Moscow Cinema
Moscow Cinema is a historic cinema venue and film exhibition brand in central Yerevan, Armenia.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Moscow Cinema, also known in Armenian as Moskva Kinotatron, is a landmark cinema venue in central Yerevan, Armenia. It stands on Abovyan Street beside Charles Aznavour Square and has been one of the city’s principal locations for public film screenings since its opening in 1936. The venue is closely associated with Armenia’s cinematic culture, Soviet-era architectural heritage, and the contemporary film-festival scene. The cinema was built during the Soviet period on the site of Saint Paul and Peter Church, which had been demolished by Soviet authorities in the 1930s. Architects Tiran Yerkanyan and Gevorg Kochar designed the original building. Moscow Cinema opened on 12 December 1936, and its inaugural screening was Pepo, a Soviet-Armenian film that remains an important work in Armenian cinema history. The choice of Pepo gave the venue an immediate connection to local film production rather than presenting it solely as a site for imported or Soviet-wide releases. The building has undergone several significant architectural changes. Gevorg Kochar and Telman Gevorkyan redesigned it in 1960. A further redevelopment in 1983 added facade decoration depicting scenes associated with notable Soviet-Armenian films, including Chapayev, Pepo, David Bek, and Sayat Nova. These interventions helped make the cinema both a functioning exhibition venue and a visible monument to regional film history. Moscow Cinema was privatized in 1999. After a major renovation, it reopened in September 2000, returning to operation with updated facilities while retaining its historic identity. The venue subsequently became an important part of Yerevan’s cultural infrastructure and a regular meeting point for audiences, filmmakers, and festival visitors. The cinema is the principal venue of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, which has been held annually in Yerevan since 2004. Through this role, Moscow Cinema has hosted screenings connected with international and Armenian filmmaking and has helped give the festival a stable, recognizable home in the capital. The public square in front of the cinema was named Charles Aznavour Square in 2001, adding to the site’s cultural prominence. The current complex contains four indoor halls: a red hall with 491 seats, a blue hall with 350 seats, a small red hall with 49 seats, and a gallery with 35 seats. It also has an open-air theatre on the eastern side of the building. This combination allows the venue to serve ordinary cinema audiences as well as festival screenings, special events, and outdoor programming. Moscow Cinema is therefore best understood not only as a cinema brand but also as a historic cultural institution and architectural landmark in Yerevan.
History
Moscow Cinema is a historic film venue in Yerevan, Armenia, located on Abovyan Street beside the square now known as Charles Aznavour Square. The cinema was established during the Soviet period on the site of Saint Paul and Peter Church. The church was demolished by Soviet authorities in the 1930s, and a new cinema building was subsequently constructed there as part of the city’s cultural and architectural development. The original building was designed by architects Tiran Yerkanyan and Gevorg Kochar and opened on 12 December 1936. Its first screening was Pepo, a Soviet-Armenian film. This opening connected the new venue to Armenian film culture from the outset and established Moscow Cinema as more than a general entertainment facility. It became a prominent public cinema in the Armenian capital and an important part of the city’s Soviet-era cultural landscape. In 1960, the building was redesigned by Gevorg Kochar together with Telman Gevorkyan. The structure was redeveloped again in 1983, when its facade was decorated with scenes from well-known Soviet-Armenian films. The depicted titles included Chapayev, Pepo, David Bek, and Sayat Nova. The facade treatment reinforced the building’s relationship with Armenian and Soviet film history while giving it a distinctive public identity in central Yerevan. The cinema was privatized in 1999. A substantial renovation followed, and the venue reopened in September 2000. The reopening marked a transition from its Soviet institutional past toward operation as a modernized cinema in post-independence Armenia, while preserving the building’s historical role and recognizable name. Moscow Cinema’s cultural importance expanded through its association with the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival. The festival has taken place annually in Yerevan since 2004, with Moscow Cinema serving as its main venue. This role places the cinema at the center of Armenia’s international film programming and brings together local audiences, filmmakers, and festival visitors. The public space in front of the cinema was named Charles Aznavour Square in 2001 as part of celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Armenian independence. The square and cinema together form a significant cultural site in central Yerevan. The present facility includes four indoor halls: the red hall with 491 seats, the blue hall with 350 seats, a small red hall with 49 seats, and a gallery with 35 seats. An open-air theatre is located on the eastern side of the building. These spaces support regular screenings as well as festival, special-event, and outdoor cinema programming. Moscow Cinema consequently functions as a historic landmark, a commercial film-exhibition venue, and one of Yerevan’s key institutions for public film culture.
- 2004
Golden Apricot festival role begins
[1]Moscow Cinema became the main venue of the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival.
- 2001
Adjacent square receives Charles Aznavour name
[1]The square in front of the cinema was named Charles Aznavour Square during celebrations of the tenth anniversary of Armenian independence.
- 2000
Renovated venue reopens
[1]The cinema reopened in September after a major renovation.
- 1999
Privatization
[1]Moscow Cinema was privatized ahead of a major renovation.
- 1983
Facade redevelopment
[1]The facade was redeveloped with scenes representing notable Soviet-Armenian films, including Pepo, David Bek, and Sayat Nova.
- 1960
First major redesign
[1]Architects Gevorg Kochar and Telman Gevorkyan redesigned the cinema building.
- 1936
Cinema opens in central Yerevan
[1]Moscow Cinema opened on 12 December 1936. The inaugural screening was Pepo, a Soviet-Armenian film.
Products and positioning
A historic, centrally located Yerevan cinema that combines mainstream film exhibition with Armenian cultural programming, international festival activity, and architectural heritage.
Cinema exhibition
Indoor cinema halls
Moscow Cinema operates four indoor screening spaces: a 491-seat red hall, a 350-seat blue hall, a 49-seat small red hall, and a 35-seat gallery. Together, these halls accommodate different types of film programming, from large public screenings to smaller cultural or festival presentations.
Outdoor cinema
Open-air theatre
An open-air theatre on the eastern side of the building extends Moscow Cinema's exhibition capacity beyond its indoor halls. It provides a setting for outdoor screenings and special cultural programming, although the available reference material does not specify a fixed seating capacity or permanent program schedule.
Film festival venue · 2004
Golden Apricot festival screenings
Moscow Cinema is the principal venue for the Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival. The festival role gives the venue a recurring platform for Armenian and international cinema and makes it a central meeting place for festival audiences and filmmakers in Yerevan.
Marketing campaigns
- 2004Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival
Armenia · International festival audience
Moscow Cinema serves as the main venue of the annual Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, one of the most visible recurring international film events held in Yerevan.
Outcome. The partnership has established Moscow Cinema as a recurring focal point for festival screenings and international film culture in Armenia.
Brand decisions
2000
Post-renovation reopeningOtherBackground
After privatization, the historic cinema required substantial modernization.
Action taken
Moscow Cinema reopened in September following a major renovation.
Aftermath
The cinema resumed operation as a renovated venue while retaining its historic identity in central Yerevan.
1999
Privatization of Moscow CinemaStrategyBackground
The cinema entered private ownership during the post-Soviet period, before a major renovation and reopening.
Action taken
Moscow Cinema was privatized in 1999.
Aftermath
The venue underwent major renovation and reopened in September 2000.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/moscow-cinema · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled