The cinema returns to Sokołowsko!
Film screenings and in depth discussions about cinema will become a regular part of Sokolowsko’s repertoire of cultural events on April 29th. The reactivated „Zdrowie” cinema theater will be the 13th cinema belonging to the Network of Studio and Local Cinemas (Sieć Kin Studyjnych i Lokalnych) in Lower Silesia, thus putting Sokołowsko on the same tier as Wrocław, Wałbrzych, Lubin or Złotoryja.
In Sokołowsko – a place where a rich cinematic tradition used to serve a purpose of entertainment for the prosperous patients of the Görbersdorf sanatorium.
The place where Krzysztof Kieslowski first encountered the phenomenon of the moving image.
In a place full of ruins, once again restored to life thanks to the efforts of the In Situ Contemporary Art Foundation (latin: „in-place”).
Extraordinary architecture harking back to the traditions of the nineteenth century, a scene with an orchestra pit, and with a seating capacity of two hundred people – this is what the audience can expect from the newly reactivated art house cinema „Zdrowie” in Sokołowsko. The reactivation of the cinema is another venture by the founders of the In Situ Foundation, which restores, in Sokołowsko, spaces devoted to culture, dialogue, exchange of ideas and creation.
This will not be a new entity, but rather the reactivation of a once neglected part of Sokołowsko, whose post-war history is inextricably linked to the „Zdrowie” movie theater. Well known is the story of a young Krzysztof Kieślowski, who – not being able to afford a ticket – sneaked up on the roof along with his friends, to steal a glimpse of the magic of the big screen. The foundation acquired the building in a state in which this legendary roof was in dire need of major repairs. Not unlike other parts of the cinema building, purchased by the In Situ Foundation in 2010. In order to restore the function of the cinema’s theatrical room, which can host both the creators and spectators, the Foundation has renovated the building, while preserving its original architecture. Then, they equipped the cinema with a projector, screen and a professional sound system. The cinema building is now fully accessible to people with disabilities. Year after year, the building is undergoing regular and systematic renovations.
The „Zdrowie” cinema theater will not only be a place to watch movies. It will be an art house cinema, a space for an open exchange of cinematographic ideas, a space of workshops, lectures and discussions. It will therefore function on a day-to-day basis, as a substitute for festival gatherings, when the frequency of screenings, as well as the the foot traffic in town, increases considerably. The space of the cinema is already well known to the audience of the Hommage a Kieślowski film festival, organized by the In Situ Foundation in September. Several days of celebrating ambitious cinema, attracting fans of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s works and the films inspired by him and his legacy.
At the beginning of its operation under the auspices of the Foundation, the cinema was a space for workshops, conducted in cooperation with PWSFiTV in Łódź. It was here a presentation of films and a lecture by Abraham Ravett was held.
The cinema in Sokołowsko also serves as a theater hall, hosting such prominent actors as Krystyna Janda (she performed on the stage of theater with the show „Ucho, gardło, nóż”) and Jerzy Stuhr (he performed his acclaimed „Kontrabasista” here in the theater).
The studio cinema theater in Sokołowsko will once again host an audience starting on the 29th of April at 19:00!
What kind of repertoire can one expect?
We will screen the best, ambitious films of the season, the laureates of the Berlin, Cannes and Venice festivals, and other most commented upon titles of the last few months. One very important part of the program, will be special events – on the one hand talks about films with participating experts, harking back to the tradition of the Film Society in Sokołowsko, and on the other hand meetings with the creators of the films themselves, as well as educational screenings for the youth.
Screenings are scheduled for spring and summer weekends, to fill Friday and Saturday evenings with ambitious cinema and discussions surrounding it.
Restoring the „Zdrowie” movie theater to its former glory is yet another initiative of the In Situ Foundation, transforming an entire town into an art-space, a bright beacon on the cultural map of Lower Silesia. Visitors to Sokołowsko, a town 12 km away from Wałbrzych, can also visit the refurbished part of the monumental neo-gothic Dr Brehmer’s sanatorium, nicknamed „Grunwald”, in the cellars of which they can explore the Zygmunt Rytka darkroom for analogue photography. The sanatorium building, now renamed to The International Cultural Laboratory by the Foundation, along with the adjoining park grounds, as well as the aforementioned „Zdrowie” cinema, provides accommodations for the three festivals organized by the Foundation – The Contexts Festival of Ephemeral Art, Sanatorium Dźwięku, and above all – The Sokołowsko Hommage à Kieślowski Film Festival.
The renovated part of the Sanatorium also houses a multimedia hall, which serves as an exhibition space for the arts, and offers excellent conditions for the presentation of new media, new technologies and sound.
The detailed repertoire of the new studio cinema is selected by cultural animator, film journalist and vice president of the Wroclaw Film Foundation Lech Molinski.
The repertoire is coming soon!
