Starting in the autumn, the Zurich Film Festival will programme the six theatres at Europaallee. The house will reopen during the 19th Zurich Film Festival under the name “Frame”. The cinemas and event spaces will be operated by Spoundation Motion Picture AG, the marketing and events agency behind the ZFF.
Film fans in Zurich can breathe a sigh of relief: the popular theatres with their cutting-edge technology at the former Kosmos House of Culture will reopen on September 28 under the name “Frame” and screen movies all year round. The programming will be done by the ZFF, which has succeeded over the past four years in building up a young core audience at the theatres. “The ZFF has been committed to cinema since its inception,” explains Artistic Director Christian Jungen. “Which is why we are delighted that we will soon be able to bring back the magic of film to the screens of these magnificent movie theatres – and it’s not just the young audiences of Zurich that love them, but stars like Charlotte Gainsbourg, Oliver Stone and Ray Parker jr. have also been impressed by their technology and comfort.”
The inauguration of the six theatres with their 796 seats will take place at the start of the 19th Zurich Film Festival. “This will ensure that the house will be full of activity from the very beginning,” says Jungen. In terms of profile, the programming of the theatres will correspond with that of the ZFF, namely a broad spectrum of productions ranging from upscale mainstream movies like James Bond or AVATAR to arthouse films, documentaries and essay films. And films from the ZFF programme will, of course, also screen at Frame and be promoted by the festival.
“The new name Frame has been chosen for the House because the films – as they are at the ZFF – will be rooted discursively: there will be many premieres with filmmakers, introductions by the ZFF programmers and discussions. “We are focusing on Kultur+ – that is to say, films with added value, and this is how we will turn an everyday movie experience into a special movie experience.” explains Jennifer Somm, Managing Director of Spoundation Motion Picture AG. The event and marketing agency behind the ZFF will be the future operator of the House. “For us, it is essential to maintain Frame as a House of Culture, but Frame will also become a House of Festivals where many other local organisers can hold their events too,” says Jennifer Somm who led negotiations with the SBB, the owner of the House. “An important role in this concept is played by the event spaces in the entrance area, which are perfect for aperitifs, discussion and concerts.”
Frame gives the ZFF, which has so far been visible mainly during its eleven festival days, a year-round presence. “Over the past four years, the Zurich Film Festival has already built up a young regular audience at this important venue. With the opening of Frame, we can once again fill this technically advanced and highly comfortable cinema with life while simultaneously giving the ZFF its very own home and a year-round presence,” explains Christian Jungen. “Frame also opens up completely new possibilities for us in the field of sponsorship,” commented Jennifer Somm. “We can now offer both our existing partners and new partners attractive activation opportunites.”
The fact that life will soon be returning to Lagerstrasse has also pleased the owner of the House SBB. “Europaallee offers a diversity that attracts people day and night. The Zurich Film Festival brings with it a place of exchange and encounters that will further strengthen this attraction,” says Alexis Leuthold, Member of the Board of SBB Real Estate on the successful concluding of the contract. The SBB attaches great importance to the fact that established big names stand side-by-side with local offerings at its locations. After all, public ground-floor use with a typical urban character makes an important contribution to lively thus attractive neighbourhoods. The SBB in collaboration with the ZFF is currently searching for a new gastronomy operator for the restaurant. The application period begins in June 2023, and the SBB expects to make its decision at the end of the third quarter 2023.
The 19th Zurich Film Festival takes place from September 28 until October 8. Frame launches its regular screening programme on October 9.