Cinema ARTA re-opens!

Arta Cinema, placed in Sebestyen Palace (University street 3, Cluj-Napoca) is currently the oldest Cinema in Romania that is still active. It’s history is not only the history of a place, but it reflects the history of an entire century, of the city, the movies, and personal layers of people like love stories and memories about skipping school to come to the cinema.

The cinema opened on October 10th 1913 and was built by David Sebestyen, an enteprenour that also built many of the representative buildings of Cluj. It was named “The cinema of the University” (Egyetem Mozgó), apoi Select (Select Mozgó) and then it was changed into “Arta” and stayed this way until now.

Interview with Monica Sebestyen

Monica Sebestyen is one of the heirs of a part of the Sebestyen Palace and she is now managing the place and is responsible for the renovation and reactivation of Cinema Arta.

What are your future plans for Arta cinema?

We are now in the final stages of the refurbishments and after we finish that, we will reopen the space as a full time cinema and art space. Until then, we will have some isolated events in the lobby and cafe.

What do you want to transmit to the people that will be coming here?

I want to transmit hat they will have a great environment to watch art house movies and special curated programs.

Why did you choose to invest in Arta?

Arta is a very important cultural space of the city and I strongly believe that we can make a relevant space for the city.

What were the challanges you encountered during renovations?

This is a historical monument, so the interventions that we can make are quite restricted, this why all the process lasted quite long, more than we hoped for. Of course, another challange was the financial side. 

What kind of movies/activities will take place here after you open?

The program will be focused on European, independent films and documentaries that are not often seen in cinemas, which will be combined with other activities such as discussion, exhibitions and small concerts, and we will have an educational program which we found very important.