La Filmoteca – A unique cinema experience in Valencia.

Think all cinemas are the same? Think again! Valencia is full of exceptional cultural opportunities and the Filmoteca is central to it. If you are looking for something interesting to do on a cold or grey day then The Inside Guide has you covered…

When it’s cold in Valencia…

The summer is long in Valencia. We are blessed with months and months of mostly uninterrupted sunny days. Places along the coast or the many beautiful parks take centre stage. Like everything though, all things must pass and eventually the temperature drops, the nights draw in and everyone digs out their big winter coat. 

On these colder days and nights, it is nice to find something new to do. We all need a reason to get out the house. So lets wrap up a little bit warmer and see a place you have never been before. Valencia always has something new to see but today I want to look at something that has been part of life here for over 80 years. 

Located in the heart of the city

La Filmoteca is just a small part of the remarkable Rialto building. It’s one of those places which if you are anything like me have probably walked past countless times and never been in. Based in the plaza del Ayuntamiento, the square so emblematic of the city. It must share attention with the town hall and the post office building and it is easy to see why it could be overlooked.  Built in 1939, the Rialto building plays a significant part in the cultural scene of Valencia. As well as a cinema it also has a theatre, music hall, restaurant and cafe. Today I want to focus on the cinema although the word cinema does not really do it justice. 

Cinema or library?

This is not an ordinary cinema and you won’t find your usual Hollywood blockbusters here. Nor is this an arthouse cinema like Cines Babel.  La filmoteca which translates to Film Library in English is more of a showcase, a chance to see something remarkable on a big screen. Each time I have been there was a large, attentive and enthusiastic crowd with barely a spare seat.  It shows an eclectic mixture of films across the styles and the decades. There also seasons celebrating a genre, director or production company. Looking at the schedule, there is a mixture of films that I know as well as plenty that I don’t. Don’t let that put you off. Everything is shown in its original version so no terrible dubbing here. There are plenty of foreign language films which are shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles.

Valencia’s best priced movie

For many people, the exorbitant prices of going to the cinema can really put you off going. Thankfully this is really not the case here. Adults normally get in for €2.50, it’s less for students, youngsters and members. I have seen some showings where there is free entry. This is a place with the community at the heart of what it does and one which I urge you to take advantage of. Tickets do not come with a reserved seat so arrive in good time if you are looking to sit in a large group. People who make the mistake of arriving left are often left to sit by the front and away from their friends. The cinema itself is a good size with room for over 100 people.  There are only two screenings a day at 6pm and 8pm. Each film is only shown once or twice on separate days so if you want to see the movie get off the sofa and get moving!

Valencia vibes after the movie

Since discovering the cinema several months ago I have been there three times over the last few months. The first two I had not heard of yet blew me away. The third an all time classic which I had not seen on the big screen. Each movie seemed specially selected, and really hit home. Maybe it’s just the movies I watched but leaving La Filmoteca, heading into the crowds of central Valencia is something quite magical. The scenes from the movies play over in my head as well as the scenes from Valencia in front of my eyes and somehow they converge and come one. The city feels alive, buzzing with people and sounds. Perhaps my words sound a tad ridiculous here but there is something about it that is incredible. I live in walking distance and the walk back somehow feels cinematic.

When autumn and winter come around, I love the feeling of the passing of time and the changing of the season. When the leaves start to fall and you forgo the terrace for something cosier, La Filmoteca is one of the places worth your time. It is gems like this that make living here quite so enjoyable.  Needless to say, I am eager to scan the listings, find a good movie and return again in 2024. It is gems like this that make living here quite so enjoyable.