Film & Cinema in Vienna

Film previews, cinema, arthouse, blockbusters and special screenings: Vienna's film world

Vienna and film is no ordinary love story, it's one that has been going on for decades and simply never ends. No wonder, because the city is packed with cinemas that are more than just dark rooms with screens and the smell of popcorn. Whether you're a fan of arthouse gems, want to watch international productions in the original or simply want to immerse yourself in a story, Vienna has the right event for every taste in movies. Throughout the year, the city's calendar of events is packed with film screenings, special screenings and programs that you won't find anywhere else, and that's what makes it so exciting. The Filmcasino on Margaretenstraße, for example, is one of those venues you just have to love: The 1950s charm is in the walls, the program is hand-picked and ranges from indie productions to European auteur cinema, and special screenings with introductions or discussions with filmmakers make visits there real experiences, not just movie nights. For those who prefer something more central and steeped in history, the Gartenbaukino is the place to be, one of Austria's largest and oldest arthouse cinemas, which regularly hosts special film events and is home to the Viennale, the renowned international film festival that transforms the city into the capital of good cinema every autumn. The Votivkino, located directly on Währinger Straße, offers a mix of documentaries, arthouse productions and original versions with subtitles and is the ideal place for anyone who sees movie nights as a genuine cultural experience. If you want to delve even deeper into film history, the Austrian Film Museum on Albertinaplatz is highly recommended: It regularly hosts retrospectives, silent film screenings with live accompaniment and themed cycles that you can really only experience in Vienna. Another insider tip for real cineastes: The Metro Kino of the Filmarchiv Austria shows classics, rarities and restored masterpieces from Austrian and international filmmaking, from silent films of the 1920s to rediscovered gems of the post-war period, in the atmospheric setting of a historic cinema. And then of course there's summer, because every year Vienna is transformed into an open-air cinema stronghold, where you can enjoy movies in the open air on meadows, in courtyards and on squares that will leave you wanting more. The Museumsquartier is regularly a central venue for summer film events under the stars. Vienna makes it really easy for you to get in touch with the medium of film, whether you are just discovering your first arthouse film, have long known what mise-en-scène means or are simply looking for an unforgettable evening with friends. Take a look at our calendar of events, choose your next film event and be surprised by the city that has always taken cinema for what it is: an art form.