We have always dreamed to run a place where we could simply do things we like. The recipe seemed easy: find an old place with character, pour some jazz into it, mix it with cinema, add cozy furniture from the 60s and serve the top-quality Italian espresso. It was our beloved idea that finally became true. We hope you will like this place, too.
When we first saw that abandoned cinema in the middle of picturesque Vianden, we instantly fell in love. That was simply it ! A 200-year old building, full of character and huge potential. The renovation (or shall we say, recreation) lasted more than three years.
Ancien Cinéma has been thoroughly reconstructed. While we tried to preserve as many original elements as we could, today you can enjoy a pleasingly refurbished place. Old limestone walls, original cinema seats and antique spotlights are accompanied by cozy sofas, vintage chairs and elegant tables from the 60s. Oversize film snapshots and black & white photos on the walls bring about the sentiment of classic movies.
Ancien Cinéma café - club in Vianden is ... a place where culture happens.
The main idea behind Ancien Cinéma is to be a platform for cooperation between local and international artists under an umbrella called 'Where West meets East'. After eleven years of experience, we believe this remains to be an attractive and unique cultural offer in Luxembourg.
We are a venue for young and independent artists to exhibit, meet, discuss and we simply facilitate contacts. We offer space and provide relevant equipment and all the necessary support and know-how.
We work closely with culture institutions and authorities of Luxembourg, as well as those from abroad and equally with local and international non-profit associations, culture promoters or those organising various festivals (of which we, quite often, are part).
For all these purposes we have established a non-profit association Ancien Cinéma a.s.b.l that is the face of all our initiatives.
Photo: Armand Wagner
In January 2018 we celebrated 10 years of our activity on the cultural map of Luxembourg. Ancien Cinéma was officially opened on
11 January 2008.
Over that time, we have organised close to 1,000 events, including 400 concerts, 200 film projections, 100 exhibitions and 50 theatre shows. Luxembourgish artists were part of more than 50% of all our events and productions and Polish artists totalled 20% (while 33% of all productions was by Eastern and Central European artists). We also hosted artists from other countries, including Switzerland, Malta and Japan. Ancien Cinéma a.s.b.l spent over EUR 160,000 towards cultural events, out of which close to EUR 100,000 went directly to the artists. We earned over EUR 32,000 from ticket sales, while admission to 70% of our events was free of charge. Ancien Cinéma paid more than EUR 50,000 to Luxembourg local business and donated over EUR 6,000 to other associations and initiatives (such as Vianden Music Festival, Spinning for Africa, Vianden School, Association des parents de Vianden. CinEast Festival, polska.lu, to name just a few).
Finally, 25,000 spectators came to see our events. We wish to thank you for this spectacular number!
We will keep swinging. We just love what we do.
