With its classicist facade and imposing staircase, the Filmtheater rises in front of the Volkspark Friedrichshain. As one of Berlin's largest art-house cinemas - affectionately dubbed "FaF" by guests and staff alike - it has enjoyed great popularity for decades. And in the summer, the beer garden next to the movie theater is particularly tempting for stimulating conversations late into the evening.Since its opening in 1925 under Olympia, the building has been continuously operated as a cinema. In 1994, it was threatened with demolition. Still, a group led by director Michael Verhoeven intervened and, together with the Yorck Group, turned the cinema into an arthouse venue with excellent technical equipment, five originally designed auditoriums ranging from gold rush to techno, and a diverse program across genres.