Kinoteatr Zhovten

Kinoteatr Zhovten (literally "October Cinema") is one of Kyiv's oldest and most storied cinemas, located at 26 Kostiantynivska Street in the Podil district, near the Kontraktova Ploshcha metro station. The building, designed in the constructivist style popular in the 1920s and 1930s, opened as the "Ninth State Cinema" (Dev'yate Derzhkino) and has never changed its purpose over its long history. Its first regular screening took place on 29 January 1931 with the premiere of Mykola Shpykovsky's film "Hehemon." Over the decades the cinema underwent repeated reconstructions, adding sound equipment early among Soviet cinemas, then widescreen and wide-format projection. During the Second World War it operated under German occupation as "Gloria" and was half-destroyed by war's end; from the postwar period it has borne the name Zhovten ("October"). A second hall was added in 1960, and a third in January 2006. Since 2000 Zhovten has carved out a distinct niche as a "cinema house" — a venue for the best of world and national cinema, festival programmes, previews, retrospectives and creative meetings. Its programming policy gives special attention to Ukrainian cinema; in 2019–2020 it screened more than 50 new Ukrainian films, practically all released in the country. It is a participant in the Europa Cinemas network, which promotes European film production by supporting cinemas. The cinema is operated by the limited liability company TOV Kinoman under a lease from the Kyiv city community. A long-running legal dispute saw city authorities attempt from July 2013 to terminate the lease early and evict the cinema; in November 2014 the Kyiv City Council granted a new lease to Kinoman on revised terms. On 29 October 2014 the cinema was set on fire during a screening; two far-right suspects were detained, one stating the motive was outrage over LGBT-themed films rather than destroying the building. A major reconstruction, budgeted at 53 million hryvnias, was completed on 18 October 2015 and reopened by Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko. Today Zhovten operates six halls — Hehemon (414 seats), Kinoman (198), Anshlah (55), Klasyk (48), Sladkaya Zhyzn (33) and Seans (24) — all equipped with Dolby Digital sound. It has also pioneered accessibility, offering adapted versions of most films for visually and hearing-impaired audiences through free apps such as Earcatch, Subcatch, Greta, MovieReading and Podyv.

Zhovten Cinema opened on 8 November 1930 as the "Ninth State Cinema" (Dev'yate Derzhkino) at the corner of Sholom-Aleichem and Shchekavytska streets. It was the first cinema built after the October Revolution and the first standalone cinema building in the city. Construction cost 312,600 rubles, and the cinema had 680 seats. Regular screenings began on 29 January 1931 with the premiere of "Hehemon" directed by Mykola Shpykovsky and produced by the Kyiv Film Factory. The building has never changed its purpose. It underwent repeated reconstructions of both facade and technical equipment. It was among the first in the USSR to install sound equipment, and later widescreen and wide-format projection. During the Second World War the cinema continued to operate, though by war's end it was half-destroyed; under German occupation it was named "Gloria." From the postwar period it has been called Zhovten ("October"). In 1960 an additional 300-seat hall, the so-called "Small Hall," was built; the Large Hall with balcony held 841 spectators. A third hall opened in January 2006. In its modern history, dating from 2000, the cinema took a special niche as a "cinema house" where audiences come for the best of world and national cinema, diverse festival programmes and preview screenings. It hosts creative meetings and film retrospectives. Its programming policy pays special attention to domestic cinema: both novice directors and luminaries of Ukrainian cinema have presented their work on its screens. In 2019–2020 more than 50 new Ukrainian films were shown, practically all released in the country. Creative meetings with Ukrainian film figures, lectures on film art and master classes by film professionals are held regularly. The cinema is a participant in the Europa Cinemas network. From July 2013 city authorities sought through court to terminate the lease with TOV Kinoman early and evict the cinema from the building. On 29 October 2014 the cinema was set on fire during a screening; two far-right suspects were detained, one explaining the aim was not to burn the building but to express outrage over LGBT-themed films. In early November 2014 the Kyiv City Council transferred the cinema to Kinoman under new terms (rent at 3% of the expert-determined property value; lease until 1 April 2020). On 21 July 2015 the Kyiv City Council commission on budget and socio-economic development approved 41 million hryvnias for restoration. Reconstruction was completed on 18 October 2015 and the renovated cinema was opened by Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko. The design and reconstruction client was Zhytloinvestbud-UKB; total reconstruction cost was 53 million hryvnias. Today the cinema has two large halls (414 and 198 seats) and four video halls (22, 33, 45 and 49 seats).

• Cinema opens as the Ninth State Cinema (Dev'yate Derzhkino) at the corner of Sholom-Aleichem and Shchekavytska streets.

• First regular screening: premiere of "Hehemon" directed by Mykola Shpykovsky.

• During German occupation the cinema is named "Gloria"; by war's end it is half-destroyed.

• Postwar period: cinema renamed Zhovten ("October").

• Additional 300-seat "Small Hall" built; Large Hall with balcony holds 841 spectators.

• Third hall opens.

• City authorities begin attempts to terminate the lease with TOV Kinoman and evict the cinema.

• Cinema set on fire during a screening; two far-right suspects detained.

• Kyiv City Council grants a new lease to Kinoman on revised terms.

• Kyiv City Council commission approves 41 million hryvnias for restoration.

• Reconstruction completed; renovated cinema reopened by Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.

A historic arthouse "cinema house" in Kyiv combining mainstream and arthouse films with a focus on European and Ukrainian cinema.

• Hehemon Hall

  414 seats (20 rows); Harkness Hall Spectral 240 3D screen (14 x 5.9 m).

• Kinoman Hall

  198 seats (15 rows); Harkness Hall Spectral 240 3D screen (9.8 x 4.3 m).

• Anshlah Hall

  55 seats (6 rows); Harkness Hall Mini Perf Matt Plus screen (5.4 x 2.3 m).

• Klasyk Hall

  48 seats (5 rows); Perlux 180+ screen (3.9 x 2.2 m).

• Sladkaya Zhyzn Hall

  33 seats (3 rows); Stagelite Matt White screen (3.9 x 2.4 m).

• Seans Hall

  24 seats (2 rows); Stagelite Matt White screen (3.6 x 2 m).

1. 1Кінотеатр Жовтень — official websitezhovten-kino.kyiv.ua
2. 2Кінотеатр Жовтень — Historyzhovten-kino.kyiv.ua
3. 3Kinoteatr Zhovten — Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Жовтень (кинотеатр) — Wikipedia (Russian)ru.wikipedia.org