The Arsenal – Institut für Film- und Videokunst e.V. in Berlin has been promoting film and video art since 1963. With a diverse cinema program, symposia, an extensive film collection, and sustainable initiatives, it provides a creative space for cultural exchange and aesthetic experiences.
The Arsenal – Institut für Film und Videokunst e. V. is a renowned institution in Berlin that has dedicated itself to the promotion of film and video art since its founding on March 30, 1963, as Freunde der Deutschen Kinemathek e. V. and since 2008 under its current name, derived from the in-house cinema Arsenal.
Arsenal sees itself as a social space where the discourses of the present are negotiated through aesthetic experiences. It promotes exchange with the audience and serves as a place of cultural practice that takes place in society. The diversity and variety of the film program reflect the values of the association, which is committed to presenting films from around the world and supporting filmmakers[3][4].
Arsenal focuses on sustainable architecture and cultural practice. As part of the move to the silent green cultural quarter in Wedding, which is housed in the historic premises of a former crematorium, a sustainable architectural development concept is being implemented. This concept transforms the listed Westhalle for the new usage form and ensures accessibility and the possibility for live music and other cultural events[2].
Starting in 2026, all areas of Arsenal's work – cinema, Berlinale Forum/Forum Expanded, archive, and distribution – will be united for the first time in its history at one location in the silent green cultural quarter. The new cinema hall will have over 180 seats and offer all analog and digital screening options. This move enables synergies with other cultural institutions and initiatives in Wedding, such as the Harun Farocki Institute and the Transmediale[2].
