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Thursday, 17.02.2011
Pushinsky Cinema is facing a complete overhaul
Moscow. One of the largest and best known cinemas in Moscow situated off the famous Tverskaya Ulitsa, the Pushinsky is facing a complete overhaul. Instead of Hollywood stars construction workers will be climbing the stairs to the hall.
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The cinema was built in 1961 in the typical style of the era, a building block made of concrete and glass. During the Soviet reign it was known as the largest cinema in the country. The single screen in the house has seating for over 2,000 visitors.
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Home of the Moscow International Film Festival
For many years the Pushkin cinema was home to the Moscow International Film Festival which has been held on a regular basis since 1959. The red carpet outside the cinema had been walked on by the elite of Soviet-Russian film – from Nikita Michalkow to Constantin Chabenski and Vladimir Mashkov.
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Even Hollywood stars like Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise and Charlize Theron had been here. Tom Cruise did not come to the festival like Nicholson and Theron but flew to Moscow for the Russian Premiere of his blockbuster 'Valkyrie' in 2009 for which he had specifically chosen the Pushkin Cinema.
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Hall is not fully utilised, sales decline
The popularity of the Pushkin Cinema, known as Rossija until a few years ago, has fallen with it's Moscow audience. It is no longer comfortable or modern and the last renovations took place in 1997. With only one screen it does not bring in the required profit for its owner Karo Film.
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With complete renovation of the interior the cinema will be equipped with the latest technology available. A demolition or partial demolition has not been planned. The external appearance will only be changed through building extensions. This will allow Karo film to increase the cinema to 8000 square meters and the number of screens to eight.
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Karo Film has only just opened the tender for reconstruction the cost of which is estimated to be at least 3.7 million rubel. The cinema will be closed for the next year and construction will commence this year, but no exact date has been announced.
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