On Sunday, April 2, the historic cinemas of the center of Athens, Ideal, Astor and Irida, open their doors with free and live screenings for the public, addressing a call for support to all cinephiles and residents of the city, for the continuation of their operation, but also “for the film culture of our country itself”.

According to the announcement of the three cinemas, “the latest developments call into question the survival of the two theaters of the University and the Stoa Korai, while the danger of stopping the operation of the “Iris” as well, where the Cinematic Department of Cultural Club of Students of the University of Athens”.

For its part, the Ministry of Culture issued a statement in which it emphasizes that the two cinemas “do not meet the conditions to be classified as monuments and fall under the increased protection of this law”.

The announcement in detail

“Announcement of the YPPOA Press Office on the classification of uses of cinemas

In response to a question from journalists regarding the characterization of the uses of cinema halls in the center of Athens, and more specifically the “Ideal” and “Astor” cinemas, the Press Office of the Ministry of Culture and Sports clarifies the following:

According to Law 4858/2021 (on the protection of antiquities and cultural heritage in general), the Ministry of Culture and Sports is only responsible for characterizing the use of a property, exclusively in case the latter has been characterized as a monument, archaeological site or historical site, according to the provisions of the aforementioned law.

The specific cinemas, “Ideal” and “Astor”, do not meet the conditions set by law 4858/2021, in order to be classified as monuments and fall under the increased protection of this law.

In December 2022, the Ministry of the Environment sent the resolutions and letters of the cinema operators to the Ministry of Environment and Energy in order to handle them competently”.