself as English-friendly, with English-language screenings and an EN version of its programme.

The cinema hall occupies the basement of the massive functionalist former Atlas bank building on the corner of Sokolovská třída and Ke Štvanici street at the Florenc junction in Prague. The building was designed in 1935–1936 by architects František Josef Stalmach and Jan Hanuš Svoboda, pupils of Professor Josef Gočár. The project comprised banking premises, a residential section and a social section including a cinema, a bar and originally a dance café on the first floor. The building was completed only in 1942 and was modified several times after the war; its shell and interior decoration are today protected by the National Heritage Institute. From 1948 to 2000 the cinema was operated under the name Sokolovo, after the adjacent main street, by the Filmový podnik hlavního města Prahy (Prague City Film Enterprise). In August 2002 the auditorium was leased to a new operator, but it immediately found itself more than ten metres below the flood level and was practically destroyed. After a complete reconstruction, Kino Atlas opened on 1 June 2005, including a second auditorium that, for spatial reasons, is equipped with a unique projection technology using reflection in a mirror. The cinema closed in December 2022 and reopened on 21 March 2023 under new tenants. Its dramaturgy has covered a wide range of film production: in addition to mainstream films including premieres — for viewers who prefer an intimate environment — it has screened art-house titles from independent productions, showcases of national cinematographies (especially in cooperation with the nearby Scandinavian House), festivals such as Jeden svět and Ozvěny MFF KV, and films from Projekt 100. Technically it has used classic 35 mm and 16 mm projectors and digital projection, including 3D from 2009. It has two air-conditioned halls: 128 seats with Dolby Digital sound and 58 seats with Dolby Stereo SR sound, plus a café/bar with 50 seats and WiFi internet access.

• 2023

  Kino Atlas reopens on 21 March under new tenants.

• 2022

  The cinema closes in December.

• 2009

  Digital projection is introduced, including 3D capability.

• 2005

  Kino Atlas reopens on 1 June after a complete reconstruction, adding a second hall with mirror-reflection projection.

• 2002

  The auditorium is leased to a new operator but is destroyed by the August flood.

• 2000

  The Prague City Film Enterprise ends its operation of the cinema.

• 1948

  The cinema begins operation under the name Sokolovo, run by the Prague City Film Enterprise.

• 1942

  The building is completed, after several wartime delays.

• 1935

  Architects František Josef Stalmach and Jan Hanuš Svoboda design the functionalist Atlas bank building, including a cinema.

An intimate, English-friendly Prague art-house and mainstream cinema in a heritage functionalist building, known for curated cycles, festivals and a café atmosphere.

• Velký sál (Large Hall)

  128-seat air-conditioned auditorium with Dolby Digital sound.

• Modrý sál (Blue Hall)

  58-seat air-conditioned auditorium with Dolby Stereo SR sound and unique mirror-reflection projection.

• Café Atlas rostlin

  Café/bar with 50 seats and WiFi, promoted as a green and warm home-like space.

• Galerie Karla Vachka

  Gallery space within the cinema.

• Atlas expresionismu

  Film cycle of expressionist cinema with live music.

• Dětský Atlas

  Children's film programming strand.

• BE2CAN

  Festival showcase held 8–13 October at Atlas.

1. 1Kino Atlas official websitekinoatlaspraha.cz
2. 2Kino Atlas on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Kino Atlas on Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org