Lichtspiel / Kinemathek Bern

Museum or cinema, bar or workshop? Lichtspiel is all in one – but above all, it is a place of discoveries. Since 2000 this extraordinary institution operated in a former factory building near the freight railway station, bevor moving to the halls of the former knitwear factory Ryff in March 2012. A myriad of projectors, cameras and other astounding cinematographic objects, which have born witness to more than 100 years of film-making history, have been saved from destruction, decay and oblivion.
The archive includes over 20’000 film reels: news reels, early music clips, amateur documentaries, cartoons and shortfeature films. The surprise screening programme on Sundays is selected from this treasure trove, and Lichtspiel also offers regular retrospectives and film series during the week.