Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cinemas also add a sneaky
Überlängezuschlag
(overrun supplement) of €0.50 to €1.50 for
films longer than 90 minutes. There's also a surcharge for 3D movies plus a €1 rental fee if
you don't have your own glasses. Seeing a flick on a
Kinotag
(film day, usually Monday or
Tuesday) can save you a couple of euros.
From May to September, alfresco screenings are a popular tradition, with classic and con-
temporary flicks spooling off in
Freiluftkinos
(open-air cinemas). Come early to stake out a
good spot, and bring pillows, blankets and snacks. Films are usually screened in their origin-
al language with German subtitles, or in German with English subtitles. Here are some of
our favourites:
030-694 1147;
www.freiluftkino-insel.de
;
Revaler Strasse 99; tickets €6.50;
Warschauer Strasse,
Warschauer Strasse) Free blankets; Friedrichshain.
Freiluftkino Friedrichshain
In the open-air amphitheatre at Volkspark Friedrichshain.
030-2936 1628;
www.freiluftkino-
kreuzberg.de
;
Mariannenplatz; tickets €7;
daily May-Aug) In the courtyard of Kun-
stquartier Bethanien.
tickets €6; M1, Hackescher Markt) In the courtyard of Haus Schwarzenberg.
Berlin also plays host to most German and international movie premieres and, in Febru-
ary, stages the single most important event on Germany's film calendar, the Berlin Interna-
tional Film Festival. Better known as the
Berlinale
(
www.berlinale.de
)
, it was founded in
1951 on the initiative of the Western Allies. Around 400 films are screened in theatres
around town, with some of them competing for the Golden and Silver Bear trophies.
Dozens of other film festivals take place throughout the year, including 'Achtung Berlin',
featuring movies made in Berlin and, yes, the 'Porn Film Festival'. For the entire schedule,
