Archives for “Cinemas” tag

This is the biggest shopping center in town. It spreads out on three floors and it has everything you need and probably everything you don’t need. This place features: a cinema, clothing shops, all kinds of fast food restaurants, cafes, toy stores, a bookstore, casino, bowling alley and so on. I have to say I don’t come here for shopping most of the time but to look around, relax and enjoy outdoor activities. Yes, there is stuff going on in front of the building too. In winter they have a big skating rink and in summer there is a bunch of stuff to do also. Anything from basketball and beach volleyball to archery, and always good music in the background.

All this is located not too far from the city center, just cross the Branko’s bridge (check the article about the Branko’s bridge) and you are there. Why is location so important you may ask? Well, Belgrade is known to be very hot in the summer and this is the right spot to cool off for a moment, maybe buy something or just have a snack (perfectly air-conditioned space). We get cold winters as well so I like to get in there and warm up before I go on wandering around town. Obviously shopping is not my thing but this place has something for everybody.

During the last couple of years, Belgrade cinemas were visited less and less. Most of the once well known places were shut down, others were turned into cafes or other more profitable places. Some new ones were opened, but mostly as a part of shopping malls, where you can see blockbusters in more modern premises with, of course, higher prices.

On the other hand, independent, low budget or just out of the mainstream films (sometimes called ‘films with subtitles’ among English speakers) became more and more popular in Belgrade, on festivals like “Free Zone” and “Author Film Festival“, which always have sold out screenings.

In that kind of cultural climate, “Illegal Cinema” became a kind of an institution which is still going strong four years later. It’s a place where marginalized and hard-to-find films are shown – documentary, activist, queer, anarchist, forbidden and underground films are screened in a limited space of some 30 seats.

Besides the free entrance, the cool thing is the concept – everybody can suggest or acquire a film for screening, under one condition – to start a discussion about the film after its end. 

Screenings are happening every Sunday at 18:00 in “Magacin” (“Warehouse”), a small cultural centre where you can also bump into interesting exhibitions and debates. It’s in the very heart of the city, near Zeleni Venac green market. When you get to 4 Kraljevica Marka street, enter the passage and you’re there.

For the programme, you can check their website, FB or subscribe to the newsletter.

Concerts, films, panel discussions, performances, book promotions, visual arts, exhibitions, workshops… well, everything you can imagine a youth centre could feature can be found here.

Dom omladine Beograda, founded in 1964, has always been the place which promotes culture for the young people and by the young. Innovative, urban, creative, socially relevant – those are the main points which guide this institution in their choice of programs. Acting as a mediator between mainstream and underground, it is an important meeting point not only for different artists and artistic scenes, but for those who’d like to know more about what’s going on in Belgrade in terms of new culture and art.

Their website is regularly updated, the official Facebook page as well, so just check what’s going on in one of their six multi functional halls while you’re here and choose (at least) one of the events.

You won’t regret it.

You could pass by this house without noticing it. Situated in an industrial area of the Sava River pier, this former warehouse dates from the 19th century. In 2009 KC Grad became the first industrial facility in the city which was transformed into a center for culture. Alternative center for culture, established in cooperation with the Felix Meritis Center from Amsterdam.

They are currently the most productive cultural place in the city. Having multi-functional concept, they organize concerts, exhibitions, debates, films, theatre, presentations – any type of food for soul. Every week I find at least one interesting event there. I prefer concerts and photography exhibitions but the monthly presentations of collections of young designers called “Takeaway Fashion” are also quite popular. And every second Monday is “Deli Monday” when a guest is invited to be a chef and prepare some soup for visitors.

Although the concept is mainly oriented towards young, non-established artists, giving them the first chance to be seen, established bands and DJs periodically perform, as well. The place is not large, comprising ground and first floor.

Entry is usually free except for concerts or film projections. Check their web-site to see the up-to-date program for each month.