Kinoteatr im. Tarasa Shevchenka

Kinoteatr im. Tarasa Shevchenka (Taras Shevchenko Cinema) is the central and largest cinema in Khmelnytskyi, an oblast capital in western Ukraine. It operates as a municipal enterprise of the Khmelnytskyi City Council, meaning it is owned and funded by the local government. The cinema is located at 40 Proskurivska Street and has been a fixture of the city's cultural life for over 70 years. It was originally opened on 13 November 1940 under the name Kinoteatr imeni Chkalova (Chkalov Cinema), and was renamed in 1992 to honor the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. The venue has never changed its profile: it has always been a cinema. Today it screens Ukrainian and foreign films and hosts various cultural events and mass gatherings. The cinema's mission, as stated on its official website, is to provide quality services in demonstrating the best examples of national and world cinema to residents and guests of Khmelnytskyi, to organize meaningful leisure for children and adults, to promote national cinematography, and to popularize the best works of domestic and world cinema. The website currently displays a message 'Technical break until Victory,' indicating a temporary suspension of operations, likely due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The cinema is a beloved cultural and leisure center among locals.

The construction of a new specialized cinema in the then-city of Proskuriv (now Khmelnytskyi) began in 1936 in the architectural style typical of the era. However, its grand opening took place only on 13 November 1940. On that day, the first screening was held, showing the new comedy 'Musical Story'. The cinema was initially named 'Kinoteatr imeni Chkalova' (Chkalov Cinema), a name it would keep for many years. It was immediately considered one of the best cinemas in the Ukrainian SSR, equipped with the most modern projection equipment of the time, a spacious auditorium, foyer, library, music and orchestra hall, and a buffet. It was located on the then-central square of the city. During World War II, the cinema continued to show films, mainly for officers and soldiers of the German army. In 1942, a German aircraft crashed near the cinema building. After the war, in 1949, a small hall was added and the large hall was expanded. In 1964, the cinema became widescreen. In the early years of Ukraine's independence, in 1992, the institution received its modern name—it was renamed in honor of Taras Shevchenko, although locals still often call it by its popular nickname 'Chkalnyk'. In the 1990s and 2000s, the cinema was reconstructed and re-equipped according to contemporary requirements, and as of the second half of the 2000s, it remains the central city cinema of Khmelnytskyi, a favorite leisure facility for residents and guests of the city. The cinema has never changed its profile throughout its 70-year history. Currently, it screens domestic and foreign films and hosts various cultural events and other mass gatherings. The official website states that the purpose of the municipal enterprise is to achieve economic and social results and to make a profit; to organize meaningful leisure and recreation for children and adults; to show works of national cinematography and film heritage; to spread cinema traditions and achievements of the film industry; to promote the revival of national cinematography; and to popularize the best works of domestic and world cinema. The main goals are to provide quality services in demonstrating the best examples of national and world cinema to residents and guests of the city of Khmelnytskyi. The website currently displays a message 'Technical break until Victory', indicating a temporary suspension of operations, likely due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

• 2000

  Reconstructed and re-equipped in the 1990s–2000s to meet contemporary standards.

• 1992

  Renamed to Kinoteatr imeni T. H. Shevchenka.

• 1964

  The cinema becomes widescreen.

• 1949

  A small hall is added and the large hall is expanded.

• 1942

  A German aircraft crashes near the cinema during World War II.

• 1940

  Grand opening on 13 November as Kinoteatr imeni Chkalova; first screening of the comedy 'Musical Story'.

• 1936

  Construction of the cinema building begins in Proskuriv.

Central municipal cinema and cultural hub of Khmelnytskyi, dedicated to national and world cinema.

• Film screenings

  Screening of Ukrainian and foreign films.

• Cultural events

  Hosting of various cultural events and mass gatherings.

1. 1Official websiteshevchenko.km.ua
2. 2Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Ukrainian Wikipediauk.wikipedia.org