The Pionier (Pioneer) cinema first screened films in 1907, making it a significant part of both Polish and global cinema history.
Its reopening will thus mark a significant moment for both the local community and cinema enthusiasts worldwide, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
"We are currently working on the organizational aspects to return the cinema to the residents," Biskupski said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"We want this cinema to be managed locally for the people of Szczecin, but also to serve everyone who loves film and appreciates the unique atmosphere of this theater," he added.
The city of Szczecin purchased Pionier at the end of last year for some PLN 2 million (around USD 475,000). The formal acquisition was completed on April 30, after which the city began evaluating the future of the cinema, the PAP news agency reported.
Initial talks were held with the Association of Art House Cinemas to determine the best way forward, but the negotiations did not lead to a satisfactory agreement.
As a result, it was decided that the cinema would be managed by the Krzemień Cultural Center, a local cultural institution.
Pionier features two screening rooms: the main hall and the Kiniarnia, a combination of a cinema and a café, which was added in 2002.
The cinema is set to operate daily, primarily during the afternoon, starting from October.
Film critic Krzysztof Spór, who is involved in the reopening efforts, said that both screening rooms are expected to be operational by October 1, once new projectors have been sourced.
Pionier has a long history. It officially opened under the name Helios on September 26, 1909, at its current location on Szczecin's Wojska Polskiego Avenue, which was formerly known as Falkenwalderstrasse.
The cinema was initially established by Otto Blauert, who soon sold it to Albert Pietzke.
Over the years, it operated under various names, including Welt-Theater and Odra, the latter of which it used for five years starting in December 1945.
In 2005, Pionier received a Guinness World Record certificate for being the oldest continuously operating cinema in the world, according to reports by Polish media.
However, that title now belongs to L'Idéal Cinéma – Jacques Tati, located in Aniche, France, according to PAP.
Despite this, Pionier remains a cultural landmark in Szczecin, with a legacy that will no doubt continue to draw attention and admiration, reporters were told.
Szczecin, a major seaport near the Baltic Sea, was once called Stettin and was part of Germany before borders shifted after World War II.
(rt/gs)
Source: PAP
