No sooner had we said goodbye to the film festival than the next cinematic highlight of the summer is already upon us: The Filmkunstwochen kick off again on July 22. At the city’s alternative theaters, you can look forward to old classics, current hits, and arthouse gems . In addition to a colorful mix of genres, there’s also a program off the screen.
Curtain Up on the Small Theaters
The Filmkunstwochen have been around since 1952, when they were founded by Munich native Fritz Falter. He was a movie theater owner himself and ran, among other venues, the Studio Isabella, which can still be found here at Neureutherstr. 29. He also founded the Studio für Filmkunst on Occamstraße, which unfortunately had to close its doors in 1970. It was the first of its kind in West Germany and reflected the high standards Falter held for film.
With this festival, Munich’s arthouse scene carries on this tradition and celebrates cinema in all its forms. What makes the Filmkunstwochen special is that the major mainstream theaters aren’t involved. Instead, the focus is on arthouse cinemas and alternative venues where the spotlight isn’t just on big blockbusters—but where independent productions also have their place.
The 74th Filmkunstwochen
A total of 12 theaters will be participating from Wednesday, July 22, through Wednesday, August 12, screening films that will make you think. The lineup includes not only niche productions that hardly anyone knows about, but also major classics. Look forward, for example, to “The Truman Show,” “The Matrix,” “The Sixth Sense,” and “Total Recall.” In addition to English-language films, the program also features German, Italian, and Spanish films, among others, and you’ll get to see not only feature films but also documentaries.
In addition, you can look forward to events off the big screen. At the Theatiner Filmtheater, you can enjoya concert by Robert Lax and chat with him following the screening of the documentary about him. At the Neues Maxim, you can explore an exhibition, the opening of which will feature a performance by Katrin Schafitel. And at the Bollerwagenkino, you’ll stroll through Berg am Laim and discover one of Munich’s oldest neighborhoods. You can find the full program and a list of participating venues on the Filmkunstwochen website.
📍 Location: Various movie theaters in Munich
📅 Dates: Wednesday, July 22, through Wednesday, August 12
