In 1999, citizens in the town of Kolding needed a cinema for high-quality art films. Able to fundraise, we established Film6000, a union comprised of volunteers and one employed manager. Up until 2005, the cinema was situated in a modest location, by a bus station. Soon after, we had the opportunity to establish ourselves in a wonderful place in the heart of town: in the cultural complex Nicolai. In Nicolai, there is a space for kids, an art gallery, a concert venue and historical archive and, now, our cinema.
We also offer food. Lots of people enjoy dinner and/or drinks before or after watching a film, and it is possible to enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of well brewed coffee, made in the restaurant, during the films.
The aim of the Cinema Nicolai has, from the very beginning, been to provide people with art films otherwise inaccessible in the region. Thus, our main focus is on film screenings, but we also have a lot of events including regular Q&As, Oscar Night, Folk Horror festival, LGBTQ night, Don’t fear the weird festival for mental illness awareness etc. etc.
A thing to look forward to is our annual “Outdoor Cinema”. Every weekend in late summer we hold free screenings on our terrace. Our restaurant is selling coffee and drinks, and we hand out blankets, for everyone’s comfort. Students, especially, enjoy this event.
We also aim to be a cinema for kids. During office hours, we invite schools and kindergartens to visit. Every year, we hold the Salaam Film festival for kids of all ages. At weekends, we attract families who brunch at the restaurant. While the parents relax and enjoy good food and coffee, the cinema shows nonstop movies for kids. We welcome them to move back and forth between the restaurant and the movie theatre.
We are in an era where cinema faces many challenges including competition from Netflix, HBO and others, and we would be lying if we said that we have a full house every night. We are still far from that. But, our visitors are happy and supportive, and we are so proud that we are able to run a cinema in our town, that is worthy of Europa Cinemas membership.
Kis Rauff
Find out more about Nicolai Biograf’s Ambassador Daniel Moltke here:
Ida Thorsen ambassador in 2020
Dicte C. Houmøller ambassador in 2018
