During the last couple of years, most of Belgrade’s well-known cinemas have been shut down, turned into cafes or other more profitable places. New ones opened, but mostly as a part of shopping malls, where you can watch blockbusters in more modern premises with, of course, way higher prices.

On the other hand, independent, low budget or just out of the mainstream films  became more and more popular in Belgrade, at festivals like “Free Zone” and “Auteur Film Festival“, which always have sold out screenings.

In that kind of cultural climate, “Illegal Cinema” became a kind of an institution which remains active for 12 years. 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 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 afterwards.

Screenings are happening every Wednesday at 19:30 in “Magacin“, a cultural centre managed by the independent art and activist community. It’s a place where you can also bump into interesting exhibitions. 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.

As of recently, most of the film programme is organized by Film club ‘Gunpowder’, (KK Barut) focused on films as means of political communication. For the programme, check their website, FB or newsletter.