Kino Xenix

Kino Xenix is a programme cinema and bar in Zurich's Kreis 4 district, run by the Filmclub Xenix and supported by the association Verein Kino Xenix. It emerged in 1980 from a project of the Autonomous Youth Centre Zurich (AJZ), when a group of film-loving young people founded a film club under the name "AJZ-Kino" with the aim of showing politically and socially relevant cinema. Although the youth centre was closed the same year, the group continued as the "Mobile AJZ-Kino", screening films at changing venues such as the Volkshaus, the Kasino Aussersihl and the Theater am Neumarkt. The cinema's wandering years ended in 1982 when the film club spent about eight months in a squatted house at Tessinerplatz (Lavaterstrasse 9). During this period the AJZ-Kino was renamed Xenix, inspired by the autonomous Amsterdam micro-cinema Xinema Xinix and by an ironic Swiss-German pun: "Xenix = gseh nix" ("I see nothing"). After the Tessinerplatz building was demolished, the Xenix found shelter in the Walche sex cinema from January to the end of 1983, where Zurich porn-cinema pioneer Edi Stöckli provided both the space and a projectionist. Together with other cultural organisers, the film club ran film evenings, theatre and concerts under the name "Houdini" at Kino Walche. When the building's owners demanded a sponsoring body for the new operation and the City of Zurich could not be won as a subsidy and patronage provider, the Xenix filmmakers again faced the problem of having no permanent venue at the end of 1983. Since 21 September 1984 the Xenix has been located at its current site, a former school barrack on the grounds of the Kanzlei schoolhouse. Here, out of the passionate voluntary commitment of film enthusiasts from the 1980s political youth movement, a professionally run operation developed that has become an important cultural institution for non-commercial cinema in the city of Zurich. The Xenix has always remained true to its founding idea of creating a free space for engagement with socially and politically relevant themes. The Xenix is a programme cinema that takes a critical stance on political, social and cultural issues through its programmes and film-related activities. Eleven programmes are shown each year. The monthly changing focuses can be thematic, geographical, social or political, or can be dedicated entirely to the work of specific filmmakers as a retrospective, with particular attention given to the work of independent filmmakers and the filmmaking of various (sub)cultures. Whenever possible, films are shown in their original format and original version with subtitles. The Kino Xenix also sees itself as a place of knowledge transfer: guests are regularly invited for lectures and readings, exchange with the audience is encouraged, and the detailed programme booklet includes an introductory text on the programme themes. Fixed points in the annual programme include the open-air cinema on the gravel square in front of the cinema barrack during the official school holidays in July and August; the Nocturne late shows on weekends from 23:30, which have existed since spring 1982 when the cinema was still at Tessinerplatz; the Christmas open-air, introduced on 24 December 1998; children's cinema on Wednesday afternoons since January 2000, showing a classic aimed at a young audience each month; and documentary films every Sunday since January 1999, with a monthly changing current "Dokfilm am Sonntag" at 12:00. The Xenix bar, housed in the same building as the cinema, sees itself as a social neighbourhood meeting point. Especially in summer, when a second outdoor bar and a food stand are set up, the gravel square on the Kanzlei area is a popular gathering place in Zurich. The many events that are fixed points in the calendar also contribute to a lively, communal neighbourhood life, such as a large anniversary party held every five years. During football World Cups, matches are shown live in a tent in front of the barrack.

The Kino Xenix traces its origins to a project of the Autonomous Youth Centre Zurich (AJZ). In 1980 a group of film-loving young people founded a film club under the name "AJZ-Kino" with the goal of showing politically and socially relevant cinema. The group initially possessed only a 16 mm and a Super-8 projector. The first film shown was "Je Ka Mi" by Roman Holenstein. Although the youth centre was closed the same year, the group continued as the "Mobile AJZ-Kino", showing films at changing venues such as the Volkshaus, the Kasino Aussersihl and the Theater am Neumarkt. The "wandering years" ended in 1982 when the film club spent about eight months in a squatted house at Tessinerplatz (Lavaterstrasse 9) in Zurich. During this time the AJZ-Kino was renamed Xenix, inspired by the autonomous Amsterdam micro-cinema Xinema Xinix and by an ironic Swiss-German pun: "Xenix = gseh nix" ("I see nothing"). When the Tessinerplatz building was demolished, the Xenix found shelter in the Walche sex cinema from January 1983 to the end of 1983. Zurich porn-cinema pioneer Edi Stöckli provided both the space and a projectionist. Together with other cultural organisers, the film club organised film evenings, theatre and concerts under the name "Houdini" at Kino Walche. When the building's owners demanded a sponsoring body for the new operation and the City of Zurich could not be won as a subsidy and patronage provider, the Xenix filmmakers again faced the problem of having no permanent venue at the end of 1983. Since 21 September 1984 the Xenix has been located at its current site, a former school barrack on the grounds of the Kanzlei schoolhouse. Here, out of the passionate voluntary commitment of film enthusiasts from the 1980s political youth movement, a professionally run operation developed that has become an important cultural institution for non-commercial cinema in the city of Zurich. The Xenix has always remained true to its founding idea of creating a free space for engagement with socially and politically relevant themes. In 1988 women from the Xenix group and the Kanzlei area founded the women's cinema Xenia. From April 1988 to 2000, the cinema and bar were accessible only to women every Thursday. Xenia aimed to show "films about lesbian reality, portrait films, documentaries, feature films – funny, serious, sad, witty, demanding, pleasurable, encouraging films, above all by and about women". Xenix initiatives have included helping to rebuild a cinema in bombed-out Sarajevo (1994/95) and a mobile open-air cinema in Senegal (1994), examples of the Xenix's political and social engagement. The wooden barrack housing the bar and cinema has stood since 1904 and was [renovated] in 2007.

• 2007

  The wooden barrack, standing since 1904, is [renovated].

• 2000

  Children's cinema begins on Wednesday afternoons in January.

• 1999

  Documentary films are shown every Sunday from January.

• 1998

  The Christmas open-air tradition is introduced on 24 December.

• 1994

  Xenix supports the rebuilding of a cinema in Sarajevo and runs a mobile open-air cinema in Senegal.

• 1988

  Women from the Xenix group and the Kanzlei area found the women's cinema Xenia; from April, Thursdays are women-only until 2000.

• 1984

  On 21 September the Xenix moves to its current location, a former school barrack on the Kanzlei schoolhouse grounds.

• 1983

  The Xenix is hosted in the Walche sex cinema from January to the end of 1983.

• 1982

  The film club occupies a squatted house at Tessinerplatz and renames itself Xenix.

• 1982

  Nocturne weekend late shows begin in spring, while still at Tessinerplatz.

• 1980

  Group of film enthusiasts founds the "AJZ-Kino" film club under the Autonomous Youth Centre Zurich (AJZ).

• 1980

  After the AJZ is closed, the group continues as the "Mobile AJZ-Kino", screening at changing venues.

Non-commercial programme cinema and social neighbourhood meeting point dedicated to political, social and cultural film.

• Monthly changing themed film programmes

• Open-air cinema (July–August)

• Nocturne weekend late shows (since 1982)

• Christmas open-air (since 1998)

• Children's cinema (since 2000)

• Documentary Sundays (since 1999)

• Xenix bar and outdoor bar

• Pétanque tournament

1. 1Xenix Kino / Bar official websitexenix.ch
2. 2Kino Xenix on Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Xenix (Kino) – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org