Kino International

Kino International

Mitte | Karl-Marx-Allee 33, 10178 Berlin

Reopens 26 February 2026

4K Laser Projection

Air-conditioned

How to get here

U5: SchillingstraßeBus, U, S, Tram: Alexanderplatz

Telephone (Guest Service)030 322 931 322

About

The former premiere house of the GDR is still one of the most important premiere cinemas in Berlin and has been the venue of the Berlinale since 1990. The theater is also legendary thanks to its elegant 1960s interior, a perfectly proportioned cinema hall and the Panorama Bar with its breathtaking view of the former boulevard of East Berlin.

History

Kino International isn't just one of Berlin's most significant cinemas—it's one of the architectural crown jewels of the reunified city. A listed monument to cinema architecture, it's known worldwide both for its building and as a major premiere venue. Filmmakers like Tilda Swinton, Steven Spielberg, Barry Jenkins, Taika Waititi, Spike Lee, and many others have graced its stage to present their films for the first time.The International's remarkable history could fill a film of its own. One scene would show November 9, 1989: the premiere of Heiner Carow's Coming Out. A sensation and the result of years of effort to make a film advocating tolerance toward homosexuality in the GDR. That same night, the film's title became prophetic for an entire nation. The Berlin Wall fell during the first of two premiere screenings. When the audience left the cinema, they stepped into a new world.In many ways, that evening marks a turning point in the cinema's history—between the GDR and reunified Berlin.Twenty-seven years earlier, Kino International opened in November 1963 after two years of construction. Architects Josef Kaiser and Heinz Aust designed the building—the same team behind Café Moskau and Kino Kosmos. The 14-part sculptural relief Aus dem Leben heutiger Menschen (From the Lives of People Today), stretching across three windowless façades, was created by Waldemar Grzimek, Hubert Schiefelbein, and Karl-Heinz Schamal using just two casting molds.Inside, everything was prepared for ceremonial DEFA film premieres attended by GDR state leadership: a dedicated row with extra legroom, a reception hall for official events, even a nuclear bunker.Countless DEFA premieres, grand balls, and banquets took place here. Even concerts. But beyond the big premieres, East Berliners flocked to the cinema. DEFA classics like Solo Sunny and select Western films like Dirty Dancing drew over 100,000 viewers each.Sometimes, though, unpleasant scenes unfolded off-screen. In 1966, the SED leadership staged protests during screenings and outside the cinema against Spur der Steine (Trace of Stones), which party leaders deemed too critical. The orchestrated unrest became the pretext to ban the film. Just days after its premiere, it vanished from the program. Director Frank Beyer was sidelined for years.Only two weeks after the Wall fell did Spur der Steine return to Kino International. It also screened at the 1990 Berlinale—the first time, but not the last, that the festival would take place at the International.Since 1992, the International has been part of Yorck Kinogruppe, which cares for the cinema in every sense. The building is continuously maintained and renovated in accordance with heritage preservation standards. It remains one of Germany's most important premiere cinemas, welcoming filmmakers from around the world for first screenings.And Yorck continues the legacy of that Coming Out premiere on November 9, 1989. Since 1997, the Mongay film series has been a fixture in the program, bringing a current queer film to the big screen on Karl-Marx-Allee every Monday. It's the oldest queer film series in Germany. After eighteen months of renovation, the International is ready for its next chapter: restored to its original splendor, equipped with state-of-the-art projection and sound. Sixty years of history, and the best is yet to come.

1963

The International is completed as a multifunctional venue after two years of construction and opens on November 15 with the Soviet drama An Optimistic Tragedy. Walter Ulbricht angrily leaves the hall because the copy of the film is faulty.

1966

The party leadership stages protests in front of and at the Kino International against the film Track of Stones, which it dislikes, and takes them as an opportunity to ban the film.

1980

Solo Sunny by Konrad Wolf becomes one of the most successful films in the history of cinema with over 100,000 viewers.

1987

As one of the few western productions besides Cabaret (1972) and Einer flog übers Cuckucksnest (1976), Dirty Dancing is also shown in the Kino International, also with over 100,000 viewers.

1989

On the evening of the premiere of Coming Out, the first film in the GDR with a gay protagonist, the Berlin Wall falls.

1990

While the GDR is still alive, the Kino International becomes a venue for the Berlinale for the first time, where it quite quickly becomes a permanent fixture.

1992

The Yorck Kinogruppe takes over the house from the Bezirksfilmdirektion.

1997

For the first time, the film series Mongay takes place at Kino International. Following on from the events of 1989, Coming Out kicks off the series. The series becomes an important attraction for the community in Berlin and is the oldest queer film series in Germany.

1999

With Klub International, a gay party series arrives at Kino International that will become legendary in the 2000s. A few years later, a female version for the lesbian community is added.

2013

The cinema's 50th anniversary is celebrated with a DEFA film series and technical revamp. The club era comes to an end a short time later.

2021

After months of the Corona lockdown, the Kino leuchtet campaign uses Kino International to raise awareness for cultural venues. Months later, the cinema reopens.

2024

'The Zone of Interest' becomes one of the most-watched films in the cinema's history. In May, the cinema closes for renovation.

2026

Dream big...

Accessibility

Fully accessible

Box Office and Restrooms: Level access. After renovation, Kino International will include a wheelchair-accessible restroom.

Bar & Auditorium: Located on the first floor, elevator available.

Gallery

Specials

Kino International Members Only Pre-Opening

See Marty Supreme before the official theatrical release & opening

23.02.2026 - 25.02.2026

Opening Week: Marty Supreme at Kino International

Celebrate Kino International's re-opening week

26.02.2026 - 04.03.2026

What's on

Day

Week

Sort by: Popularity

Marty Supreme

Comedy

150 min

Dream big. (More)

Opening Week: Marty Supreme at Kino International

Celebrate Kino International's re-opening weekKino International officially reopens on 26 February 2026. That's after 18 months of closure for renovation, an... (More)

26.02.2026 - 04.03.2026

Special

Kino International Members Only Pre-Opening

See Marty Supreme before the official theatrical release & openingKino International reopens February 26th – and we're bursting with excitement. To kick things off right, we're ... (More)