For several years now, the open-air cinema has been an integral part of the city. This summer program attracts families, teenagers, couples, and friends. Thanks to frequent screenings of American films in their original language, this attraction also draws foreign visitors. We have not just one, but two such unique cinemas.
The amphitheater, designed by architects Gabrini and Malinovský, is among the largest venues of its kind in Slovakia, with a current capacity of approximately 5,000 seats. The outdoor cinema is older than it appears: construction began as early as 1955, and official screenings kicked off on June 19, 1965, as part of the Workers’ Film Festival (FFP). The first film screened was the Oscar-winning movie The Shop on Main Street, which drew a record 20,000 viewers at the time. The Amfik cinema has been enjoying a resurgence in popularity since 2020. The Garden cinema, located in the courtyard behind the former Partizán cinema in the passageway near the Malá scéna on Hlavná Street, operates in a similar way. Firstly opened in 1956 and screened films until the mid-1980s. It had to wait until 2021 for its rebirth, since when it has been operating under the management of Cinema Úsmev.
You’ll often feel like you’re traveling back in time while watching a modern film.
by Ester Ritter
