Kino Citadele

Kino Citadele is a multiplex cinema located in the Stockmann shopping complex at 13. janvāra iela 8 in central Riga, Latvia. It originally opened on 31 October 2003 as Coca Cola Plaza, the first multiplex cinema in Latvia, operated by the cinema group Baltic Cinema (later renamed Forum Cinemas). The cinema was renamed Parex Plaza on 1 November 2008, and then Kino Citadele on 16 September 2010. In 2019, it came under the management of the Latvian branch of Forum Cinemas OÜ, and in 2023 it was sold to SIA Kemplake Investments (LV1), owned by the Netherlands-registered Stichting Administratiekantoor Kemplake. On 17 February 2023, the cinema was rebranded as Forum Cinemas. The venue features 14 auditoriums with 2,702 seats, including two premium-class halls (Delfi LUX and 4 LUX). Its Pepsi auditorium has a 242 m² screen, described as the widest in Northern Europe. The cinema is equipped with Dolby Digital sound (Dolby Atmos in the Pepsi auditorium), Barco and Christie 3D digital projectors, and Barco Laser3D, Dolby 3D, and XpanD 3D systems. A rooftop bar, Vertigo, is located on the 6th floor. The cinema is part of the Forum Cinemas chain, which also operates a second location in Riga at the AKROPOLE Alfa shopping centre.

The cinema was conceived in January 2001 when Finnish companies Stockmann and Rautakirja (whose Finnkino Oy held 90% of the Latvian company SIA Baltic Cinema) agreed to build a shopping complex with 14 cinema halls in Riga. The cinema project was designed by the architectural office Postform Projekts Rīga in cooperation with the Finnish architectural office Atkkitehtikonttori Petri Pussinen Oy. The foundation stone was laid on 19 June 2002. The construction of the department store involved an investment of 40 million euros. On 17 October 2003, the four-storey Stockmann department store and entertainment complex opened, featuring Latvia's first multiplex cinema, Coca Cola Plaza, managed by the cinema group Baltic Cinema (now Forum Cinemas). The cinema became accessible to viewers from 31 October 2003. On 21 March 2006, SIA Baltic Cinema was renamed SIA Forum Cinemas. On 1 November 2008, the cinema was renamed Parex Plaza. On 16 September 2010, it was renamed Kino Citadele. In 2019, the cinema came under the management of the Latvian branch of Forum Cinemas OÜ, while SIA Forum Cinemas was liquidated; the reorganisation was completed in October. On 31 August 2020, it was announced that Finnkino would sell the cinema operator Forum Cinemas to the investment company UP Invest, controlled by Estonian businessman Margus Linnamäe (later merged with MM Grupp). The deal was planned to be completed by the end of the year or early next year. In February 2021, the Estonian Competition Authority prohibited MM Grupp from acquiring Forum Cinemas' Estonian business, but the deal for the acquisition of the Latvian and Lithuanian businesses remained in force. In January 2023, Estonian Forum Cinemas sold the Latvian Kino Citadele and Lithuanian cinemas to SIA Kemplake Investments (LV1), owned by the Netherlands-registered Stichting Administratiekantoor Kemplake. On 17 February 2023, Kino Citadele was renamed Forum Cinemas. A notable incident occurred on 19 February 2011 during a screening of the film Black Swan, when a conflict over inappropriate behaviour escalated; Nikolajs Zikovs, a doctoral student in law, shot and killed bank employee Aigars Eglis with four shots from a personal weapon. In response, Forum Cinemas introduced the option for viewers to report disturbances in the hall to cinema staff by sending a free text message to number 1189 (now 1838).

• 2023

  In January, Kino Citadele sold to SIA Kemplake Investments; on 17 February renamed Forum Cinemas.

• 2021

  Estonian Competition Authority prohibits acquisition of Estonian business in February; Latvian and Lithuanian deal proceeds.

• 2020

  Announcement on 31 August that Finnkino will sell Forum Cinemas to UP Invest.

• 2019

  Cinema comes under management of Forum Cinemas OÜ Latvian branch; SIA Forum Cinemas liquidated.

• 2011

  Shooting incident during Black Swan screening on 19 February; cinema introduces SMS reporting system.

• 2010

  Cinema renamed Kino Citadele on 16 September.

• 2008

  Cinema renamed Parex Plaza on 1 November.

• 2006

  SIA Baltic Cinema renamed SIA Forum Cinemas on 21 March.

• 2003

  Stockmann department store and Coca Cola Plaza cinema open on 17 October; cinema accessible from 31 October.

• 2002

  Foundation stone laid on 19 June.

• 2001

  Stockmann and Rautakirja agree to build a shopping complex with 14 cinema halls in Riga.

Premium multiplex cinema experience in central Riga, offering a wide range of films, premium halls, and modern projection and sound technology.

• Pepsi auditorium

  602 seats, 242 m² screen, Dolby Atmos sound.

• Delfi LUX

  Premium-class cinema hall.

• 4 LUX

  Premium-class cinema hall.

• Vertigo rooftop bar

  Located on the 6th floor of Forum Cinemas Centrs.

1. 1Forum Cinemas - Sākumsforumcinemas.lv
2. 2Kino Citadele - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Forum Cinemas - Wikipedia (Latvian)lv.wikipedia.org