Skalvija Film Center (Vilnius)
Address: Goštauto 2/15 / Vilnius LT-01104 / Lithuania
Tel: +370 52610505
Email: vilma at skalvija.lt
Contact: Vilma Levickait
www.skalvija.lt
1 screen, 88 seats.
Tech:We can screen 35 mm and DVD. On special occasions we rent a beta player and screen beta cam tapes.
History: Before it was reorganised into an art-house cinema theatre in 1993, SKALVIJA Film Center was an ordinary cinema without any special concept on programming, mainly showing films that were available with film distributers. The cinema dates back to 1962. Before 2002 there were two screens, but due to difficult economic periods one screen was closed down. In 2002 the cinema changed its profile and became an art cinema, focusing on quality films, retrospectives, special screenings, film classics, national premiers, international festivals, etc.
Organisational structure: Our cinema is a non-profit organisation founded and partly supported by Vilnius municipality. Legally it is an independent body, the head of the organisation has the right of major strategic decisions regarding film repertoire, strategic planning, staff policy, finance policy, marketing, international relations, etc. The director of the cinema is appointed by Vilnius municipality.
Editorial line: Our programming focuses on non-commercial European and World cinema, weekly repertoire is constantly complemented by special programmes (aiming to introduce to the cinematography of different countries or major film personalities – directors, actors, composers, cinematographers, producers, etc.), retrospectives, film classics events, family screenings, international festivals (such as Vilnius Documentary Film Festival, film festival of young filmmakers – Vilnius Film Shorts, international animated film festival “Tindi Rindi”, film festival on human rights “AdHoc: Inconvenient Cinema”, etc.).
Regularity: The cinema is open all year round, except in July. The screenings take place everyday – from Monday to Sunday.
Other stuff:With our activities we try to deepen audiences knowledge in film, so once or twice a month we organise meetings with film directors, film critics, journalists, etc. Apart usual screenings we have filmmaking classes for young audiences and adults.
Publicity: Our programmes are promoted by monthly brochure that includes the description of the films and events, time schedule. The brochure is distributed in universities, academies, bars and restaurants and in the lobby of the cinema. We maintain a website, have a mailing list with more than 3000 addresses, an account in facebook (over 3000 friends). Film programme is printed in main culture dailies.
Audience:Our main audience is young people – mainly students. Up to 80 percent of the audience is people who get the discount applied to students of high and higher education institutions.
Apart from general audience, with special screenings we attract families, retired people.
Funding: Up to 60 percent of our annual budget is covered by box office income, 20 percent is covered by the subsidy from Vilnius municipality, 20 percent comes from different foundations – National Culture Support Foundation (this is a project based financing), EU MEDIA programme, Europa Cinemas network.