The Cinema Warsaw in Liberec has completed the first phase of reconstruction

Liberec - The first stage of the rescue of the dilapidated cinema Varšava has been completed in Liberec. The oldest stone cinema in Liberec was closed in 2008. The café spaces in the foyer are ready, and from May, the film club Barrandoff on the first floor should also be accessible. Petr Hubáček told ČTK today on behalf of the association Save the Varšava Cinema. The association has rented the cinema from the city for seven years.
    The first stage of the renovation cost approximately 2.9 million crowns, with Liberec contributing 2.2 million and the Liberec Region adding 300,000 crowns. "After several years of effort, we managed to heal the wounds that hurt the building the most. That is, to modify the sewer system, replace the heating system, water, electrical installations, and ensure that the building can breathe naturally, as originally intended by the designers," said another member of the association and architect Jiří Žid.
    The first functional part of the building from 1908, located just a few dozen meters from the town hall, has become the café. After today's ceremonial opening, it will be open daily. "We would like to operate a quality café in a unique space with an atmosphere that can attract visitors from all generations," said the café manager Tereza Lešniovská. The members of the association plan to gradually transform the art deco-style building into a multifunctional cultural center. According to Hubáček, the first events in the café will be held at the piano. "There will be smaller concerts, lectures, discussions," he outlined. For example, next Wednesday, there should be a discussion with journalist and traveler Pavla Jazairi, and in March, there will be a festival of outdoor films, Expediční kamera.
    More film screenings are expected to follow soon in the Barrandoff club. Hubáček anticipates that they will be able to open the spaces by early May at the latest. By that time, modifications to the basement could also be completed. "With the initiative zkusebny.com, we want to open shared rehearsal rooms there, which will have three smaller practice rooms and one large rehearsal room. Anyone will be able to use them," Hubáček outlined.
    In the following stages, the association intends to focus primarily on the reconstruction of the main screening hall. The wood rot and seats have thus far been removed from the hall, and the original floor from the 1920s has been uncovered. The restoration of the hall is estimated to require about five million crowns in construction costs, and additional millions will be needed for the acquisition of projection and other technology. The association will try to obtain funding from European subsidies and plans to collaborate with the city as the owner of the property. The town hall closed Varšava in 2008 because it did not have the funds for a renovation estimated at 80 million crowns. Additionally, two multiplex cinemas opened in Liberec at that time, marking the end of all single-screen cinemas in the city. A group of fans has been striving to save Varšava since 2012.