Cinema in Ljubljana: the back story

About Cinema in Ljubljana: the back story

By the ULTIMATE Ljubljana Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief: Jai Michael

Ljubljana is a city of film lovers. Its city cinema, Kinodvor, fills a hall that first opened in 1923; the national cinematheque shows classics from its own archive; and every summer films are shown under the stars in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle.

A city cinema from 1923

The hall at Kolodvorska 13, near the railway station, opened as a cinema in 1923. In October 2008 it reopened as Kinodvor, the city cinema, founded by the City of Ljubljana, with a programme of European, independent and world cinema, films for children and young people, and a café (culture.gov.si).

The cinematheque

A couple of streets away, the Slovenian Cinematheque shows classics and rediscoveries from carefully kept film prints in its hall at Miklošičeva 28, named after its first director, Silvan Furlan. In summer it also runs an open-air cinema at its second home on Metelkova (kinoteka.si).

Every summer films are shown under the stars in the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle.

Films under the stars

Kinodvor’s Film Under the Stars takes over the courtyard of Ljubljana Castle for a month each summer, with the best films of the past year and some premieres, in their original language with Slovenian subtitles. At the end of August Kinodvor also brings open-air screenings to Congress Square (visitljubljana.com).

LIFFe in November

The Ljubljana International Film Festival, produced by Cankarjev dom, is the city’s biggest film event. Its 37th edition runs from 11 to 22 November 2026 (cd-cc.si).

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Cinema in Ljubljana: the back story before you go.