OBENKINO Cottbus wins 40,000 euro prize – the region’s cinema!

OBENKINO Cottbus wins 40,000 euro prize – the region’s cinema!

The OBENKINO in Cottbus has achieved extraordinary success. At the prestigious awarding of the 27th Berlin-Brandenburg Cinema Program Prize, the cinema was awarded a considerable prize of40,000 eurosexcellent. This is not only recognition, but also shows that the OBENKINO is one of the five best cinemas in the Berlin-Brandenburg capital region. Lower Lusatia currently reported that on this occasion a total70 cinemaswith a total prize money of1.5 million euroswere honored for their extraordinary commitment and program diversity. The OBENKINO was particularly recognized for its excellent programming and cultivation of regional cinema.

The prize was awarded at the Glad-House youth cultural center. Sarah Duve-Schmid, the managing director of the Medienboard, emphasized the central role of cinema as a cultural asset and the passion of cinema makers. The prize money should now go into theFurther development of the technical infrastructure, new event formats and media educational work are invested. The aim is to make the OBENKINO a place forsophisticated cinema and cultural participationto strengthen and create more visibility in the region. Radio Cottbus highlights that the collaboration in the network and the record attendance in the cinema year 2024 were particularly recognized.

Diverse award winners in the region

But the OBENKINO is not alone in its award. Other cinemas in the region also received awards. In addition to the OBENKINO, these wereCinema Astoria Wittstock, theMulticultural Center Templin, theNew Kammerspiele Kleinmachnowand thatThalia program cinema Potsdamexcellent. This was also received from LusatiaWorld mirror Cottbusand thatSpreekino SprembergRecognition. This large number of award-winning cinemas shows how culturally vibrant the region is and how important the support of arthouse cinemas is for Germany's cinematic landscape.

The cinema program price has been in effect since1999awarded and has particularly focused on promoting cinemas that have a distinctivecultural profileshow. At a time when the number of visitors to cinemas is falling, supporting arthouse cinema culture like that of OBENKINO is essential to ensure the survival of this cinema culture. Deutschlandfunk culture addresses the challenges that arthouse cinemas face, such as the difficulty of attracting German distributors for international films. Nevertheless, the OBENKINO remains a place of encounter and education, where the cinema experience remains accessible to everyone.