The annual Berlin International Film Festival and the Babelsberg film studios bring a touch of Hollywood to the German capital. But it's the small, one-of-a-kind movie theaters that capture the true spirit of film - and make for a unique night out. Photographer Eliran Rubin takes us on a cinematic tour of Berlin.
The tiny LichtBlick cinema, located on Kastanienallee in the heart of the Prenzlauerberg quarter, has only one screen and a hall that holds 40 film buffs - and one old piano. In the age of silent films, pianos used to be a standard fixture.
LichtBlick is managed by 12 young people who are passionate about film.
A decade ago, a butcher shop was located where LichtBlick can now be found. Hooks for hanging meat can still be found on the walls in the cinema.
Moviemento, established in 1907, is the oldest cinema in Germany. Impressively, it has survived two world wars.
Located at Kottbusser Damm, Moviemento has three screening rooms, seating 103, 67 and 62 viewers, respectively.
Like many cinemas in Berlin, Moviemento offers a number of films in their original language.
F.S.K. usually refers to the German movie rating organization. But the name of the F.S.K. cinema stands for Flugzeug Sitzen Kino - literally, airplane sitting cinema. Indeed, a good film can be compared to a two-hour journey into another world.
These seats look a lot more comfortable than your standard economy class. F.S.K. offers two screening rooms. The larger one holds 100 people, the smaller one has capacity for 57 people - and a piano.
You could call Z-Bar a cinema with a bar, or a bar with a cinema. The small, alternative venue is completely both.
Located in Berlin's Mitte district, Z-Bar offers a small screening room, usually showing older art films on the weekends.
The Eiszeit cinema in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin really makes its guest feel right at home.
To enter Eiszeit, you have to pass through the inner courtyard of an old building. At first glance, it might be hard to imagine that there's a fully functioning cinema inside, but it's worth the trek.
Berlin's old cinemas are worth visiting - even if you don't watch a film.
