Vilnius is home to several cinemas that offer visitors unique film selections and a highly immersive atmosphere. So, where should you watch movies if you’re seeking distinctive experiences or exclusive content? We invite you to explore Vilnius’ cinemas and some of the capital’s most unconventional theaters. This time, let’s take a closer look at the oldest cinema in the city – “Skalvija.”
Back in 1961, in what was then Karolio Požėlos Street in Vilnius, an area designated for artists, musicians, actors, and cultural families to live, a building numbered 34 was constructed. A few years later, the “Planeta” cinema opened on its first floor, with its inaugural screening of the film Sun and Shadow on March 13, 1963. Over the years, a variety of films, often in foreign languages, were shown here, drawing large crowds. The cinema also featured a café, slot machines, and hosted exhibitions.
In 1993, the cinema was reorganized into the Vilnius Cinema Center, and in 1997, it was renamed the “Skalvija” Cinema Center. The name, now well-known to all Vilnius residents, comes from the Skalviai, a tribe that once lived near the mouth of the Nemunas River.
Today, “Skalvija” Cinema Center can boast an increasing number of viewers and school communities drawn to its film repertoire and educational activities. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2023, “Skalvija” attracted 64,112 visitors. Of these, 47,473 attended regular screenings, while 16,639 participated in the educational program “Learning from Cinema.” The cinema shows about 450 films each year.
“The film repertoire is the calling card of every cinema. In other words, show me your program, and I’ll tell you who you are. We are an arthouse cinema. On the one hand, we try to remain open and not turn away from commercial cinema, but on the other hand, it’s very important for us to maintain a high standard. For these reasons, not every film makes it into the ‘Skalvija’ program,” says Auksė Podolskytė, the communications manager of the Skalvija Cinema Center.
“We feel a responsibility to our audience and aim to build their trust so they feel confident watching any film we select. We take their opinions into account and, when possible, include requested films in our lineup or re-screen them.
We curate the program—we don’t just screen films distributed in Lithuania, but we also acquire screening rights ourselves, organize thematic cycles, and create various programs. We show cinematic classics (introduced by film critics) and pay special attention to Lithuanian cinema. We host premieres of new films in our theater and showcase older ones in the ‘Long Live Lithuanian Cinema’ series. Incidentally, we often screen these films from 35mm film reels. Once a year, we organize a retrospective of a director who has made a significant impact on film history. Next week, the 21st Vilnius Documentary Film Festival, organized by Skalvija, will begin. From autumn to early summer, we host Senior Screenings every Monday, and on weekend mornings, we have the ‘Karlson’s Cinema’ series for families with children,” explains A. Podolskytė.
More Than Just a Cinema
“Skalvija has never been just a cinema. For many years, alongside screening films, we’ve consistently engaged in educational activities. Since 2007, the ‘Skalvija Film Academy’ has been active, and a few years later, we started collaborating with schools, initiating the national educational project ‘Learning from Cinema.’ In recent years, another target group—film educators—has been added to our educational department’s audience (in addition to students and teachers). Together with partners, we organize training to enhance their competencies,” says Auksė Podolskytė, communications manager at Skalvija Cinema Center.
During the day, when no screenings are happening, the Skalvija cinema hall is often filled with students. Since 2011, the film education project ‘Learning from Cinema’ has been running. This project, aimed at general education schools, focuses on a non-commercial cinema program, providing methodological support to teachers and facilitating discussions with professional educators
